The creation of floral carpets accompanying Corpus Christi processions has been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. These meticulously crafted designs attract crowds of pilgrims and tourists every year. Local residents are actively involved in their creation.
The tradition of arranging floral carpets dates back over 100 years in some regions of Poland. However, it is the custom cultivated in Zimna Wódka, Klucz, Olszowa, and Zalesie Śląskie that has been included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Every year, thousands of tourists and pilgrims travel to these villages to observe the preparations for the solemn procession held during the Corpus Christi celebrations.
The tradition remains alive in various parts of the country.
Patterns made from flower petals and leaves lead to successive altars along the procession route. Work on their preparation begins several days before the celebrations. Entire families are involved in arranging them.
