Through the Eyes of a WomanAbout the magic of the medieval world, dances, castles and a unique community where everyone is equal, we talk with: Joanna Socha, Sylwia Jasztal, Patrycja Brzoskowska, Monika Pierzchalska and Adela Uznańska from the Knights’ Brotherhood of the Duchy of Homole in Duszniki-Zdrój.
How long have you been active, ladies?
Since April 2012. The idea of founding our group came from Joanna. The line-up changes from time to time, because some of us work, some study, so it is not a fixed number.
Mrs. Joanna, how did the idea to establish the Knights’ Brotherhood of the Duchy of Homole come about?
I went to Grunwald for the first time in those years, to a staging, and I fell in love. I decided that I also wanted to have such a dress, I also wanted to have such a bow, so I bought a dress, bought a bow and returned home. It was a moment when I moved to Duszniki, later I led a brotherhood in Długopole. I decided: why not do it here, why not create such a group that will be active.
How did you recruit these first people?
The late Mr. Ryszard Grzelakowski – a historian, supported me, inspired me, encouraged me. With his help, we placed advertisements, but we also spread the word among friends, the information went to the local newspaper. And that’s how it all started. There were also children from the primary school with us.
Now I will ask the other Ladies: what attracted you to the Brotherhood?
Costumes, dancing, that’s what most girls love.
What does the outfit the ladies wear during their performances consist of?
It’s a dress, plus a chemise, leggings, and shoes. Leggings are commonly called stockings. A chemise is a petticoat under a dress. Plus a belt and a purse. Some girls wear hats, some silk scarves. Dresses are made of linen, silk, or wool. We also have wool coats and hoods. Plus accessories like a dagger, a knife, a horn, and a belt with a lace that are used to decorate dresses. The shoes are leather and, it should be emphasized, hand-sewn.
The dresses are special – that much is obvious, but what else makes being a member of the Brotherhood so special?
First of all, amazing dances that can be presented during trips. These are simple dances, uncomplicated steps that are repeated. Such dance can be danced by children, youth, and seniors. All you need is a desire.
What does functioning in the Brotherhood involve?
We are people who have passion. We love meeting and dancing. We have our own handicrafts, we run workshops. But most of all, we go to tournaments, where we meet other reconstruction groups. It’s a wonderful atmosphere. We exchange experiences, knowledge. We try to meet regularly as much as possible, but everyone works, has their own private life. We try to go to tournaments several times a year. We take part in various picnics, festivals, where we run dance workshops, shooting workshops, calligraphy, weaving, stone decorating workshops. We have a lot of that in our offer.
You are a group that is open to new members. However, you are not limited to adults and women.
Of course, we are open to new people. There is no specific age. It is good if those who apply to us are 13-14 years old, because when they go to a tournament with us they have to be independent, because we take responsibility for these children. We are also open to men. If someone wants to be with us, we are open. Especially since it is difficult to find people with passion today. In our area, people are ashamed of it. They are ashamed of what will happen when they dress up, how the neighbor will look. Meanwhile, when you go out in such an outfit, people smile on their own.
You have a lot of equipment: bows, shields, weaving materials. However, you don’t have the space to store it all. Do you dream of having such a space of your own?
Unfortunately, for several years now we have been being chased away. At first we could meet at the city hall, but we had to move out. Then we got a room in a housing community building, in the basement, where everything was rotting, but oh well. It turned out, however, that the owners did not agree to our presence. Now we have been in talks with the new mayor. What will come of it? What will come of it? We do not know. We get many invitations to various cities, but not to Duszniki. We would really like this to change.
What do the shows you present look like?
The first is a medieval dance show with lessons. We run workshops on: calligraphy, weaving, papermaking, stone painting, clay modeling. We also have archery. Attractions for children, such as fishing. You could say: plebeian games. It’s tug-of-war, or sack jumping, a race of ladies and knights. There are really many of these games and it all depends on who comes to us and what they expect.
Who can contact you to invite you to present such a show?
We often get invitations to knight tournaments, where we give shows. Companies also invite us to their events. We also cooperate with many other groups and support each other. Sometimes we get information that someone needs a Viking. That’s when we call: “Rysiu, we need a Viking.” And if we need someone to shoot a cannon, we call Ivan: “Ivan, we need you to shoot.”
It is worth being in your Brotherhood, because…
When we all dress up in medieval costumes and go to some tournament, everything stops counting. Whether someone has better clothes or worse. Whether someone is a doctor or, for example, a farmer. Everyone has fun together, everyone is equal.
Why do you like this medieval world so much?
If only because of these outfits, they are very feminine. Nowadays, women usually wear trousers. In those times, women were very feminine, they wore dresses, there were knights who fought for ladies. Nowadays, it is difficult to find such a knight. Apart from that, the charm of these events in castles, this atmosphere, the soul of these mysterious places, it is really something wonderful. The food is also exceptional, the basis is groats. We eat in medieval bowls. These feasts, these feasts at tables, joint dances. Someone wants to sleep under the open sky – sleeps under the open sky, under a tree, someone wants to sleep in a tent, sleeps in a tent. If they want, they can also sleep in a car, although it will no longer be medieval. If someone feels this atmosphere, likes the Middle Ages, wants to learn about history, travel with us to various tournaments or shows, then we are really eager to join us. We invite you and ask: do not be ashamed.
