Plan of the XXIX Slavs and Vikings Festival together with accompanying events
“Christianization of Pomerania” 1st – 4th of August 2024
Organizers. Slavs and Vikings Center Wolin – Jomsborg – Vineta, West Pomeranian Voivodeship and Wolin Commune.
Applicants for co-financing the event: Wolin Commune, Commune Center for Culture, Sports, Tourism and Recreation in Wolin
The Festival of Slavs and Vikings means two joined historical and cultural events: the historical part organised by Slav and Vikings Center Wolin – Jomsborg – Vineta and the cultural part organised by Wolin Commune in the city of Wolin. During the Festival Wolin is visited by two thousand reenactors and 30 thousand tourists.
Permanent elements of the festival:
1st of August Thursday 10.00 – 19.00
2nd of August Friday 10.00 – 19:30
3rd of August Saturday 10.00 – 20.00
4th of August Sunday 10.00 – 18.00
Visitors have the opportunity to experience a „living history lesson” and see
what professions were performed, what food was eaten, how the free time
was spent, what the warriors’ armour looked like and how much it
weighed.
Attractions have been prepared for visitors:
– shows of medieval crafts, including pottery, cooperation, blacksmithing,
goldsmithing – jewelery, shoemaking – leather-making, amber-making,
wood-carving, horn-making, wicker-making, coinage and others,
– presentations of the medieval warrior’s armament with the possibility of
trying on some elements, more persistent ones can try their hand
at fighting,
– archery and spear throwing stations,
– presentation and tasting of medieval delicacies,
– a playground for children, where games, plays, competitions and
tournaments take place (prepared and conducted by the primary
school in Wolin),
– games and activities for the youngest children and adults conducted by
the Birka Boys group,
– Reading zone – a place where visitors will be able to buy books, meet
their authors and take part in interesting lectures and workshops.
Music was an important element of everyday life in the colourful world of the
early Middle Ages. During the festival, we will hear it performed by bands
such as EZIBABA (Poland), DUNAJOWI (Poland), DAJ OGNIA (Poland), JAVARYNA (Belarus), and KRIVE (Poland).
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS:
READING ZONE
ARCHERY TOURNAMENT
SLAVIC RITES
WORKSHOPS OF SLAVS AND VIKINGS
SKIRMISHES OF SLAVS AND VIKINGS
Thursday, 01 August 2024
11:00 – The march and the official opening of the festival. The pageant will start at the Collegiate Church in Wolin. Ceremony on the battlefield.
11:00 – Dr. Piotr Pranka – from Hedeby to Wolin. History of Baltic trade in the Viking age. Lecture A
11:30 – Opening of the temple – dance of the warriors and blót – the Scandinavian rite of
offering. C
12:00 – mgr Karolina Czonstke–Świątkowska – Miała strój bogaty, malowany w różne światy. Book promotion. (Polish) A
12:00 – Opening of the temple – ritual lighting of the fire. Bringing a Wolin spear into the temple and ritual dance. Festival divination. C
12:30 – 15:00 – The temple is open – individual entrances to the temple and conversation with zhrets, including divination with the so-called foals. C
12:30 – Performances by musical groups and dance lessons. F
13:00 – Dr. Maciej Lubik – Harald Hardrada and his Byzantine treasures. Lecture in Polish A
13:00 – Rumi tells tales G
13:30 – Singing galdrar – Völvas’ soothsayer.
14:00 – Myth about Yarilo and Morana – tales from the world of Slavic mythology G
14:00 – Dr. Ryder Patzuk–Russell – Let us all have the same law and the same religion: The story of Iceland’s conversion to Christianity. Lecture in English A
15:00 – Dunajowi – Slavic ceremonial songs (performance) – C
16:00 – Skirmishes of Slavs and Vikings. There will be battles between two camps of warriors on the battlefield. The braver and more hard-bitten army will defeat the weaker one, and the outcome will not be known until the last warrior. E
16:00 – 18:00 – The temple is open – individual entrances to the temple and conversation with zhrets, including divination with the so-called foals. C
17:00 – Performances by musical groups and dance lessons. F
17:30 – Throat singing workshops. F
17:30 – About Wisna who fought for the Danes and her naked warriors based on the theme of Song de bello Bravico (Bravallathuli) by Saxo Grammaticus – a staging of an epic story about a battle from the Viking times combined with a show of craft. C
18:00 – About a man and four talents – an interactive tale for young and old G
18:00 – Dunajowi – Slavic ceremonial songs (performance) – C
19:00 – Performances by musical groups and dance lessons. D
FRIDAY, 02 August 2024
10.00 – Battle of the Bridge – qualifying round. E
11.00 – Dr. Maciej Lubik – Black tale of Harald Hardrada. Lecture in Polish. A
11.30 – Opening of the temple – dance of the warriors and blót – the Scandinavian rite of offering. C
12.00 – Slavic ceremony of Żertwa. C
12.00 – mgr Karolina Czonstke–Świątkowska, and mgr Bartosz Świątkowski, – Slavic people on Bornholm. Lecture in Polish. A
13.00 – 16:00 – Krynica. Slavic heritage in modern times – man and customs. Discussion. C
13:00 – Spinning on spindle workshops – open workshops, limited seats available. J
