Godišnji proljetni ophod ljelja/kraljica iz Gorjana
Annual Spring Procession of ljelje/kraljice (Queens) from Gorjani

Summary/Abstract: Looking into recent literature and relevant ethnological material, this paper aims to present the traditions and customs of »ljelje« – queens from Gorjani. It is about the processions of girls through rural areas and the performance of dance and song choreographies characteristic of Slavonia but also some other European localities. The spring procession of ljelje/queens from Gorjani has a long tradition, and it is considered that in Gorjani, compared to other places, the custom has been well preserved and documented, and it is included on the UNESCO representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. There are various theories about the origin of the ljelje/queens custom, but there is still no fully verified answer to its origin and meaning. Regarding the custom of ljelje/queens from Gorjani, we distinguish between two periods, the first until 1966 and the second after 2002. The reason lies in the thirty-six-year break in the performance of the custom and the slightly adapted performance in today’s times. The credits for reviving and promoting the ljelje/queens go to the members of the cultural and artistic society »Gorjanac.« Since 2006, the society »Gorjanac« has been continuously staging performances in the village of Gorjani and on world stages. In addition to the custom itself, the symbol of identity and recognition of ljelje/queens is their folk costume with associated props. The paper brings detailed descriptions of customs, folk costumes, and other specificities of the ljelje/queens.

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