Smolorze's procession in Chojno
The smolorze's procession is a custom that was still alive in chazackie villages in the first years after World War II, and in some places it continues to this day.
The custom took place on the second day of Easter and was organized by boys who decorated the front of the cart with green branches and went around the village blowing horns on willow trumpets. The central figure of the procession was the smolorz and his companions, smeared with soot or mud, which they carried in old pots. They dirty residents going out in front of their houses, girls and fences they passed. The procession included costumed people, including "old man and woman." Visits to various hosts were filled with singing, dancing, and jokes. The smolorze collected gifts, eggs and sweets in baskets, which they then shared among themselves. Researchers interpret the custom as being related to an old spring shepherds' festival or to smolorze who distributed forest products around the village.
The smolorze parade, which took place in Chojno on Pentecost this year, was organized by the Chojno Women's and Rural Farmers' Association, the "Co się to porobi" Association and the Regional "Chojnioki" Group.
A poster was prepared informing about the event and encouraging people to express their willingness to accept the smolorze. There were also registrations, but some residents already know that it is a tradition and they themselves are asking if the smolorze will be coming this year, because they would be happy to accept. But we hope that over the years there will be more and more people who will want to hire these smolorze. (Tobiasz Maciejak)
Participants gathered at the statue of Bishop Jan Chojeński near All Saints Church in Golejewko at 1 p.m. A procession consisting of a dozen or so residents, including boys playing the roles of a smolorz, an old woman, an old man, a coachman, people in regional costumes, children in costumes, a harmonica player, accompanied by a carriage drawn by two horses, set off towards Chojno.The group was equipped with a cart decorated with green willow and birch branches and colorful ribbons, on which a pot of soot and gifts were carried. An obligatory prop was also willow bark tubes, traditionally prepared by Janusz Turbański, which were used to blow loudly to announce the arrival of Smolorze. When the group stopped at farms, the residents who came out of their houses had blackened faces. In a cheerful atmosphere, the newcomers delivered a prepared oration, sang songs, and encouraged people to dance to the rhythm of the accompanying harmonies. They then received gifts of eggs, pancakes, vodka, and other delicacies. Many older farmers recalled the smolorze from their younger days.
Some of the farmers also participated in such marches when they were younger, smearing themselves with soot and throwing mud, so it's also nice for them to see how it has changed over the years, but also how... we also want to revive it, but at the same time modernize it a bit. (Tobiasz Maciejak)
They had lime, a horse-drawn carriage, buckets of mud, and they threw the lime at the fences, right? They had a milk cart and large willow branches. We brought willows to our garden and made a cart there. Wherever it was open, they would drive in. There were willow trumpets. (resident of Chojno)
Due to the impending rainstorm, the last farm was visited in a hurry. Everyone rushed to the shelter near the village hall, where refreshments had been prepared for the participants. Pleased with the progress of the procession, the residents exchanged observations and feasted together.
The custom took place on the second day of Easter and was organized by boys who decorated the front of the cart with green branches and went around the village blowing horns on willow trumpets. The central figure of the procession was the smolorz and his companions, smeared with soot or mud, which they carried in old pots. They dirty residents going out in front of their houses, girls and fences they passed. The procession included costumed people, including "old man and woman." Visits to various hosts were filled with singing, dancing, and jokes. The smolorze collected gifts, eggs and sweets in baskets, which they then shared among themselves. Researchers interpret the custom as being related to an old spring shepherds' festival or to smolorze who distributed forest products around the village.
The smolorze parade, which took place in Chojno on Pentecost this year, was organized by the Chojno Women's and Rural Farmers' Association, the "Co się to porobi" Association and the Regional "Chojnioki" Group.
A poster was prepared informing about the event and encouraging people to express their willingness to accept the smolorze. There were also registrations, but some residents already know that it is a tradition and they themselves are asking if the smolorze will be coming this year, because they would be happy to accept. But we hope that over the years there will be more and more people who will want to hire these smolorze. (Tobiasz Maciejak)
Participants gathered at the statue of Bishop Jan Chojeński near All Saints Church in Golejewko at 1 p.m. A procession consisting of a dozen or so residents, including boys playing the roles of a smolorz, an old woman, an old man, a coachman, people in regional costumes, children in costumes, a harmonica player, accompanied by a carriage drawn by two horses, set off towards Chojno.The group was equipped with a cart decorated with green willow and birch branches and colorful ribbons, on which a pot of soot and gifts were carried. An obligatory prop was also willow bark tubes, traditionally prepared by Janusz Turbański, which were used to blow loudly to announce the arrival of Smolorze. When the group stopped at farms, the residents who came out of their houses had blackened faces. In a cheerful atmosphere, the newcomers delivered a prepared oration, sang songs, and encouraged people to dance to the rhythm of the accompanying harmonies. They then received gifts of eggs, pancakes, vodka, and other delicacies. Many older farmers recalled the smolorze from their younger days.
Some of the farmers also participated in such marches when they were younger, smearing themselves with soot and throwing mud, so it's also nice for them to see how it has changed over the years, but also how... we also want to revive it, but at the same time modernize it a bit. (Tobiasz Maciejak)
They had lime, a horse-drawn carriage, buckets of mud, and they threw the lime at the fences, right? They had a milk cart and large willow branches. We brought willows to our garden and made a cart there. Wherever it was open, they would drive in. There were willow trumpets. (resident of Chojno)
Due to the impending rainstorm, the last farm was visited in a hurry. Everyone rushed to the shelter near the village hall, where refreshments had been prepared for the participants. Pleased with the progress of the procession, the residents exchanged observations and feasted together.
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