13.00 – dr Łukasz Malinowski – tournaments, frolicking and duels of Viking world. – Lecture in Polish. A
13:00 – Rumi tells tales G
13.30 – Early medieval games and activities performed by Birka Boys. L
13.30 – Viking ornamentation and jewellery – workshops by Grzegorz Pilarczyk. K
14.00 – About a man and four talents – an interactive tale for young and old G
14.00 – dr Kamil Kajkowski – warrior’s stigma – about magic on Slavic battlefields. Lecture in Polish. A
14:30 – Tournament of individual fights for the Jarl of Jomsborg award and award ceremony. E
15:00 – dr Piotr Pranke – Magic and magical thinking in the Viking age. Lecture in Polish. A
16:00 – Dunajowi – Slavic ceremonial songs (performace) – C
16.30 – Skirmish of Slavs and Vikings. E
17.00 – Women’s dress competition. F
17:30 – Throat singing workshops. I
18:00 – Dunajowi – Slavic ceremonial songs (performace) – C
18:00 – Myth about Yarilo and Morana – tales from the world of Slavic mythology G
18.30 – Qualifying round for the tournament of individual fights for the Jarl of Jomsborg award. Each group willing to take part in the tournament puts up two warriors. This tournament is only for the festival participants, but it has the character of a presentation of fighting methods. E
19.00 – Contest for the most dignified Viking beard and a woman’s braid. An open competition in which both participants and tourists can take part. The length, colour, hairstyle and other beard decorations and female braids are evaluated. The jury is composed of tourists visiting the festival. F
19:30 – Performances by musical groups and dance lessons. F
Saturday, 03 August 2024
10.00 – Jarosław Bogusławski – How did they sail. Lecture in Polish. A
10.30 – Battle of the bridge – final. E
11.00 – mgr Monika Maciewicz – when Licho Doesn’t Sleep: about means of magical protection in Slavic culture. Lecture in Polish. A
11.30 – Opening of the temple – dance of the warriors and blót – the Scandinavian rite of offering. C
12.00 – dr Łukasz Malinowski – Rogata dusza. Book promotion. (Polish) A
12:00 – Nålebinding workshop – open workshops, limited seats available. J
12.00 – Slavic ceremony of Żertwa. C
12.30 – Contest for the most dignified Viking beard and a woman’s braid. It is an open competition in which both participants and tourists can take part. The length, colour, hairstyle and other beard decorations and female braids are evaluated. The jury is composed of tourists visiting the festival. F
12.30 – 15.00 – The temple is open – individual entrances to the temple and conversation with zhrets, including divination with the so-called foals. C
13.00 – prof. Stanisław Rosik – Saint Otto of Bamberg missions in West Pomerania. Lecture in Polish. A
13:00 – Rumi tells tales G
13.00 – Singing galdrar – Völvas’ soothsayer. C
13.30 – Early medieval games and activities performed by Birka Boys. F
14:00 – Myth about Yarilo and Morana – tales from the world of Slavic mythology G
14:00 – mgr Agnieszka Węgrowska – Necessary equipment of a missionary – holy books and how did they write them. Calligraphy workshop for adults. A
14.30 – Staging of the harvest feast based on chronicle records and ethnographic data, then a lecture on Slavic rituals and their reconstruction. C
15:00 – dr Piotr Pranke – Bolesław III Wrymouth and slaves. Lecture in Polish. A
16:00 – Staging of the harvest feast based on chronicle records and ethnographic data. Procession, ceremony and feast. C
16.30 – Skirmish of Slavs and Vikings. E
17:30 – Throat singing workshops. I
18:00 – Dunajowi – Slavic ceremonial songs (performace) – C
18.00 – About a man and four talents – an interactive tale for young and old G
18.30 – Raven tournament. E
19.30 – Swaba – wedding ceremony if a willing couple comes forward. C
20:00 – Fire show final
Sunday 04 August 2024
10.00 – dr Michał Łuczyński – Mythology and beliefs of pagan Slavs: between truth and conjecture. Lecture in Polish. A
11.30 – Opening of the temple – dance of the warriors and blót – the Scandinavian rite of offering. C
12:00 – mgr Agnieszka Węgrowska – Lightning up the darkness – illuminations in old books. Calligraphy workshop for children. A
12.00 – Opening of the temple – Slavic ceremony of Żertwa. C
12.30 – 15.00 – The temple is open – individual entrances to the temple and conversation with zhrets, including divination with the so-called foals. C
12.30 – The final of the tournament of individual fights for the Jarl of Jomsborg award.
13:00 – mgr Grzegorz Gajek – Women in Slavic myths and legends. Lecture in Polish. A
13:00 – Rumi tells tales G
13.30 – Early medieval games and activities performed by Birka Boys. F
13:30 – Throat singing workshops. I
14.00 – About a man and four talents – an interactive tale for young and old G
14:00 – History and fiction – marriage out of common sense. Discussion panel with the authors. A
15:00 – dr Piotr Pranke – For silver and gold – history written on runic stones. Lecture in Polish. A
16.00 – Skirmish of Slavs and Vikings. E
16:30 – Dunajowi – Slavic ceremonial songs (performace) – C
17:00 – Myth about Yarilo and Morana – tales from the world of Slavic mythology G
17.00 – Performances by musical groups and dance lessons.
*in case of unexpected circumstances, independent from the organisers the program can be changed.