Kurpie

Kurpie ( kurpjɛ ) is the name for both an ethnic region and its population (also Kurpie ) in Poland. The Kurpie is known for its distinct traditions: costumes, folk dances, festivals and a typical architecture.

Geography

The Kurpie is located in the northern Polish lowlands (as eastern continuation of the North German Lowland ) and extends into the present provinces Mazovia, Podlasie and to a lesser extent Warmia and Mazury. The area Kurpie can not geographically define exactly. The eastern boundary is but generally with the river of Pisa, the western border with the Orzyc ( Orschütz ), both right tributaries of the Narew roughly described. Once this region was almost completely forested. Summarized the so-called Green Wilderness ( Puszcza Zielona ) and the White Wilderness ( Puszcza Biała), often under the name Kurpie Forest ( Puszcza Kurpiowska ), are closely spaced forest areas in the region this former, mostly swampy jungles.

The only major city in this area is Ostrołęka. Here and in other places, including Myszyniec, Czarnia, Dylewo, Jednorożec, Kadzidło, Lipniki, Łyse and Zbójna Kurpie traditions are still alive.

The name Kurpie

The inhabitants of this region were originally referred to as " people out of the wilderness " ( Puszczaki ). The Puszczaki made ​​of bast shoes. These so-called kurpś shoes were the namesake for the entire population and the region.

Some towns in Poland still bear the name Kurpie in their name: Kurpie Dworskie and Kurpie Szlacheckie.

Colonization and economic fundamentals

The first settlers arrived on densely wooded area with sandy or muddy ground. The inhabitants lived from fishing, gathering mushrooms, fruits and nuts and used the natural resources of the forests. The men put all kinds of wooden products manufactures, the women have developed great skill in weaving of linen cloths and garments. Beekeeping and the production of pitch and iron provided the most important trade goods of the people who settled here.

The forests of the Kurpie were practically untouched until the mid-19th century. Then larger forest areas were cleared for the recovery of farmland. However, the ground turned out to be very sparse, so that the farming led a shadowy existence. At this time, the animal husbandry has developed into a source of income.

Early on the Kurpie began to edit the occurring in the region Bernstein for decorative purposes. Not later than the 17th century amber was systematically promoted in the region and used as a medium of exchange. The since 1850 operated in Duckelbergbau amber promotion reached its peak in the early 19th century, but ended a short time later, as the mines were no longer profitable enough.

Selected historical data

The Kurpie region since the 10th century a part of Poland.

Traditions Kurpie

Due to their centuries of isolation developed the Kurpie who were neither aristocrats nor serfs had in their ranks, but were subject to the king directly, a very distinct culture.

  • The Kurpie House

At the roof ridge of the thatched wooden houses Kurpie is always a cross or a pennant mounted. The floors of the sparsely furnished houses were made of wood. Each window consisted of six individually glazed sections. The shutters were painted, as are the doors. In 1927 Adam Chetnik founded in Nowogród an open-air museum, where Kurpie houses and traditional utilitarian objects can be viewed from the Kurpie.

  • Aspire

Although the costumes Kurpie similar, those of the north are different from those of the South, but in some details. The women wore red skirts to the north white linen blouse with borders, above a green vest. Always belonged amber jewelry to costume. In the south, however, women green skirts and wore their costumes were occupied with expenses relating ring embroidery and needle work. The men in the north of the region wore long brown jackets that were verknöpft with the West, and red sashes, as well as white linen shirts and white pants, which were attached to the typical shoes Kurpie. Even when the men are there between the costumes in the North and the South a distinctive difference: In the north, the man was wearing a head covering a dark brown cylinder and in the South a small black cap.

The costumes varied somewhat. So men wore both white and gray trousers, the women varied the color of their blouses that were red or white.

  • Folk dance

The Kurpie, like other regions in Poland and their special dances. One of these dances is called " horse" ( Konik ), because the men here mimic horse and rider.

  • Palm Sunday in the Kurpie

Around Easter, finished the Kurpie of small trees high " palm trees ", which they decorated with flowers and other decorative items. This practice should keep the house from evil spirits.

  • Easter

The women were known for beautifully decorated Easter eggs and for their pastries in the shape of an Easter lamb.

  • Silhouettes

For the paper cut ( Wycinanki ) the women of the Kurpie have always been famous. The works depicted animals, geometric figures, flowers and many other dar.

  • Smigus - dyngus

Smigus - dyngus (also Lany poniedziałek ) is an Easter tradition, in which people splash each other with water. This shows you the splashed with water person that they cherish sympathy for them.

  • Processions

Even today held religious processions, in which participants wear their traditional costumes. The priest blesses during the procession the country.

  • Feast of the honey harvest

This festival, which to the ancient tradition of beekeeping - already the first settlers were concerned with the breeding of wild bees - anknüpft, takes place in Myszyniec - Zawodzie on the last Sunday in August.

  • Thanksgiving

In August, the people put cereal and leave flowers in the church, so it is blessed.

  • Winter

On December 6, continues to be held a celebration that glorifies the happy course of the year in which no cattle has fallen prey to the wolves. However, long time no more wolves have been sighted in the Kurpie.

  • Christmas

A wafer, in which a religious event is stamped shall be distributed among the family members and the cattle. The women put hay under the table and the children draw Christmas as thanks for preserved sweets, singing through the streets.

  • The New Year

There are baked cookies that have either the shape of animals or make a circle out of which peeps a bird. These cookies were side by side suspended from the ceiling.

  • Kadzidlańskie wedding

The traditional wedding Kadzidlańskie Kurpie is known throughout Poland. At this festival include dances, songs, ceremonial songs and ancient wedding ceremonies.

  • Music

The music of the Kurpie is quite different from the neighboring ethnic groups and areas. The Polish priest Władysław skis Frankowski has published more than a thousand songs Kurpie in his book " Puszcza Kurpiowska w Pieśni ". The first movement of the Symphony No. 3 ( Symphony sad songs) by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki is inspired by the music of Kurpie.

  • Amber processing

The Amber processing is one of the traditional crafts of Kurpie. That the raw amber in the region itself occurs and even today is sponsored isolated from the soil, may have contributed to its development. Especially popular made ​​of amber wedding chains and maroon deck garlands were ( Kierec called ). With planing tools of stone and wooden drill drills amber was given up in the 60s of the 20th century the desired shape. Tools and products of this ancient craft are exhibited, among others, in Łomża County Museum.

The Kurpie today

The Kurpie in our day differs substantially from the traditional Kurpie with its forests and the once humble farming. After the Second World War broke out in modern times for this region with the development of comprehensive education and training systems, improved methods of agriculture, immigration, progress on trade and a modern infrastructure.

Gallery

Beehive in Nowogród

Kurpie House, 1913, photographed by Adam Chetnik

Six -part window of a house Kurpie

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