Research report by the Jagiellonian University, Poland - cult rural

19the year for protection of both people, farm animals and households. On that day in Podhaleservants were employed, working conditions and wages were agreed. Epiphany also startedthe time of carnival called “niespoust” in Podhale.Among numerous attributes which are present in Christmas rituals a special role wasplayed by the so-called podłaźnicki which were green fir twigs forked or arranged in a shapeof a cross. They were used for decorating homes, a white and black room by fitting them overthe doorway, windows and pictures. Thus, a long time before a classic Christmas treeappeared in Podhale in the beginning of the 20 th century, there was a custom of decoratinghomes with green twigs and a green tree, which was hung under the ceiling. Amongnumerous meanings of a Christmas tree, we can undoubtedly find reference to a cosmic lifetree, the motif of which is present in a lot of cosmogonic myths, including Slavic ones. It canbe proved by a Carpathian carol noted down in the 19 th century which talk about a tree onwhich two birds are sitting and talking about the creation of the world. This archaic symbolwas referred to in order to recall the image of a primary order which is the proto model for allactivities. It was additionally enriched by a Christian symbol of a paradise tree. Evergreenpodłaźnicki were also the sign of life in this dramatic time perceived as a struggle betweenday and night, light and darkness and waiting for the birth of Christ. They were also attributedstrong apotropaic properties. They were to protect not only a house but also farm buildings.On Christmas eve day the host fitted twigs over the entrance to a stable and threshing floor,making the sign of a cross. He also brought podłaźnicka to the room before the Christmas evedinner. Bachelors and farmers at the time of “podłazy” also came with green twigs. When theChristmas time was over, the fir twigs were taken down and kept for protection. If animalsfell ill, the reason for which was commonly believed to be a cast spell, the smoke frompodłaźnicka was used to fumigate the ill cattle and all the farm buildings. Oats grains carriedthe same meaning. A small sheaf of oats was brought before the Christmas eve dinner to theroom by the host and put in the corner “coby w nowym roku był urodzaj”. During podłazy thebachelors sprinkled oats grains over the family. The oats consecrated on St. Stephan’s daywas thrown into a barn where the cut crops were stored to protect them from the pest andbring harvest. Also hen were fed with it. Firstly, a circle was made of the grains and later thebirds were let into it. The symbolic action of sprinkling oats was also introduced to church,with a specific interpretation. According to the explanations of people who remember thiscustom, people used to throw oats at each other to commemorate St. Stephan’s stoning todeath.