The tourist in traditional costume from Brno was accompanied by the king around Lašsko. He wants to end the pandemic
“A kuferkář is an immigrant or an alluvium in the local dialect. In a way, I stood up for ten days. My goal was to show the South Moravians an exotic called Lašsko, “laughs the enthusiast during an interview with the editor of Deník Rovnost.
During his journey through the region and learning about its wealth and culture, he was gradually accompanied by the Laš king, Laš princess, but also part of their retinue, or perhaps the hardy Jan Čupa.
They traveled 235 kilometers together in traditional costume. “When I was traveling to the border between the Czech and Slovak Republics some time ago, I met the King of Laško there by chance. Until then, I had no idea that a kingdom with this name existed and that people lived in it who tried to maintain the local culture and traditions, “says Šalanda.
This time he did not plan a trip to the Beskydy Mountains, but Zdeněk Krulikovský, a 70-year-old Laško king of Laško. Šalanda describes that they first visited the lowland Lašsko. They were also in Hukvaldy, which is famous as the birthplace of the composer Leoš Janáček.
“Among other things, he was a great promoter of Lašsko and its culture. We headed to Brušperk, Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí, Krmelín and Paskov, where there is a strong community dedicated to Laško culture. Then we continued to Frýdek-Místek, Skalica and down through Čupek, which is a sacred mountain of all Lachs, “listed hiker.
Ondřejník, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm and Kopřivnice did not miss either. He and his entourage traveled along the Wallachian border across the Beskydy ridge. “Lachy has historically been described as herdsmen who did not cultivate the land,” says Šalanda.
He wandered again in a shirt, a cord, a hat-like hat. He was not cold. “I am glad that I was able to try on my costume made of special materials in colder weather. I also took a coat, but in the end I didn’t use it at all. I just wore a merino wool T-shirt under my shirt. During the ascent, I sometimes even took off my cordula, “he praises himself.
The Lachs also accompanied him in typical costumes. “It simply came to our notice then. We have always strived for territorial independence. For a while, it even seemed that Lašsko would completely disappear. Fortunately, there is a large group of people and natives around King Zdeněk of Laško, a musician and singer, who are trying to restore the costumes, dances and original culture, ”says Šalanda.
Just as there is a verbunk in Slovácko, Laša has his jump according to him. “While our songs are rather cheerful, they are bitter and slower,” he compares.
He also tasted a number of local specialties in Lašsko. According to him, the classic is cabbage, then gulajš with mushrooms, bryja orá porridge and Lašská cabbage, for which a lard and grated potatoes are prepared. “And do you know what a shovel is? This is a well-known cake for which the name frgál has become established. At the same time, in the past, housewives referred to a failed muffin as a frgál, “smiles an enthusiast who spent nights in a tent, under a canopy, in a log cabin or in a boarding house.
Now he will indulge in a winter break. Next year I would like to go discover Wallachia or Hana. “No, and I keep thinking back to my unrealized journey from Aš to Kyjov, where I would like to arrive at the beginning of the Slovak Year. For about a month or so, I would celebrate the end of all pandemics. We’ll see if I can do it in two years, “he thinks.