Cechy konstytutywne tożsamości kujawskiej na podstawie Kujawskich legend, gawęd i gadek Antoniego Benedykta Łukaszewicza
Constitutional features of Kuyavian identity on the basis of „Kuyavian legends, myths and folk tales” by Antoni Benedykt Łukaszewicz

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article was to present the features constituting Kuyavian identity on the basis of the study of Antoni Benedykt Łukaszewicz titled Kuyavian legends, myths and folk tales. The analysis of the oldest written text showed that this comprises:–– referring to founding myths which are created and spread in order to confirm the settlement of the group and its long existence (almost since prehistoric times) in the given area;–– commitment to the catholic religion (which is not an obstacle to combine religious practices with magical practises present in the folk beliefs);–– memory of the past (especially the heroic past, such as the battle of Płowce, also such traumatic and painful events as World War II, the suffering and persecution of the inhabitants of Kuyavia in various periods, the division of the region caused by the annexations);–– relation to the places (architectural monuments, churches, manor houses)which are a heritage received from previous generations;–– the awareness of the wealth of the local folklore and habits (not always being practised nowadays, but still existing in cultural memory);–– dialect (although it is not used in communication, it still has a symbolic value underlining the identity of the region).

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