Throughout history Slovakia has been in the shadow of a larger, more powerful, neighbor. It was under Austria, Hungary, a puppet German state and then the junior partner in Czechoslovakia. Yet Slovakia has its own history and a rich cultural tradition. Slovaks are proud of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) against the Nazis in World War Two. They have monuments, a square and bridge commemorating the SNP. They also played an important role in the 1968 Prague Spring; Alexander Dubcek was a Slovak. And in the 1989 Velvet Revolution Slovakia’s People Against Violence played its part. Dubcek came back to be Chairman of Czechoslovakia’s Legislative Assembly. Slovakia is working hard to preserve that history as it builds its nation. But it is also working hard to celebrate its own folk culture.
We were lucky to be in Bratislava for “Master Craftsmen Days, 2026” organized by the Center for the Folk Art Production. While all sorts of folk arts were presented, lace making, weaving, straw work, and there were two stages for folk music and dance, the craft featured this year was Slovak Wire Work, listed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List. After our walk through our old neighborhood, we headed down through Michael’s Gate to the old town where in the Main Square, Franciscan Square and St. George’s Courtyard there were booths set up where you could not only buy crafts but watch craftsmen and women work. There was even public participation where kids could try their hand at things like carding wool and where you could also try lace making. Of course there was folk music and dancing.
