LUDOWE TRADYCJE W ŻYCIU MIESZKAŃCÓW POZNANIA

The article is an attempt at demonstrating certain aspects of non-material cultural heritage in the contemporary urban landscape. From the ethnological point of view many non-material elements consist of activity and behaviour, at times of a symbolic nature, which comprise an important component of the cultural heritage. Such elements play an essential part in shaping the landscape by endowing it with a unique atmosphere, characteristic for each town. The author of the presented article used the example of Poznań to seek an answer to questions about the role of traditional folk culture and its particular constituents in the creation of a contemporary urban landscape. In the case of Poznań this function proved to be truly significant. The incoming population from the villages of Greater Poland made its own “invisible” cultural contribution. Some of the elements were rejected in the new environment, while others were preserved owing to their special value. All generated a specific conglomerate of Poznaƒ tradition discernible, i. a. in the evaluation of city space or the features of the local dialect. This impact is particularly visible in the culinary tradition, where one may easily discover echoes of an obligatory and rigorously observed model of “consumer minimalism”. The preserved traditions include those of baking ritual bread (the famous St. Martin crescents). Many cultural phenomena continue to appear in family and annual rites, such as the custom of presenting children with gifts on St. Nicholas day, the figure of the Star Man (Gwiazdor), who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve, or podkoziołek, a name given to the entertainment enjoyed on the last day before Ash Wednesday. The intention of the presented study was to draw attention to the role performed by folk tradition, and to indicate the possibilities of using it in multiple pragmatic undertakings pursued for moulding the cultural landscape of the contemporary town.