“Líšeňské ostatky” on March 2, 2019.

“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. This way, the people of Líšeň, who also have access to artists from Divadlo Líšeň, create masks and costumes, come together in the evenings to practice the Shrovetide music, or write down the sins for which the bear will be executed.

For the public, there will be a workshop where children and adults can create masks for the masquerade procession, held this year on February 25 at 3:00 PM at Dělňáku (the local community center).

The celebration always takes place on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. In 2019, Ostatky (Shrovetide) will be on March 2. 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.

Following the costume-clad participants and the lively brass band, the masqueraders join the procession, with the highlight being the character of “Bakus” sitting in a cart (called the “popeleční vůz”) pulled by devils. The masqueraders entertain the crowd with their antics, occasionally invigorating themselves with various types of strong alcohol, begging, or stamping the audience with stamps bearing images of love and obscenities.

Upon reaching the town square (for visitors, this is the square of Karel IV.), the festive atmosphere reaches its peak with song and dance performed by both the costume-clad and the masqueraders. The krojovaná děvčata (girls in traditional costume) distribute typical Shrovetide treats – doughnuts and “boží milosti” (a traditional pastry). The costume-clad participants then proceed 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 original Líšeň Shrovetide songs.

The procession concludes with an afternoon celebration at Dělňáku, during which the costume-clad participants perform traditional 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.

The event is organized by Národopisný soubor Líšňáci, Divadlo Líšeň, Líšeň sobě, and Kulturní centrum Líšeň. It is financially supported by MČ Brno-Líšeň and the statutory city of Brno.

Using texts by Josef Trávníček Pavla Dombrovská

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