Milevsko City  - Official website

Milevsko masque parades are the most significant ethnic exhibitions and the most important custom of our town. They take place six weeks before Easter on carnival Tuesday - it is the carnival finishing by the masque procession. Masque processions in their today´s look are dated since 1862. They have developed from the medieval folk plays, which used to be played in the region. They were the following: Barborky, Mikulasi, Lucie, Perechty, Tri kralove, Liska, Rehori, Lito, Hra o svate Dorote a Bakus. The carnival end in Milevsko was celebrated by Bakus from the medieval time. Bakus who walked around the pubs on carnival Monday and Tuesday and on Ash Wednesday used to be buried first in brook which went through the square, later in Kuklík pond or at Sadky. The procession of Bakus was consisted of comical characters of his wife and child, gravedigger, sexton, priest, grief singers, acolytes and a mad "late in the day" somewhere behind. Bakus was carried on the cart and was wearing the dress stuffed by peastraw. Burying of Bakus into the grave in snow at a brook or a pond used to be very dangerous for the person who represented him, with after-effects for the person. Once when a representative of Bakus even died from cold, Bakus was forbidden by authorities. The last walk round went on in 1864. However that year ago different comic characters joined Bakus, they became a part of his procession, and in 1862 created the whole fancy and plentiful masque parade. After Bakus figure falling-off the masque parades have had their special characters every year. During the time some figures have become essential part of masque parade and also Bakus has appeared in parades.

Masque parades setting up used to be for the performers a special honour and was reserved only for Milevsko citizens. Masque committee had to vote about every participant, who wanted to perform at masque parade. The committee was set together from the local citizens. According to the preserved documents Milevsko masque parades had the following characters:

In years 1882-1888:

ZiZka´s march off the battle

Fidlovacka

Women battle or Sarka

Indians pushing back from America

Gypsy wedding

1889

Americans return to homeland, Horse races, Carnival

1890

Reduta and the mill for spinsters

1891

Justice

1892

Cock beheading at village fair and buck throwing down from the tower

1893

Manoeuvre

1894

Swedish lay siege to Sibenný hill

1895

Zizka marching to the battle

1896

World menagerie

1897

African caravan

1898

Gypsy procession

1899

Farm wedding

1901

Train trip to America

1902

Groups of foreign nations

1907

Carnival procession of prince Carnival

1910

First gramophone

1911

Masque variety show - artists congress - circus - races

1912

50 years of Milevsko masque parades anniversary, farm wedding, cinema, car

1914

Bartered groom

The World War I interrupted the masque parades setting up for a long time. The authorities did not want to permit them even after the War. There was an attempt to compensate them partly, done by several individuals in 1924. They did not succeed and were penalised because of hetman Zak activity caricature. Masques parades were restored in 1933 and the last masque procession before the World War II took place in 1939. Then, in the time of immense national degradation, masques demonstrated the folk customs of Milevsko town. The War break followed and the next masque parades in Milevsko were in 1946. They took place again except the years 1954 and 1956. In 1963 masque parades were cancelled and restored even again in 1969. Old costumes were carried away in the meantime and so Milevsko council had to finance the buying of costumes from the National Theatre in Prague. Since that time the masque corporation has organised masque parades every year. Masque procession has usually started at Sokol Hall, later at the Cultural House, gone through the whole town and has come back to the square where the final performance has been performed.

Masque procession is announced by posters with the witty and humorous contents on. According to the old customs, the invitation actions take place the week before. On Rich Thursday several masked people walk through the town and invite people for the Carnival Tuesday attendance. A fortnight before procession there are painters walking and painting various rhymes on the shop windows. Masque parades refer to current problems or up to date events. We have chosen some titles of processions in several years:

1936

Struggle with pirates and a Smrtihlav Ship

1946

On the atomic era treshold

1947

First Spring fair

1948

From fairy tale to fairy tale

1949

Sport and games of nations of all time

1950

Hundred years in Milevsko

1958

With Milevsko rocket to the Moon

1969

Milevsko masques meeting

1972

110 years of Milevsko masque parades

1974

Old and young rush to get to Milevsko comet

1977

It used to be, it is, and it will be again

1984

800 years of Milevsko walking through

1990

Masque parades which they could not be like

1994

Milevsko masque parades from prehistoric to democracy

1998

Even we are steaming on NA-TO (I my na-to jdeme)

Typical Milevsko masques are following: An Old Hag with a basket, A Beanpole, A Bakus, A Sausage man, Barbers, A Bear-leader, A Chicken farm and many others. There are also new masques which have appeared during the time.

Milevsko masque parades have provided a number of grateful themes to Karel Stehlik Milevsko painter, as well as Alois Moravec painter of Chysky origin. Chysky is a village near Milevsko. Czechoslovak news-reel filmed reportage shots from Milevsko masque parades in 1934, 1935. They were voiceless. There were already the sound film shots in 1947. The Czech TV has shot here lately.