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Eastern Slovakia
Slovak and Carpatho-Rusyn Genealogical Research

KRAKOVANY / STRAZE COMMUNITY

Krakovany can be found in western Slovakia, very near the spa town of Piestany. In 1998 the community of Krakovany marked its 885th year as a community. Tracing its origin back to the year 1113. Krakovany today is really the result of the merging of two neighboring communities, Krakovany and Straze. This came about in 1943.

The Krakovany title is most accurately derived to mean "a settlement on a side branch of a river", and Straze to mean "a sentinal village". In recent years with tourism coming to Slovakia, the community of Krakovany has become a popular stopping point with their Folklore Ensemble performance of a "mock" traditional village wedding day. The kroj worn by the dancers and brass band members is a walking display of pride in their cloth work.

As these communities reached the end of the 18th century Krakovany was in a better situation than Straze because it belonged to a church landlord. The list of duties for this village was written early on to understand that the landlord looked after the prosperity by organizing several different productions. They brewed beer, made brandy, grew tobacco and hops. There is on record even a tobacco mill.

Home spinning was very developed in the area; the spinners were organized into so-called "factories". There were at least 120-15- spinners and combers in these factories. The home production in Krakovany was first a subsidiary of theCachtice factory in Krakovany, in 1790. Jozef Prohaska became the general manager of this newly formed factory, even though it still remained under the supervision of Cachtice. The number of workers in this factory, 194 + 4, gives some idea of the volume home production in Krakovany. Krakovany in 1785 had but 89 houses, it would seem that almost everybody was engaged in this production.

This area had become famous for its lace work and embroidery; the local women being admired for their high skills. Brass music also has a long tradition in this area. Throughout in the 19th century the social life in Krakovany and Straze was not that active. Gradually the people organized theatres and different cultural events to go along with the already seasonal and church events.

Early in the 20th century the village brass band became on the level of professional ensembles of that era. Various sports clubs started to appear. The sport club in Krakovany, which has been in existence until today, is one of the first officially formed and registered sport clubs in this region. All this resulted in a strong rooted tradition that still lasts. This was important not only socially but also economically.

It helped form collective thinking reflected in entertainment, working skills of the people and overall in decision making. The community is famous for good grafting results in agriculture, outstanding sports achievements in soccer and ice hockey and in folklore folk festivals. Most of all, it is the preservation of original customs, costumes and spreading their culture among Slovak and foreign visitors.

There will be significant additions to the Krakovany / Straze Project in the coming weeks.

Krakovany / Straze Section Copyright 1998 - Joseph J. Hornack, Independence Ohio: Nitra county – Husband and father of six grown children. His paternal grandparents immigrated to America in 1905 from Krakovany, Nitra County. In 1983 he visited Slovakia, Krakovany, for the first time; later escorting tour groups in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1997. In 1986, he founded the Slovakia – Surname Location Reference Project (SLRP); he directed in 1991 its expansion to include County Associates publishing columns and logging lineage submitted. Two SLRP booklets have been produced: a book of compiled Columns published in the ongoing series, and the other, the Database alphabetical by surname and by location submitted. He remains active in Cleveland-Bratislava Sister Cities, Inc. (CBSC) since its formation in 1991; members dedicated to the exchange of cultural and commercial strengths.

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