Tekst w zbiorze wyselekcjonowanych referatów prezentowanych na V konferencji SIEF Working Group on the Ritual Year, zorganizowanej na Vytautas Magnus University w Kownie, Litwa

In this article the author presents the tradition of Pucheroki - disguised boys aged 4-15, who on Palm Sunday go in small groups from house to house, collecting eggs, some food or money. They are paid for the orations they recite. The tradition is still alive in a few villages near Kraków. The local tradition has it that the origin of the Pucheroki goes back to the Krakow students’ circle in the 16th century. However, some customs with different names (e.g. Koniarz) and different countries of origin (such as the Gregoriousfeast in Germany) reveal a number of common elements. One of these is the date of the feast - around the beginning of spring. Through detailed description of the Pucheroki custom the author traces its origin to old spring rituals which, at one time, were intended to ensure prosperity and to protect the homesteads against evil forces. As it is performed today, the custom may be regarded as a continuation, albeit on a subconscious level, of old traditions, of universal rituals. As an example outside the Polish culture, the author refers to some Irish customs that are still alive, or have been in the past, in Irish communities, underlining those elements they share with the custom of Pucheroki.