Śmiergust

The custom is sometimes observed on Easter Sunday – mostly in the area surrounding Oświęcim; specific locations include Kozy and Wilamowice.

Some of them wear masks; they visit houses, play accordion music and douse passers-by with water; this procession is called "smirgust" (...)".

At a certain point they began creating their costumes from patches of old items of women's clothing, which resulted in a colourful, motley effect".

[1][5] They also wear hats decorated with crepe flowers which symbolise the coming spring, as well as hand-painted paper-mâché masks, worn to conceal the owner's identity.

[6] Jolanta Danek, an ethnographer living in Wilamowice, recalls that "(...) on Sunday evening the men gather in a house of one of the participants.

[1] The tradition of Śmiergust and pouring water on young women continues to be a vibrant element of immaterial cultural heritage in Wilamowice.

[8] Jolanta Danek, director of the folklore group, told the local press: "(...) boys from neighbouring villages join with ours in the procession and together they actively participate in the event.