lamus dworski: Dożynki harvest festival: the garlands

Dożynki (phonetical: Dozhinki) is the annual harvest festival celebrated in Poland around the turn of August and September since the ancient times. The mandatory, very special part of dożynki is presentation of the huge decorative garlands and sculptures (often in a shape of e.g. crown) formed from the crops, straw and other elements like flowers or colorful ribbons.

Girl standing next to a dozhinki garland, celebrations in Mońki, Poland [picture's source]

The dozhinki garlands and sculptures (in Polish: wieńce dożynkowe) by tradition were prepared out of the last few handfuls of the crops from the field - as to ensure the continuity of the good harvest. The last crops could have been cut only by the best reaper and ceremoniously passed to the best local harvesters who were weaving the decorations.

Dozhinki garlands hold a special, very symbolic place during the celebrations. It can be especially seen during the larger form of dozhinki, above the local level. Some small administrative units of Poland (gminy), medium (powiaty) or large (województwa) often create dozhinki festivals for the villages and towns within their regions. Each of the village or town representative that appears on such joint festival prepares a highly decorative dozhinki garland, which is later carried in a procession. Such a garland is meant to represent the place of origin, often being adorned with the name of the village or town (or a region), therefore the preparations are very significant to the local organizations. The dozhinki garlands are always a matter of a competition and the winning administrative unit is proudly holding the title of the most beautiful wieniec (singular form of wieńce) for the whole following year. Only one garland is prepared each year and if the village or city is being invited to multiple dozhinki feasts, then the garland travels with them during the whole "dozhinki season".

A typical dozhinki procession, celebrations in Różańsko, Poland. The people are wearing an archaic type of work clothes made from linen [picture's source]

A typical dozhinki procession: Krześnica region presenting their garlands in Barzkowice, Poland [picture's source]

Dozhinki garlands appearing at the place of gathering, celebrations in Różańsko, Poland [picture's source]

Dozhinki garlands gathered in a church in Warnice, Poland. After the mass they are being held in a second procession to the place where the main feast and competitions take place. Note the unique boat-shaped garland [picture's source]

Shapes of the dozhinki garlands usually differ a lot (due to the aspirations of the creators to be original and win the competition), but there could be a few basic shapes of the oldest origins distinguished:

circular "wreath" symbolizing the circle of life and repeatability of seasons
four- or eight-sided "crown" as a symbolic crowning of the Mother Earth
"waterdrop" shape reminding of the importance of nature's balance (where all colorful decorations would be placed inside of the construction)
"baba" shape meant to represent a woman, symbol of fertility

"Wreath" type of garland, here positioned horizontally with an additional support and a platform for the bread. Celebrations in Krześnica, Poland [picture's source]

Example of a very literal form of a "crown". Celebrations in Wojciechów, Poland [picture's source]

"Waterdrop" type of garland, decorated with the crops inside. Work of the artist Piotr Barańczak [from his website]

"Baba" type of dozhinki garland, here adorned with the Polish Eagle (Coat of Arms of Poland). Celebrations in Spała, Poland. [picture's source]

The biggest garlands are usually these of the "crown" shape (due to a construction that allows to create a bigger-sized sculpture) and could reach the height of around 3 meters. The most common size of garlands would be circa 1-1,5 meters, but the most desired height is around 2 meters, above the average height of a man, due to an ancient custom that comes from the pre-Christian times. Although in many regions it's been already forgotten over the time, size of the garland was always determined by the ancient custom as following: a Slavic priest was standing behind the gathered food and asking the people if they could see him - therefore wishing for a better harvest the next year, so the next time they won't be able to see him at all [from behind the amount of the stacked food].

A person was meant to be able to hide behind a dozhinki garland. This one was presented in a feast in Sarbinowo, Poland [picture source]

Construction of the garlands is very precise and thoughtful, often being planned months before the harvest. Observing the pictures above, you've probably already noticed that they are also attached to a special platform with wooden sticks to hold and move it around. The heavy construction altogether has to be usually carried by 4 people. Very often, it also has a special part in front, a smaller platform where a dozhinki bread [described in the previous post] is being placed.