AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
in Stará Pazova came to this territory from Selenča and therefore
they are likely to have transferred these customs to the new
homeland from there. According to the local priest, recollections
of this custom are still preserved in the memory of the oldest
inhabitants of Selenča, but its active practice ceased to exist in
the 1920s. Sporadic performance of “ladies“ can also be found in
Sklankamenské Vinohrady, which is a part of the local
evangelical church in Stará Pazova.
Picture 1:
“Paňičke”. The second half of the 20th century.
(Archive of TO, Stará Pazova)
It is likely that “ladies“ in Stará Pazova have existed
continuously since the arrival of Slovaks to this locality, with the
exception of several years of war. They are held annually on
Palm Sunday. Its original actors are girls of pre-school or school
age before confirmation (up to 12 years old) who visit their
relatives in groups (of 3 or more) with their round walk. By
singing songs they declare the departure of winter, prosperity
and health, for which they are rewarded with eggs and other
treats from the hosts (Sklabinská, Mosnáková 2012).
A young bride, who is different from the others by wearing a
parta (bridal head outfit) or a wreath on her head, is the central
character of a group of “ladies“. All girls are dressed in
traditional folk costumes of Stará Pazova. One of the girls carries
a basket (céger) or a felt egg bag; the others are dancing. In
every house “ladies“ dance and sing a song that is used up to
now with minimal variations:
Palm Sunday, where have you left the keys?
I gave them, I gave them to Saint George.
Saint George, get up and unlock the doors.
We will brew, we will brew red beer,
We will make, we will make reeve´s son drunk,
If he doesn´t drink, we will beat him with the whip on his
buttocks.
The girl is pretty, her hair is down to her waist,
Reward, reward our beautiful bride,
we will take her to a fair,
we will buy her a lace- a red or a green one,
on a Palm Sunday.
A big grove or a small grove,
You our goodwife,
give us some eggs, not only one but two,
you will not miss that much.
The origin of the name “ladies“ (
paňičke) can be explained in
several ways. One of them is the presence of a young bride - a
virgin (in Slovak language panna) who is traditionally associated
with the motives of youth, innocence and purity, as well as the
rebirth of spring, nature and life. The second parallel can be
found in the statements of Stará Pazova inhabitants. According
to them, the name „lady“ (
paňičke) is connected with the
motives of beauty or the specific status and prestige of girls.
When the girl, who was supposed to take part in the round walk,
was dressed nicely, they said to her, You are as pretty as a lady.
Today, when using this term, we mean the proud, nicely dressed
girls or brides, but also the complex syncretic formation that
consists of a girl, a boy, a round walk, a text, a melody, rhythmic
steps, props and a reward.
Ritual round walk of “ladies“ has undergone several changes of
its form, content and meaning. However, the presence of at least
three girls in the group, the presence of a young bride with a
wreath and a basket to receive a reward are the elements that
remained. Several transformations are observed with the actors
of the tradition. Originally, the “ladies“ were performed by poor
girls, who gained eggs in this way. The eggs were then decorated
and given to the boys called oblievari (those who came to splash
them with water as a part of Easter tradition) on Easter Monday.
Sometimes, the “ladies“ were performed by gypsy children, also
dressed as young brides. However, they were not dressed in
Slovak folk costumes but in clothes typical for “ladies”. Gypsy
children sang the same song (Marićová 2009). In this context,
the tradition also had a certain social significance; it was a
manifestation of the social stratification of the population.
Approximately in the 60s and 70s of the last century, little boys
joined the groups of girls. Their role was to help the girls to
carry the basket. Later, the number of boys in the group grew,
they started to form pairs with the girls. Today, boys are an
integral part of the tradition of a ritual round walk. They do not
have their own name, the concept of “ladies“ today includes both
girls and boys. At present mostly boys and girls of pre-school
age participate actively in these walks. Mothers with their
toddlers in folk costumes, who participate in the parade of
children in the church and their singing in front of the church,
are an important element of the custom. Initially, children were
mainly rewarded with gingerbread, apples and raw eggs. Later,
they were given dyed eggs, chocolate eggs, dinars or sweets of
various kinds.
Picture 2:
“Paňičke” in front of the Evangelical Church. Stará
Pazova. Apríl 2019. (Author: S. Letavajová)
The clothes of the “ladies“ have also undergone significant
changes. At first it was simple and ordinary. Children wore
ordinary clothes in pale colours. Apron and female shirt (called
kepeňka) were of the same colour. It was the wreath or parta
(bridal head outfit) that distinguished the bride from other girls.
Approximately in the 1960s, clothing is changing and takes on
its current form. The different garments, material and the way of
making the clothes of the “ladies“ are replications of the rich and
ornate women's wedding clothes of Slovaks in Stará Pazova.
While the garments of Slovak brides in Vojvodina was mostly
black, the brides in Stará Pazova as well as the border workers
5
were allowed to wear coloured clothing and short skirts. The
typical colours of everyday clothing as well as the ceremonial
wedding costume were white and light blue. The use of these
colours has become one of the most significant elements of
ethnic but also local distinction of Slovaks in Stará Pazova. They
5
Respondents expressed their need to wear practical clothing (short skirts), which
would not hinder the activities conducted on the border and their potential contact with
enemies (transport on carriages, physical work, providing supply to soldiers).
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