Preliminary communication
„Amidst Luka on Lučica, the Pine Greens“ – the Maypole in the Former Custom Practice of the Men of Vela Luka
Tonko Barčot
; Arhivski-sabirni centar Korčula-Lastovo
Abstract
In Vela Luka on the island of Korčula, the custom of the installation of the May wood – pine tree, had survived until 1943. It is the most prominent feature of the ancient May ceremony which celebrated the
awakening of nature, i.e. beginning of spring. On the basis of oral narratives, this article reconstructs the custom in detail and sets it in the Korčula, Mediterranean and European context. Analysed were particular folk songs related to the custom as well as the ritual role of the tree, gender aspect and the source of the custom, as well as similarities and differences on the western part of the island of Korčula. The paper also looks into social and political changes of the custom, i.e. the use of the May wood outside the May context. It can be concluded that this custom is not necessarily a recent import and could be looked at as a possible indicator of the affiliation of the island to the „Roman“ custom circle. The custom was especially developed in Vela Luka in the 19th and the first half of the 20 th centuries, coming out
of its May day context. May tree - pine will be elevated to a symbol of celebration and power, and under the name of „standarac.“
Keywords
First of May; Vela Luka; the May tree; pine tree; social and political changes; „standarac’’; the 19th and 20th centuries
Hrčak ID:
261196
URI
Publication date:
22.11.2015.
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