In the Unusual dictionary of Poland, some entries are dedicated to ancestral rites that are still current today. The one entitled “crown” refers to the tradition of wreaths (crowns of flowers) during the summer solstice or that titled ” Andrzejki to the superstitions of Saint Andrew. She is not in theUnusual dictionary of Polandand yet, every year, the drowning of Marzanna is indeed celebrated every year in Poland to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Drowning of Marzannadrowning for a rebirth
March 21 in Polish villages is the time of the folk rite of the drowning of Marzanna (Drowning of Marzanna ) as a sign of welcome to spring, in order to solemnize the arrival of fine weather and to dispel the specter of long, dreary and cold winter days.
A parade is formed headed by a person carrying a straw figurine representing the Slavic goddess Marzanna, goddess of death and winter. This scarecrow is taken to the body of water closest to the city where it will be burned and thrown into the water. This is an old Slavic pagan tradition that continues mainly in schools. It is common to see the procession led by the teacher followed by his pupils singing “Goodbye cold, hello spring! » « Goodbye winter, welcome spring! ».
Attention ! Above all, you must not touch the straw figure once launched into the water and above all you must not turn around or look back on the path at the end of the funny procession. Doing this would be tantamount to bringing bad luck on oneself…
Jean-Luc Sochacki’s articles are published in partnership with the site Boisko.blog
His Unusual Dictionary of Poland was published by Cosmopole editions.
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