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Intangible cultural heritage of �Slovakia

Smatušíková, Fedáková, Matušková, Grygarová, Krasnecová

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Embroidery

It is an activity in which we decorate and beautify the fabric with different patterns = we create embroidery.

Embroidery was decorated mainly with women's and girls' clothing, but also with men's clothing and lastly, children's clothing.

In the past, embroidery separated regions according to the way of life people lived there. It dominated the village and occurred in the countryside throughout Slovakia.
Western Slovakia – various geometric shapes, diverse colors, flowers, leaves, messy shapes...

History and facts

Embroidery has developed since the 15th century (the first embroidery guilds were also created).
Embroidery workshops began to be based on manor houses and castles
Rich and poor women worked there together
Interesting: Maria Theresia embroidered
It is still very popular in the countryside even now

„Čepčenie“ (bonnet ceremony)

It is one of the most traditional and most beautiful elements of Slovak weddings
This tradition has its origins in the Slavic tradition
Its origin is based on history and is related to the transition of the bride from the free state to marriage
The bride gives up her freedom and becomes a faithful wife to her bridegroom
This part is the peak of the wedding night and usually starts at midnight

During this ceremony, the bride is asked if she is willing to remove the „vienok“, a floral headdress or headband which is a symbol of her freedom and virginity, or rather be beheaded (not literally, of course)
„Vienok“ (the floral headdress or headband) is then removed from the bride’s head and is thrown among the single girls – the one who catches it or whose head it lands on should get married within a year

After taking off her headband , the bride untangles the braids, which were also a symbol of being single
The braids have always symbolized that the young girl is still waiting for her bridegroom
Instead of the ‘‘vienok‘‘ bride receives a ‘‘čepiec‘‘ (a traditional bonnet with Slovak symbols or flowers or with embroidery elements) that shows all men still interested that she is no longer „available“

This ceremony is usually performed (led) by elderly female and married family members, mostly the godmother of the bride or the groom. Nowadays the act is also performed by a folklore ensemble
A traditional Slovak wedding usually lasts for three days

Sherpas of Slovakia

In our High Tatras in Slovakia there are still some people who carry up to 100 kg of carriage on their backs up the mountains, the carriage is made of food and drinks which are taken to cottages in mountains, and tourists can later buy those things after getting to the top.
They are called sherpas, and we even have a museum with their equipment that is in fact still being used for the purposes of carrying supplies up and down these steep mountain trails.

The loads often weigh more than 100kg in total, and the sherpas work in all weather, from hot summers to cold and stormy winters when temperatures can descend to -20C and the mountains are frozen with snow and ice.
Usually ,people don’t do it for money, but they consider this “job” a part of their life, they harmonize with the mountain

Thank You for Your attention!

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