On Saturday, song and dance ensembles such as KYCZERA from Legnica and CHAWIRA from Kraków will perform at the field in Żeliszów, presenting their excellent repertoire. Local artists and ensembles from the county will also enhance the event with their performances. In addition, a short scene from the film “Sami swoi,” performed by Żeliszów residents, will amuse every fan of good humor. There will also be team competitions, “Karguls versus Pawlaks,” in which teams from Bolesławiec municipality and Lwówek Śląski municipality will face each other.
Free inflatables, an alpaca meeting and a water curtain have been prepared for the youngest visitors. Food stalls will serve delicacies from the Borderlands, while local artists will present their handmade products.
There will also be educational booths prepared by police officers from the district police headquarters in Bolesławiec and employees of the PWiK company from Bolesławiec, who will provide refreshing water throughout the event.
People from the Borderlands in Bolesławiec County
After World War II, many Poles from the former Eastern Borderlands arrived in Lower Silesia—from areas that are now part of Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. Settling in new places, they brought their traditions, cuisine, language and deep religious faith with them. In many Lower Silesian villages and towns, Borderlands holiday customs are still cultivated today, including caroling, the blessing of food and celebrating holidays according to the Julian calendar. Borderlands cuisine, with dishes such as buckwheat pierogi, potato kiszka and kutia, has become an integral part of the region’s culinary landscape.
People from the Borderlands also brought distinctive costumes, embroidery and handicrafts, which can still be seen at local celebrations and festivals. Their strong ties to the Catholic Church and religious traditions left a lasting mark on the parishes of Lower Silesia, where services according to Borderlands customs are still held.
Numerous Borderlands associations operate in the region, organizing meetings, exhibitions, concerts and reunions commemorating life in the former eastern lands. The memory of Lviv, Vilnius, Stanislaviv and Ternopil remains alive, passed down from generation to generation as part of family history. Schools, libraries and cultural institutions organize meetings with veterans and witnesses of the resettlements, preserving these memories in the awareness of the younger generation.
Borderlands traditions are a living testimony to the history and experiences of people who were forced to leave their homes. Today, they are an important element of the identity of Bolesławiec County, enriching its culture and making it a unique place on the map of Poland.
