“St. Andrew’s Day”- time of auguries and predictions
St. Andrew’s Day is special occasion for organizating last boisterous parties before the upcoming Advent. According to the tradition St. Andrew’s Day Party was held on 23rd November 2012 in Community Centre in Kosów, too. The event was an opportunity to integrate community centres from Kowala community area: Community Centre “Szansa” from Kowala, Community Centre “Słoneczko” from Trablice as well as children and the youth living in Kosów, of course.
St. Andrew’s Day (also known as Jędrzejki or Jędrzejówki) is an evening of auguries celebrating at night, in St. Andrew’s Eve. Saint Andrew is a patron of Scotland, Greece and Russia. First Polish literary mention of him appeared in 1557 due to Marcin Bielski.
Once St. Andrew’s Day auguries were only of matrimonial nature and were destined for unmarried women (male equivalent of St. Andrew’s Day was St. Catherine’s Day). Initially, St. Andrew’s Day was treated very seriously and auguries were celebrated only individually, in isolation; in later times, it took collective form, organized in age-mate groups of nubiles; and nowadays, it turned into noncommittal amusement, collecting the youth of both sex. Wards of each community centre, boys and girls prepared decoration, cotillions, auguries as well as St. Andrew’s Day games and plays. There was not a lack of takers for collective amusement! The time to auguries came after coming to know each other, dances and meal. Although everyone treated them with a pinch of salt, they were very popular. We could find out what we should expect in near future, know our chosen one’s name or our future job. Afterwards, contests with small prizes began. They were very emotive and made a lot of smile.
Party time flew so fast, that we had to go home before we noticed that. Everyone said goodbye and thanked for collective amusement, hoping for next such a happy meeting. It could happen thanks to the support of the Community Office and Local Social Welfare Centre in Kowala.
