Edited by MCK Sokół | Lesser Poland
Fulgura frango, or >I break the lightning<
Country: Poland
Region: Lesser Poland
Type of inspiration: Cultural customs
Inspiracja
The former inhabitants of Carpathian villages often attributed the causes of storms, prolonged downpours and hailstorms to the violent or unnatural death of a community member and the incompatible treatment of his or her corpse. Stories were told of intense downpours and floods haunting a village when a suicide was buried in consecrated ground. The only way to break the storms was then to move the corpse to its proper place, usually outside the village (the so-called "hanging"). Prolonged downpours could also result from "burying at least where" the corpse of an aborted or unbaptised child, especially if it was illegitimate. It was believed that in this way the earth wished to "mull over" a body buried in secret and without the proper rites being completed. The hidden body of a 'lost' child was supposed to be indicated by lightning striking in one place. In this way, the heavens notified people and God of the mother's transgression. To effectively avert a cataclysm, the excavated remains had to be baptised and buried, restoring the disturbed order.
Various means of protection against storms were known. A lighted thimble, blessed on Our Lady of Thunderstorms (2 February), was effective, as was a shovel for baking bread, placed against the wall of the house. St Agatha's bread (consecrated on 5 February) was a remedy against storms - when a storm was approaching, it was thrown into the fire and the smoke chased away the clouds. The sound of bells also had the power to ward off the elements. When a storm was approaching, the inhabitants of Carpathian villages would ring their houses with small bells, called Loreto bells (after the town of Loreto in Italy, from where the bells were brought in the past and where the so-called Mother of God's cottage was supposed to be located), ringing as many bells as they could. Protection was also provided by church bells, so-called storm bells, preferably specially consecrated for this purpose (in the past sometimes inscribed Fulgura frango, or "I break the lightning"). To ensure that they did not lose their power, they were not allowed to be used after sunset or during a funeral. When the church authorities forbade the use of bells to chase away thunderstorms, storm belfries, often connected to chapels, began to be built in the villages (such structures can be seen, for example, in the open-air museums in Zubrzyca and Sidzina). Storm bells were rung by special bell-ringers. The inhabitants of Gorce villages believed that the sound of the bells was panic-stricken and feared the storm-bringer, which in this region was considered a demonic creature. In some Carpathian villages there were also storm whisperers, i.e. men who knew how to prevent incoming storms. They used magic formulas, prayers and the sign of the cross in the air.
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Nowy Sącz
Poland Lesser PolandThe Sądecki Ethnographic Park
Poland Lesser PolandZakopane
Poland Lesser Poland
