Letečko in Radošovce, 1930s
“Does your home have a few intertwined sprouting willow or birch twigs, decorated with eggs, ribbons or children's creations? Congratulations, in that case you can skip the next lines: this is exactly what a lito, lítěčko, létečko or máječek looks like. Some places it was made right next to the stream where Smrtka (death/Morana effigy) sailed away, others made it in advance. It symbolized the exact opposite of Morana: new life, new energy and the arrival of spring. Some places used the tops of coniferous trees instead of twigs, but the decorations were the same everywhere: blown shells, ribbons, paper doves and other small decorations, usually in green and red.”
“The létečko was often carried around the villages after Smrtka was drown; at each house, young people announced with rhymes and songs that winter was over, received some goodies in return and held a feast from the gifts they had passed down.”
Saint George comes,
Takes out his keys,
We know;
Unlocks the earth
That flowers and trees might grow
Death is floating far way,
Lovely Spring is on its way.
From Wikipedia:
Letečko (other names: letočko, letko, leto, lesola, lésola, máj, májik, hájik) is a green twig used in spring processions by girls, which symbolized the coming spring and the awakening of life. In accordance with the ideas in the traditional peasant environment, it was necessary to ensure the arrival of spring and ensure favorable conditions for obtaining a living through ritual actions. Adolescent girls with a letečko would go around the village houses, wishing for health in the family and prosperity in the economy, for which they were rewarded in kind or financially. It was either a separate ceremony or these processions took place immediately after the destruction of Morana , a symbol of winter and death. The processions took place from the fourth Sunday of Lent to St. George's Day (April 24) and were accompanied by songs:
We bring you May,
under the green grove,
to make the grass grow
above the knee.
We planted sparks,
they didn't want us to grow
without God's grace.
Saint Peter, Saint John,
Bring us a jug of wine.
Saint George is calling,
the earth opens,
all kinds of flowers,
until the mountain shines,
rose, violet.
And you, dear mother,
Bring us an egg,
because one, because two,
but it will subside a little.”
– a song from the area around Hlohovec
Dear summer, dear,
Where have you been for so long?
In the basement on a bench
in a red rose.
Be there, grandmothers, cheerful,
But we'll bring you the flyer (letečko).
Whose new house is this?
We have a new summer.
and to you, Mr. Farmer,
We sing beautifully.”
– song from the village of Láb
Nowadays, these parades belong mainly to children's folklore ensembles.
Už jste někdy vynášeli smrtku, Moranu nebo Mařenu? Prastarý pohanský rituál má něco do sebe: můžete se rozloučit nejenom se zimou, ale symbo
61 pages : 27 cm
