Poland: This is Dziady — Night of the Ghosts - video Dailymotion

DW (English)

In Olsztyn, a city in northeastern Poland, the ancient Slavic ritual of Dziady is still alive and well. It is marked by the Night of the Ghosts: a dark, mystical festival that really has to be experienced live.

Transcript

00:00Jadr is an ancient Slavic tradition that dates back to pagan pre-Christian times.

00:06It's sometimes described as a kind of Slavic Halloween.

00:09One group of people decided that the time had come to promote Jadr

00:13and make it known to more people.

00:15This is how the Night of the Ghosts Festival in Olsztyn was born in 2024.

00:30The opinions we received from people were so motivating and positive for us

00:34that we could not be able to continue.

00:38Jadr, or Forefather's Eve, was once a mystical communion between the living and the dead.

00:44Families offered food and drink to spirits returning to their former homes.

00:48These days no one in Poland celebrates Jadr at their ancestors' graves.

00:53Halloween is a very famous holiday, a very new holiday.

00:58It is based on the old Celtic tradition.

01:00And also the Slavic Dziadr, or our local folklore,

01:04can discover a lot of interesting and individual things that do not happen anywhere else.

01:11In Poland, Jadr is often associated with Adam Mickiewicz's

01:1519th century romantic poetic drama of the same name,

01:19which is why Jadr is often marked on October 31st

01:22with the performance of plays.

01:24The Night of the Ghosts Festival in Olsztyn

01:27has given the ritual a whole new lease of life.

01:30It draws large crowds with its focus on medieval crafts and art

01:34and its unique blend of history, mystery and performance.

01:38The highlight of the festival is the Jadr ritual itself,

01:42which starts after sundown.

01:52The script for the festival's central performance was written by Emrys Kosek,

01:57an expert in ancient rituals.

01:59In the Slavic tradition, the Feast of the Dead was celebrated at least twice a year,

02:01once in May, and again on the night of August.

02:02In the Slavic tradition, the Feast of the Dead was celebrated at least twice a year,

02:06once in May and again on the night of August.

02:0731st, which was considered the most mystical night of the year.

02:09Across Poland, Jadr is celebrated locally on different days.

02:10In the Slavic tradition, the Feast of the Dead was celebrated at least twice a year,

02:14once in May and again on the night of October 31st, which was considered the most mystical night of the year.

02:19Across Poland, Jadr is celebrated locally on different dates.

02:38When you add these colors, people become an utopist,

02:42a Słowian zombie.

02:44They are creatures that live in the mountains, the mountains, the mountains, the mountains.

02:50They are not pleasant.

02:51They come from the mountains, the mountains,

02:54to live with human lives, human souls.

02:59The most startling moment of the performance is when the water demons emerge from the lake

03:04and pass through the audience in wet clothes.

03:07The visible steam is authentic.

03:09These actors are real cold water swimmers,

03:12making the scene chillingly authentic.

03:14The creatures in Polish folklore are among the most terrifying in Europe,

03:30but nothing compares to seeing them come alive in Olsztyn.

03:34A lot of people are gathered.

03:37A lot of people are gathered.

03:38They are very cold.

03:39They are very cold.

03:40It's very nice.

03:41I think it's a Słowian holiday.

03:43They can rivalize with Halloween.

03:45But the festival isn't just about scaring people.

03:48These ghosts and demons very definitely have a heart,

03:52because all proceeds from the performance are donated to the regional children's hospital.

03:57In short, this ancient tradition is brought to life in Olsztyn,

04:01shining a light in the darkness in more ways than one.

04:05I don't know.

04:06The final cycle is going to beholstered to fight out of Twohy

Poland: This is Dziady — Night of the Ghosts

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