Święto Lnu in Żyrardów is a special event: colourful, full of energy and deeply embedded in the history of the city. Every year residents and guests come together to celebrate the legacy of the linen textiles industry that for decades shaped the identity of Żyrardów. Today it’s not only a return to the past, but also a grand urban celebration of culture, art and community.
A thread connecting the past with the present
The motto of Święto Lnu: „Culture, tradition, legacy – a thread connecting the past with the present” perfectly captures the spirit of this celebration. The festival recalls the incredible history of Żyrardów’s linen textiles industry and of the might of the bygone Linen Factory, that functioned in Żyrardów for 166 years. Towards the end of the XIX century it was one of the biggest and the most efficient factories of this kind in all of Europe. Święto Lnu came to life to remind people of this past and turn attention to Żyrardów’s incredible post-industrial legacy. Thanks to the various events and activities residents and tourists can discover how significant was the influence of linen on the development of the city and the industry connected to it.
From museum initiative to grand city celebration
The first Święto Lnu celebration was hosted in October of 2015 and was a cosy, small-scale event. Everything was organised exclusively on museum grounds. However, year after year the event grew in scope. Subsequent celebrations ventured outside museum walls and took over more and more places in Żyrardów. Today Święto Lnu is a multi-dimensional event that fills the city centre, its program spanning the historical factory settlement and nearby streets, creating a special atmosphere that matches an urban festival.
Culture, handicrafts and great fun
Present-day Święto Lnu is far more than promoting traditional wares. It’s an event that connects handicraftsmen, artists, residents and tourists. During the festivities you can:
- take part in organised walks with tour guides or workshops demonstrating how to use a loom
- discover special linen creations and handicrafts made by the locals
- eat your fill in the food zone
- have fun at concerts and outdoor events.
enjoy yourself during concerts and outdoor activities
Colourful parade opening the celebration
Customarily, every year the Linen Museum prepares a spectacular opening to the celebrations, a colourful urban parade. Even though big concerts begin on Friday already, it’s the parade that is the symbolic beginning of Święto Lnu. The colourful procession starts its move through the city streets in the first Saturday of summer holidays, drawing in crowds of residents and guests. The people participating in the parade are not just local government members and partnering cities representatives but above all else it’s kindergarteners and students from Żyrardów’s educational establishments, urban youth and senior institutions’ members, representatives of local non- governmental organisations – foundations and associations, Żyrardów’s residents, acting out the roles of female spool tenders and weavers, representatives of sports clubs, special interest groups, urban co-partnerships and invited orchestras as well as other entities enriching the parade. Thanks to everyone’s involvement, for a couple days Żyrardów transforms into a teeming with life centre of culture, tradition and shared fun.
Groups interested in participating in the Urban Parade please contact us here: tel. 731 318 800 / events@muzeumlniarstwa.pl
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