Cieszyn Silesia - Culture, Language and Religion

Culture, Language and Religion

Cieszyn Silesia became a uniform historic, geopolitical, socio-cultural and economic entity under Habsburg rule. This consolidation helped to form a distinct local identity based on language, religious and ethnic pluralism, and distinctiveness from other parts of Silesia.

The region was inhabited by several ethnic groups. Most numerous were Poles, Czechs (mainly in the western part of the region), Germans and Jews. The northern part, strongly industrialised and urbanised, is more densely populated than the southern part, which is more mountainous. The population density of Cieszyn Silesia is about 360/km2 (932/mi²). The southern, mountainous part of the region is home to the Gorals (literally, highlanders), the indigenous people of the region. They have their own distinct culture which has influenced the culture of whole region.

Cieszyn Silesia is known for its religious pluralism. The most widespread religions are Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism. The region is distinct in large part because of its Protestantism, which has an influence on the whole region. Some of the municipalities with a Protestant majority include those in the vicinity of Dzięgielów and Wisła, the only town in Poland with a Protestant majority. Protestant influence is reflected in the regional saying "Dzierży sie twardo jak lutersko wiara kole Cieszyna." (Stays strong like the Lutheran faith around Cieszyn.) Several towns, for example, Cieszyn and Fryštát, in the past had a larger Jewish community, but the local Jews were almost completely annihilated by the Nazis during World War II. Today, many other religious, mostly Christian, denominations are present in small numbers, including Jehovah's Witnesses and Pentecostalists whose movement within Poland originated in Cieszyn Silesia.

Cieszyn Silesia is also distinct for its dialect, the Cieszyn Silesian dialect, which differs from the Silesian dialect spoken in Upper Silesia. It is a distinct dialect with predominantly Polish influences; Czech and German influences are also strong. The inhabitants of Cieszyn Silesia feel a strong regional (Silesian) identity — locals will say they are stela (from here) — but the vast majority declare themselves to be of Polish or Czech nationality in their respective national censuses. This is somewhat different from the situation in Upper Silesia where strong autonomistic tendencies still exist.

Local people however regard the Habsburg era fondly. The time of Maria Theresa and Franz Josef is viewed nostalgically as a time of justice, development, order and peace. This is in fact also partly rooted in a liberal and pluralistic attitude toward national and ethnic groups, liberal in comparison to other empires of that time, especially Prussia and the Russian Empire. Even in 2006 there were still portraits of Habsburg rulers on the wall in the assembly room of the Cieszyn local council.

The most widespread folk costume in the area used to be a Cieszyn folk costume.