As the summer heat slowly gives way to cooler evenings and the fields shimmer with gold, we intuitively sense a shift in energy. For modern people, the turn of August and September simply marks the end of summer vacation. For our ancestors, however, it was the most important moment of the year—a time when the very survival of the entire community hung in the balance.

Before official wreaths, brass bands, and speeches by dignitaries appeared in Polish villages, our lands were governed by the natural cycle of vegetation. Discover Plony —a pre-Christian Harvest Festival, full of magic, trance-like music, and deep gratitude toward the forces of nature. And although times have changed, we’ll soon revive that spirit together at the upcoming Folkowe Ucho – Harvest Festival!

Mother Earth and the Lord of the Underworld: Whom Did the Slavs Thank?

In the Slavic pantheon, the autumn celebrations were primarily focused on two powerful forces.

The first of these was Mokosh —Mother Earth of Moisture. It was she who nourished the grain throughout spring and summer, protected it from drought, and allowed it to grow. The end of summer was the moment when Mokosh bestowed her bounty upon the people, only to fall asleep moments later for her winter rest.

The second deity of this period was Weles —the god of the underworld and magic, but above all the god of oaths and wealth, which at that time was measured by the number of cattle and the amount of grain harvested. It was to him that a symbolic offering, known as “Weles’s beard” (or “quail”), was left in the field. It was a tuft of unmown grain that was ceremoniously adorned with flowers and drenched in honey to ensure the deity’s favor and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

Rituals Full of Magic: A Kołacz Bigger Than a Person

Traditional harvest celebrations were not mere feasts—every gesture had magical and prophetic (divinatory) significance. A key element of the festival was the great kołacz —a ritual, round loaf of bread baked from freshly harvested and ground grain.

The kołacz was associated with a fascinating ritual, which was performed in Arkona (a major center of worship on Rügen) by a żerca (a Slavic priest):

The priest would stand behind a huge loaf of bread and ask the gathered crowd if they could see him. When the people answered that they could, the priest would make a wish: “May you not be able to see me from behind it next year!” This was not about the priest suddenly disappearing, but rather a wish that next year’s bread and harvest would be so enormous that they would completely obscure him.

People also told fortunes using mead poured into the horn of the statue of Świętowit—the level of the liquid at the end of the year predicted whether the coming year would bring abundance or famine.

The Last Sheaf and the Birth of the Harvest Wreath

The modern harvest wreath, though beautiful, is merely an echo of the ancient ritual of the Last Sheaf. Cut with great reverence at the very end of the harvest, this sheaf (often called Dziad or Plon) was solemnly carried into the cottage. It was placed in the sacred corner, where it remained until the winter solstice. It was believed that it contained the protective spirit of the field and the essence of life-giving power.

The very process of harvesting and the harvest itself was incredibly musical. Work in the fields and the subsequent rituals were accompanied by harvest songs—monotonous, trance-like, sung at the top of one’s voice (a mix of singing and shouting)—that carried across the fields for kilometers. You’ll feel exactly those same trance-like vibrations and the powerful sounds of the drums live right in front of the Folkowe Ucho stage.

Why do we need the spirit of the old Plony today?

In an age when we buy our food at supermarkets, packaged in plastic, it’s easy to lose touch with where our energy comes from. The Slavic Harvest Festival reminds us of something incredibly important: gratitude, a return to our roots, and the power of community.

The contemporary folk and neofolk scenes understand this perfectly. By returning to traditional instruments and trance-like rhythms, we are not merely engaging in historical reenactment. We are recreating the same sense of elation and wild joy that our ancestors experienced when, after months of hard work, they could finally sit down together around a communal fire.

🎟️ Celebrate the Harvest with us—Join Folkowe Ucho!

You don’t need a time machine to experience the magic of the Slavic Harvest Festival. Soon, the festival bonfires will be lit, and the air will be filled with powerful neofolk sounds, dark trance, and an energy that can’t be replicated.

Folkowe Ucho – Harvest Festival is more than just concerts. It’s a gathering of people who feel the call of their roots. The best artists on the folk scene, an incredible atmosphere, and a community that knows how to celebrate with true Slavic panache are waiting for you.

The number of spots for this special celebration is limited, and the first batch of tickets is already flying off the virtual shelves. Don’t wait until they’re all gone—secure your spot in front of the stage now!

👉 [CLICK HERE TO BUY A TICKET FOR THE HARVEST FESTIVAL]

See you in front of the stage—may Weles bless us, and may Mokosh shower us with goodness!