Annual harvest celebration.

Dozynki - The Harvest Rites of Poland 
By Ada Dziewanowska 

Throughout history, Poland has been primarily an agricultural country. It is not surprising that many cultural traditions have been born from the yearly harvesting ritual. The harvest celebrations still remain pretty much the same today. Customs and rituals connected with the harvest season are ancient, and actually go back to pagan times. During this era, the security of the people depended on the continuity of vegetation and the assurance of good and plentiful crops for the next season. Harvest time began when the grain in the field was ripe. The first day was often celebrated with a feast consisting of cheese, scrambled eggs, and vodka, which were consumed around the first "snop” (sheaf of grain). The binding of the “snop” took on different forms in different parts of Poland. In some regions there was a prejudice that passers-by could possibly represent an evil spirit and bring bad luck to the harvest work. To prevent this the peasants would tie a passer-bv with a cord made of straw. That unfortunate person had only one way to redeem himself an that was with a gift of money to the harvesters.  Life was not easy for a young peasant lad who was using a scythe as he harvested for the first time. He was known as a “fryc” (fledgling or greenhorn), or a “baron” or “wolf”. In order to be accepted by the other “seasoned” harvesters, he had to pass all kinds of tests, almost like a fraternity initiation rite, where he was teased and coaxed by everybody. As an example he was made to sit ona stool and answer very confusing questions, where everyone had the right to swat him with a twig, if he failed to give the correct answer. When he finally was able to successfully demonstrate his harvesting skills, he was, as it was called “liberated”, and accepted into the company of seasoned reapers. An honored position no doubt. The final day of the harvest was given the most importance. In some parts of Poland, there was an ancient ritual called “przepiorka” (quail). A tussock of grain was left uncut in the field, and its top was tied with ribbons and decorated with flowers (known as the przepiorka). In the region of Mazowsze, this tossock was divided into three parts, and each part was braided. These three braids were then tied at the top and decorated as shown in the illustration. The ground around the “quail” was cleaned of weeds to assure a field free of weeds next season. The "quail” would then be surrounded with a ring of small stones, and a bigger flat rock was placed underneath it. The harvesters would continue the ritual by placing a piece of bread, a piece of cheese, some salt, a few flowers and a small coin on it. These were offerings for the "quail”, a popular bird, which personified spirits which were to favor the future crops. At that point the best female harvester, or in some parts of Poland, a girl who was working in the fields for the first time, was held by her legs and dragged on her back around the “quail” to symbolically plow the ground. This act, in which the magic shape of a circle played an important role, was to ensure fertility of the soil.  

From the last stalks of grain and flowers from the field, a beautiful tall wreath in the shape of a crown was braided. According to tradition, the wreath was to represent all of the crops coming from this year’s harvest, in addition to items from the fields, the forest, and the garden. The wreath, therefore, had to contain stalks of rye, wheat, barley, and oats, branches with small red apples and branches with hazelnuts. The contribution from the beehives took the form of some honey cookies attached to the top of the crown. This wreath was placed on the head of the best female harvester, the “przodownica”, who had been chosen by the others. She also carried a big round, freshly baked loaf of breed. A procession of harvesters was formed and led by a “kapela” (folk. Orchestra) and the male leader, the “przodownik”. The men carried the farm tools ornamented with flowers and ribbons, and the women the bundles of grain stalks and baskets with apples and nuts.

Sometimes a very big wreath was also constructed to be carried by several harvesters. To it a rooster was tied by its leg. The behavior of the rooster predicted what kind of harvest was to be expected next season. It was a good omen if the rooster tried to peck at the grate of the wreath. Singing harvest songs, the marchers proceeded to the manor belonging to the owner of the estate or to the house of the most prominent citizen. He was called the “gospodarz” (host) and his wife the “gospodyni” (hostess). On the way the harvesters were often sprinkled with water by local boys. This was to assure adequate rainfall during the spring.  The “przodownica” offered her loaf of bread, which she had been carrying, and the harvest wreath to the landlord. The wreath was then hung on the wall of the manor, for the grain from it was to be used for the symbolic start of next spring's sowing. In this way the continuity of vegetation was secured. The other harvesters offered their gifts with best wishes for a bountiful next harvest. The “gospodarz” started the dancing with the “przodownica”, while the “przodownik” invited the hostess. Then all moved to a festively decorated barn or grainery for an evening of merrymaking. The harvest celebrations are known as “dozynki’’ in Polish, from the verb “zac” - to reap. In 1927, an all-Poland "dozynki” was introduced. It was suspended during WWII, and revived afterwards.

Every year, at the end of August or the beginning of September, a different city has the honor of hosting the harvest festival. Thousands of representatives from all regions of the country, dressed in their colorful garb, present the fruits of the land to the head of state. Then with the participation of many dancers, singers and musicians a show, watched by many foreign tourists is presented at the stadium to commemorate the harvest season.