I. International Lemko festivals
«Lemkivska Vatra» (Zhdynia, Poland)
One of the most famous Lemko festivals is the annual international ethnographic festival «Lemkivska Vatra» (Lemko Fire). It is held in the Beskids in the village of Zhdynia (Horlitz County, Lesser Poland voivodeship, Poland) for three days in the 3rd or 4th week of July. The organizer is the Lemko Association. The first «Vatra» (Fire) took place on August 12-14, 1983 and has been held annually since then. The purpose of the festival is to preserve and popularize Lemko traditions and culture through singing, dancing, artistic and live speech.
The idea of the festival came from the poet Volodymyr Graban and members of the dance-choir group «Lemkovyna». They believed that meetings of Lemkos of different generations, families and friends are very important for the preservation of Lemko culture. The first «Vatra» took place in the form of small informal meetings of «Lemkovina» and their fans.
Step by step, the festivals acquired a modern format of Lemko culture «Lemkivska Vatra» was first held in different places: in Charna, Hanchiv, Bortny, but since 1990 it has found its permanent address - the village of Zhdynia.
Every year about 50 bands from Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Canada and other countries perform on the big stage of the festival. Еhe main path leading from the entrance to the stage is called «Lemko Street», a place, where you can buy embroidered shirts, various handicrafts, CDs, books or paintings.
In addition to the big stage, there is also «Vatrochka» - part of the festival, dedicated to the youngest participants, where for several hours held master classes in crafts, competitions or entertainment for children. The winners of the competitions receive awards, gifts and diplomas. Competitions are also held for senior participants. The «Miss Lemkovina» election is taking place on the main stage, and a volleyball tournament is taking place nearby. Traditionally, a big fire is lit at the festival, which is the reason for the festivals name.
You can read about the festival on all Lemko websites. However, the «Lemkivska Vatra» has its own separate site:
http://watrazdynia.pl/uk/%d0%b2%d0%b0%d1%82%d1%80%d0%b0-2019/
On this Internet resource you can find the history, media files and programs of the festival.
«Dzvony Lemkivshchyny» (Monastyrysk, Ukraine)
An important cultural event is the «Dzvony Lemkivshchyny» (Bells of Lemko Region): an all-Ukrainian traditional festival of Lemko culture, which is held annually on the first Saturday and Sunday of August. The scale of the action can be imagined on the basis of the fact that sometimes more than a hundred choirs or dance groups from different countries take part in it.
The first two festivals took place in 1999 and 2000 under the name «Lemkivska Vatra» in the village of Gutysko, Berezhany district, Ternopil region. However, starting from the third festival, it received its modern name and a permanent address in the tract «Bychova» near the city of Monastyrysk, Ternopil region.
The festival program includes stage performances by amateur or professional groups and other events. In particular, a theatrical performance reminiscent of «Operation Vistula», lighting a fire on the «Vatra Field», exhibitions and sale of handicrafts, construction and opening of museum buildings related to Lemko history and culture. Representatives of regional and state authorities of Ukraine, members of international Lemko organizations regularly attend the festival. During the more than 20-year history of this event, more than a thousand performances of amateur groups performed on its stage, and more than 330 thousand guests attended.
Detailed information about the different years of the festival is available on the website of the All-Ukrainian Society «Lemkivshchyna»:
https://lemky.org.ua/index.php/kultura/festivali/dzvoni-lemkivshchini
«Lemkivska Vatra abroad» (Michałów, Poland)
One of the oldest active Lemko festivals is the «Lemkivska Vatra abroad», which was first organized in 1980. This annual cultural event takes place under the auspices of the Lemko community of Lower Silesia, but it brings together Lemkos and other guests from around the world. The festival is held annually on the first weekend of August in Michałów (Polkowice County, Lower Silesian voivodeship). The «Vatra» lasts for three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It consists of performances by Lemko folk groups and representatives of other ethnographic groups, meetings with masters, presenting a documentaries, master classes, exhibitions of artistic and handicrafts.
The festival is organized by «Stowarzyszenie Łemków», a Lemko non-governmental organization that is a member of the World Council of Ruthenians. The purpose of the festival «Lemkivska Vatra abroad» is the presentation and development of Lemko culture, as well as Ruthenian culture from all over Europe and the world. The «Vatra» in Michałów is specifically Lemko, not all-Ukrainian, and this distinguishes it from the «Lemkivska Vatra» in Zhdyn, organized by the Lemko Association. So far, 40 festivals have taken place in Michałów.
Information about the festivals can be found on various pages of the foundation's website «Stowarzyszenie Łemków»:
http://www.stowarzyszenielemkow.pl/web/pl/category/aktualnosci-wydarzenia/watra/fotogaleria-watry/
The Festival of the Ruthenian and Ukrainian Cultures
Festival of the Ruthenian and Ukrainian Cultures in Svidnik / Slávností kultúry Rusínova Ukrainovcov Slovenskav o Svidníku (Slovakia). Although the name of the event does not include the name «Lemkos», the ethnonym Ukrainian-Ruthenian also means the Lemko ethnographic group of the country, as the territory of northeastern Slovakia is the lands of the southern, which include the Lemkos of Transcarpathia.
The festival dates back to 1954 and is the oldest folklore festival in Slovakia. It takes place for two days in mid-June in the amphitheater and surrounding areas in the town of Svidnyk, where a large ethnographic open-air museum «Museum of Ukrainian Culture» is located. The program of the holiday usually includes thematic art exhibitions, colorful performances of local and invited groups, folklore and ethnographic attractions, tours of museum exhibitions.
«Lemkivsky Kermesh» (Vilkhivtsi, Poland)
This festival has been taking place for 30 years and is held on May 25 in honor of the removal of the ashes of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker to Vilkhivtsi. Traditionally, the event begins with an evening service in the church and performances by some folk groups. On Sunday morning, a solemn liturgy is held according to the Greek Catholic rite, followed by the official opening of Kermesh. The event is usually attended by many folk groups, various competitions are held.
«From Rusala to Jana» (Zindranow, Poland)
«From Rusala to Jana» is an annual international ethnographic festival that takes place in the Lemko village of Zindranova (Podkarpackie voivodeship) near the border between Poland and Slovakia. The festival has been held since 1992, in the last week of July for two days (Saturday and Sunday). The organizer is the «Museum of Lemko Culture in Zindranov» on the territory of which, in fact, the festival takes place. The founder and inspirer of the festival for many years was the head of the museum Teodor Goch. The holiday absorbed the traditions of the two Slavic holidays, Rusal Week and Ivan Kupala, and became an opportunity to meet Lemkos from Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, as well as Canada and the United States, who represent Lemko folklore, ensembles and traditions. The program of the festival, in addition to performances by folk groups, is acquaintance with the museum exhibition, a master class in needlework and crafts, film screenings, photo exhibitions, book presentations, children's competitions. Traditionally, the participants of the festival are Lemko bands from Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Detailed information about these two festivals can be found on the page:
http://www.beskid-niski.pl/index.php?pos=/lemkowie/imprezy
«Lemkivska Vatra» in Canada
An event that plays an important role of the Lemkos life in Canada and the United States is the «Lemkivska Vatra», organized by the Lemko Association of Canada. They are held annually since July 26, 1986 on the basis of the house «Lemkivshchyna». In the summer, Ukrainians from Canada and the United States come to this house to participate in concert or art programs and to sit by the fire in the beautiful nature. Each fire, from year to year, attracts more people and creative people who perform a variety of Ukrainian and Lemko songs and poems, play music.
Detailed photo reports of Lemko fires in Canada from the 1980s to the present are available on the Lemko Canadian Association website:
