On 13th August youth realized an interview connected with Harvest Festival and other issues related to the differences between generations. The interview took place in the Commune Centre of Culture and Ecology in Plichtów because of EVS project „Echoes of Europe”. For the questions respond women who live in Nowosolna Commune and are associated with Singing Band „Byszewianie”: Ms Halina Żaromińska, Ms Helena Kałuda and Ms Barbara Fils.

Since when is the Harvest Festival a ceremony and is celebrated?

Ms Kałuda: I believe the Harvest Festival has always been. When the harvest was going to an end people went to thank God for the weather. In my region harvest began very early - at the end of June. In harvest the whole family took part, even children, and farmers scythed ears of cereals. Usually the end of harvest was in the last days of July – when the grains were in the barn.

Where did the Harvest Festival take place before?

Ms B. Flis: From my childhood I remember that „Harvest Festival” took place in a collective farm. People gave bread and harvest wreath to the greatest farmers. Everything was combined with fun – dances and singing. Women baked cakes. During the years places had changed.

Ms H. Żaromińska: I remember that in the beginning it was just „Parish Harvest Festival”, and later became community and parish and since then it’s more lofty celebration. In the old days (before I became a member of the band) I don’t recall that the „Harvest Festival” was as uproarious as it is now.

What does the process of preparing a harvest wreath look like?

Ms H. Kałuda: First you have to cut the ears of grain. All cereals should be included in the wreath - rye, wheat, barley and oats. Wreath can make all willing people – both women and men but most of the time wreath is made by women.

Ms H. Żaromińska: When it comes to the shape of the wreath may be freeform. However, when it comes to preparing a wreath to the Church, the dominant shape is the cross. But for the mayor, as the host, has a different shape, usually there are two cross over semicircles entwined around by grains. At the bottom there are fruits and vegetables. Wreath is decorated by dry flowers and sea lavender.

Ms B. Flis: Wreath is usually decorated with live flowers and multi-colored ribbons. Cross or the image of Mother of God is decorated by the dill seeds and cereals – corn, linseed.

What is the meaning of the bread and honey in the context of „Harvest Festival"?

Ms H. Kałuda: Bread is the most important in life. It is a gift from God and you have to share it with everyone.

Ms H. Żaromińska: During giving bread to the mayor – as host – it is said to share the bread fairly to be enough for everybody. The symbol of „Harvest Festival” is also bread with honey. It is said that if bees will vanish, there will be no life in the world. So maybe that’s why bread and honey are so important.

Who is the starost of the Harvest?

Ms H. Żaromińska: The honour of being the starosts (man and woman) of „Harvest Festival” always fell to the most important farmers in the village. It used to be a great honour, but today it’s difficult to find people who are willing to fulfil this function.

What is meant by the slogan „Harvest food"?

Ms H. Żaromińska: During "Harvest Festival” there was always food for everyone. There were cooked sausages, black pudding, bread or rolls and cakes.

What are the traditional Polish foods?

Ms H. Żaromińska: For sure Polish bigos, bread with lard, meatballs, potato pancakes, zalewajka soup and white borscht.

What did people use to do in the past?

Ms H. Żaromińska: People used to have farms in which worked all family members, people hardly traveled to the city in searching jobs.

Ms H. Kałuda: My parents had a shop, my dad was a butcher, but most of the time, until I went to school, I spent with my grandparents. My grandfather was a blacksmith; in addition he used to prepare rapeseed oil during all winter. Women in the countryside sowed linen – they used to prepare clothes for the whole family. People bred pets – farms often were self-sufficient. People in the countryside made cottage cheese, butter, cream etc.

What kinds of dishes were prepared in the past?

Ms H. Kałuda: For sure there were potatoes with borsch, milk soup with hasty pudding, cabbage with peas, mushroom soup. On Sunday women prepared chicken soup and the whole family sat together around one table.

What did the houses in the village use to look like?

Ms H. Kałuda: There were wooden houses with small windows, which weren’t insulated. In the winter it was necessary to cover the house with straw.

What kinds of jobs were popular in the past?

Ms H. Żaromińska: Smith, mason, carpenter.

How can you estimate your life?

Ms H. Kałuda and H. Żaromińska: All we need is health. You have to be happy with what you have, because life is so fragile and short. We just hope it will not be worse but a bit calmer.