“Líšeňské ostatky” Festival
“Líšeňské ostatky” have been taking place since 2012, thanks to the creative collaboration between the Národopisný soubor Líšňáci (Folklore Ensemble Líšňáci) and Divadlo Líšeň (Líšeň Theatre). This revived tradition follows a long and glorious line of Shrovetide festivities from the 18th and 19th centuries, which were interrupted only by the First World War. The revival of this tradition was made possible by František Svoboda (1883 – 1962), a collector of Líšeň customs, who preserved the carnival protocol in manuscript form (in the archive of Národopisný soubor Líšňáci), as well as the texts and melodies of Shrovetide songs, and other records of how our ancestors celebrated this holiday.
The idea of reviving this celebration, which is the second biggest event in the local folk life after weddings, came from Josef Trávníček (Národopisný soubor Líšňáci), who also determined the basic concept of the event by connecting the traditional costume part with the masquerade part in a single day (in the past, the masquerade part used to take place on the day after the costume part). He invited Pavla Dombrovská from Divadlo Líšeň to collaborate, who conceived the masquerade part of the event as a challenge for neighborhood cooperation and the possibility of joint creations by local residents. Under the guidance of artists from Divadlo Líšeň, the people of Líšeň create masks and costumes according to their own designs, and since Christmas, they come together in the evenings to practice the Shrovetide music or come up with lively scenes for the procession.
The event is organized under the auspices of the civic association “Líšeň sobě” (Líšeň for Itself), which aims to support the collaborative work and creativity of local people and organizations. “Líšeňské ostatky” are also organized by Národopisný soubor Líšňáci and Divadlo Líšeň, with organizational and financial support from Kulturní centrum Líšeň (Cultural Center Líšeň) and MČ Brno-Líšeň (Municipal District Brno-Líšeň).
The celebration always takes place on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, which in 2017 falls on February 25. The Líšeň Shrovetide procession traditionally starts from Kubelíkovy Street at 2:00 PM. It is led by the “stárci” and “stárky” (men and women in traditional Líšeň costumes) from the previous calendar year’s weddings, for whom it is simultaneously the culmination and completion of their “stárkovský úřad” (stárka office) because new stárci will be elected after Shrovetide. The winter versions of traditional costumes include girls wearing “mušelínky” (a type of skirt with aprons) with black coats lined with fur and tied with flowered Tyrolean scarves with a black background to signify the upcoming penitential Lenten season. The traditional winter coats for men are faithful copies of the coat worn by Líšňák Petr Hanzl depicted in Marie Gardavská’s watercolor painting from the beginning of the last century.
The procession continues with a joyful parade of Shrovetide masqueraders, led by “Bakus” sitting in a cart (called the “popeleční vůz”) pulled by devils. They entertain the crowd with their humorous performances and present various scenes. Among the masqueraders, who can be seen only once a year, are Death with a skeleton, devils, a bear with a bear handler, false brides, a mare, a goat with kids, Neanderthals, and other various creatures. Since no visual material has been preserved from the local ancient tradition, some comical figures were inspired by photographs of traditional Czech and Moravian masqueraders from the book “Masky, démoni a šaškové” (Masks, Demons, and Fools) by Jitka Staňková and Ludvík Baran. However, most masks are created from the imagination of their creators, and each year, new ones are added. The masqueraders also have their own Shrovetide “neighborhood” band, which has revived the original Líšeň Shrovetide songs recorded by the collector František Svoboda.
The procession is accompanied by a brass band and the “šraml maškar” (a musical instrument used by the masqueraders). After characteristic dance stops with distinctive dance routines, the costume-clad girls distribute typical Shrovetide treats – doughnuts and “boží milosti” (a traditional pastry). The masqueraders play and frolic with the audience while fortifying themselves with various types of strong alcohol.
On the town square (for visitors, this is the square of Karel IV.), the costume-clad participants go to the church for a blessing, while the masqueraders, in the meantime, execute the bear in front of the Líšeň Castle for all the injustices happening in Líšeň. During the botched execution, most of the masqueraders perish. Thanks to a miraculous elixir (slivovitz), they are all happily saved from death and, together with several hundred attendees of the event, they dance and sing to the accompaniment of the local Shrovetide band, performing traditional songs.
The procession concludes with an afternoon celebration at Dělňáku (the local community center), during which the costume-clad participants perform original Líšeň dances typical for this period.
The evening program begins again with the costume-clad participants. The dancing reaches its climax with the “burial of the bass” accompanied by a funeral procession, a speech, a ceremonial sprinkling, and satirical chants by the priest and the sexton.
The properly mourned bass is carried out of the hall amidst choral singing by all participants…
“Ladies and gentlemen, at this late hour, I have sad news to share.
Auntie Kača has embarked on her journey to heaven
and played her last waltz with us!
We have only the somersault left until Wednesday,
so, folks, don’t forget to attend Ash Wednesday!”
Each Shrovetide also carries strong memories of Josef Trávníček, thanks to whom the tradition of the old folk celebration in Líšeň was revived.
Using texts by Josef Trávníček Pavla Dombrovská
