THE PAINTED VILLAGE
– ZALIPIE, POLAND -
G'day folks,
The small village of Zalipie can be found at a remote area of South Poland. But to those who make the effort to get there the trip is well worth it, because this village contains quite the surprise between its walls.
The
residents of this village have a beautiful tradition that started over 100
years ago, when the women of the village began to paint decorations of flowers
on the walls of all the houses.
Although it isn't known exactly when the tradition began, we know that it
started because the women wanted to cover the stains of chimney smoke. The
stains were evident even through the paint, which is why they began drawing
flowers on the walls.
When more modern furnaces and stoves began to come into use, there was no more
need for the festive decorations, but instead of stopping, the paintings became
more and more elaborate. Slowly, these paintings became an important part of
the local culture and the village began to initiate contests between the
painters to see who has done the best job.
And what started as the work of a few became the hobby of all, and today the
flowers have conquered public buildings, bridges, roundaoubts, trees wells and
even the local chicken pens and dog houses.
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Clancy's comment: Good for them. It looks like a happy place.
I'm ...
Charming
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