ŚWARNI ŁOJCE Regional Group from Sadek-Kostrza

The group was founded in 2009 and it works at the school named after John Paul II in Sadek-Kostrza.

Śwarni Łojce present traditions of the Lach Szczyrzyckich: rituals, customs, dialect, singing, dancing and costumes.

In Zakopane they will present a program entitled, Kostrzajskie Wesele. After the marriage the wedding procession returns to the house, where on the threshold the bride and groom are welcomed with bread and salt. After a common prayer and a meal the “starosta” of the wedding begins to dance with the bride. The bride dances with the bridesmaids and the best-man and after it is time for Oczepiny, the unveiling of the bride. All the men go to the tavern and “starościny” cut the bride’s tress (plait), pull the garland and put on a cape and sing old ritual songs. When the men come back from the inn, the groom buys his wife from the old “starościn” , who give him the garland of the wife.

After the ritual dance with her mother, who eventually gives her daughter to the bridegroom.

Then it is time to have fun for the youth, who first dance a ritual Przepiórkę, performed only during the wedding – after Oczepiny. Next they dance with the “starosts” the dance Krzyżak as a sign of accepting them to the group of the hosts. Next young people dance: Suwaną, Kowala, Ogrodnika and chodzonego, until finally the host reminds everyone that it is time to go home. Singing Krakowiak the guests leave the wedding house, promisingthat they will return tomorrow.

Composition of the musicians: violin, bass, clarinet and trumpet.

Group leader and choreographer: Halina Gocal.Music supervisor: Mateusz Frys.

The group wish to be in category I: traditional