Slovak folk costumes have now been making waves even in Poland. Our traveling exhibition Charm in Costume has made its way to Warsaw, the capital of our northern neighbors. This allowed the people of another city to stand beside those of Vienna, Prague, Oradei in Romania, and Budapest, and admire the large format photographs created as part of the Slovak Folk Costume Day project.
The grand opening took place on April 11th on the premises of the Slovak Institute in Warsaw, and the entire evening was dedicated to Slovak folk costumes and songs. The locals came to admire Charm in Costume, and many valued guests were, of course, present at the opening as well. “Slovakia is a country rich in tradition, in folklore. It resonates throughout our homeland, but it is also something that is appealing and interesting abroad. Bringing such an exhibition to Poland is a good idea. I feel that the Polish people also have a deep connection with their traditions, and this is a way for them to discover the traditions and folklore of their close neighbors. To find parallels and also potential differences,” said Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Poland Andrea Elscheková Matisová. The Ambassador also expressed her appreciation of the fact that this project has made the STAR Production publishing house and the Slovenka magazine sort of ambassadors abroad – and good ambassadors at that.
From the opening of the Charm in Costume exhibition.
The folk costume is here to stay
State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Interior Lucia Kurilovská made her way from Slovakia to Warsaw to support the Charm in Costume exhibition by making an appearance. “This project bolsters our confidence and urges the youth to honor our culture. The folk costume creates a sense of patriotism,” she said. “We travel across Slovakia and seek out beautiful costumes, which are worn by people of all generations with pride. Slovak Folk Costume Day creates the conditions for folklore lovers to meet and show off the culture of their ancestors. We want to preserve not just the folk costume but also our traditions, customs, our heritage. Our ancestors imbued folk costumes and embroidery with the love, the joy, and the pain they experienced. Love between partners, love for their land, and love for other people. I am quite certain that the folk costume is here to stay, and not only does it have a wonderful past but also an incredible future,” said author and organizer of the Charm in Costume exhibition and Slovak Folk Costume Day Mária Reháková, CEO of Star Production.
Even the Polish sang
The cultural program of the grand opening was handled by Jozef Mak and the accordion player Michal Faško. The famous folk song maker from Banská Bystrica sang “Slovensko moje, otčina moja” (My Slovakia, My Fatherland), as well as two iconic songs – “Kopala studienku” (A Well She Dug) and “Na Kráľovej holi” (Atop Kráľova Hoľa). And he was not left singing alone; the guests sang along with him and a massive round of applause followed. Even if for a moment, they were transported to Slovakia thanks to the songs.
The statue of a siren, the symbol of the city, at Warsaw's Old Town Square.
European rarity
“We are extremely happy that we‘re able to present the Slovak folk costume on the premises of the Slovak Institute in Warsaw. I often tell my Polish friends and colleagues when inviting them to come visit Slovakia that they will encounter an unparalleled variety of folk costumes and traditions in our country. I feel that it‘s a rarity even in Europe. Natural conditions – mountain ranges, rivers – have created closed-off regions, each of which developed their own dress, their own costume. Different traditions, different songs, different dialects go hand in hand with that. Slovak Folk Costume Day truly is the first project that shows off the variety of Slovak folk traditions in such a spectacular way in Poland,” said director of the Slovak Institute in Warsaw Milan Novotný with appreciation.
HEALTHY COUNTRY
Sliač Spa is proud to be a partner of the Charm in Costume exhibition as well as of the Slovak Folk Costume Day. That's why it had to be present in Warsaw as well. "Slovakia is a wonderful and healthy country. And our spa is trying to make sure it stays that way. We want to revitalize our baths, we're making our historical park even more beautiful," said Martin Beňuch, Sliač Spa CEO and future host of the Charm in Costume exhibition.
Milan Novotný, Mária Reháková, Andrea Elscheková Matisová.
reklama
