Hail to the spring – “GREGORČKI” 2019
Hail to the Spring – Gregorčki is an event that commemorates an old folk custom, when craftsmen symbolically said goodbye to winter by dropping wooden boats with burning candles along the streams and rejoicing that with the arrival of spring they will no longer need lights at work. According to the old Julian calendar, spring begins on St. Gregory’s Day, March 12th. Thus, on the eve of St. Gregory’s Day in Ljubljana, March 11th, children launch variously shaped boats with candles on Gradaščica, which we call “St. Gregory’s boats” or “Gregorčki”. St. Gregory’s Day is also a holiday for lovers, as according to folk tradition, “birds get married” on this day. The purpose of the event is also to revive the cultural image of the old town. The venue of the event (the banks of the Gradaščica and the Trnovo Bridge) are part of the architectural legacy of Jože Plečnik.
The spring experience at the event will be enriched by a cultural and musical program.
The event is preceded by a series of art and educational workshops in many schools and kindergartens and elsewhere. At the workshops, children, under the guidance of museum curators, art and technical education teachers, kindergarten teachers and art students, make boats or “Gregorčki” from natural and recycled materials. Special attention is paid to the development of children’s creativity and protection of the environment. One of the main goals of the event is the production of gregorček from biodegradable and ecological waste materials. Every year, more children attend the workshops, and creativity in making them knows no bounds.
- Before the event, there will be two children’s art workshops for making Gregorčki:
- on Saturday, 7 March at 11.00, at the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum (Metelkova ulica 2, Ljubljana). The workshop is suitable for children from the age of 5.
Applications are welcome to: E: sonja.kogej-rus@etno-muzej.si or T: 031 728 503 - on Wednesday, 11 March, at 5 pm, in the Botanical Garden of the University of Ljubljana (Ižanska cesta 15, Ljubljana).
We will get to know the old Slavic custom of lowering the lights as a symbol of the victory of spring over winter, of light over darkness. We will make ‘Gregorčki’, light- bearing vessels, from natural materials. Since on St. Gregory’s birds are getting married, our ‘Gregorčki’ will be adorned with bird nests and birds. You get all the material at the workshop. The workshop is suitable for children from the age of 5 and adults. Younger children can join us accompanied by their parents.
Entrance fee: € 5.00
More information at www.botanicni-vrt.si/dogodki-novice
At the workshops and events, we also take care of the ecological awareness of the participants and remind the children of the importance of protecting the environment. Before the event, we thoroughly clean the riverbed and the banks of the Gradaščica. Before the Gradaščica flows into the Ljubljanica, we also catch the floating boats and place them in containers intended for this purpose.
Make your own boat from biodegradable materials and join us!
The event is free for visitors. * In case of too high water level, which would prevent access to Gradaščica or endanger the safety of visitors, the event will be canceled.
We will take care of the health of our youngest with free home-grown apples from Kmetija Potovc.
