TheGorals (Polish:Górale; Goral ethnolect:Górole;Slovak:Gorali;Cieszyn Silesian:Gorole), also anglicized as theHighlanders,[a] are anethnographic group with historical ties to theVlachs.[1][2][3] The Goral people are primarily found in their traditional area of southernPoland, northernSlovakia – especiallyOrava,Spiš andZamagurie,[4] and in the region ofCieszyn Silesia in theCzech Republic, where they are known as theSilesian Gorals.[5] There is also a significant Goral diaspora in the area ofBukovina in westernUkraine and northernRomania, as well as inChicago which is the seat of thePolish Highlanders Alliance of North America.
The Gorals as a distinct group began to form in the 14th century[6] with the arrival of the firstPolish settlers fromLesser Poland,[7] who would settle and farm the lands around what is todayNowy Targ and along theDunajec valley beginning in the early twelve hundreds. Prior to that,Podhale was an uninhabited region sparsely populated by bandits who chose the inaccessible mountainous terrain to hide from justice.[8] Then between the late 13th and 15th centuries,Vlach shepherds migrated to the region, gradually moving northwest from theBalkan peninsula over theCarpathian Mountains and settling onPolish lands there.[2][9] The initial contact of the locals with the Vlachs was difficult. The medieval chroniclerJan Długosz described the nomadic shepherds as brutish.[10] However, the newcomers brought with them a distinct method of raising livestock in the mountains, which was different from the one practiced by the settlers from the lowlands of Lesser Poland and thus with the merging of the two cultures, a new local way of life began to emerge,[11] and the subsequent assimilation of the Vlachs.[12]
In the 16th and 17th centuries, Gorals settled the upperKysuca andOrava rivers and part of northernSpiš inSlovakia,[13][14] which at the time were part of theKingdom of Hungary.[15][16][17][18] Due to various rights and privileges, including theVlach law,[19] Gorals enjoyed freedom fromserfdom and held a substantial amount of autonomy. Also, distinct within the Goral culture werezbojniks [pl], members of local robber bands in thewestern Carpathians.[20] In folk tradition, they were recognized as heroes who helped the exploited Gorals by stealing from the rich and giving back to the poor. The most famous of these wasJuraj Jánošík from the village ofTerchová in theŽilina region on the Slovak side of the Carpathian mountains. As a youngster, he fought with theKuruc insurgents against theHabsburg monarchy and later formed his own band ofzbojniks.[21] The phenomenon became widespread in the mid-16th century and disappeared in the 19th century with the death ofWojtek Mateja [pl] who was considered as the lastzbójnik.[22]
In 1651, the Gorals andlocal peasantry ofPodhale rebelled against the Polish nobles (szlachta) in what became theKostka-Napierski uprising, led by the adventurer and officer from the Polish army captainAleksander Kostka Napierski. A film was produced about the uprising (Podhale w ogniu) in 1956, and distributed in many languages across theEastern Bloc.[23][24][25] Anotherpeasant rebellion in Podhale occurred in 1669, when Gorals and local peasants rebelled against high taxes and oppressive rule imposed on them by the local nobility. The first Polish nationalopera, titledKrakowiacy i Górale (Cracovians and Gorals) composed byWojciech Bogusławski premiered in 1794.[26] In the 19th century, between 1803 and 1819, the Gorals migrated toBukovina.[27]
DuringWorld War II,Nazi Germany sought toGermanize the Gorals.[28] Under Nazi racial laws, the majority of Poland's population and its minorities were viewed as "undesirable" and subject to special statutes, slave labour and martial law.[29] However, Nazi racial theorists considered the 27,000 strong Goral population as a separate ethnic group from the Poles.[30] TermedGoralenvolk, they were deemed part of the greater Germanic race and given milder treatment from other Poles.[31][32] Between 1939 and 1945, local Gorals of Podhale joined theresistance movement, including theTatra Confederation and the IV Batalion Nowy Targ of the1st Regiment of Home Army Podhale Rifles and fought against Nazi occupation of Poland.[33]
The Gorals inhabit a number of regions collectively referred to as the "Goral lands" (Goral:Góralscýzna, Polish:Góralszczyzna) split between Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. InPoland, the community inhabits the geographical region ofPodhale of theTatra Mountains and parts of theBeskids (Cieszyn Silesia,Silesian Beskids,Żywiec Beskids).[34][35][36] After 1945, some Gorals fromBukovina and thePodhale regions found new homes inLower Silesia in villages such asKrajanów,Czarny Bór, and Borówna in theCentral SudeteMountains, as well asZłotnik,Brzeźnica andLubomyśl inLubusz Voivodeship.
In present-daySlovakia they live in several separate groups: in northernSpiš (34 villages subdivided into two groups),Orava andKysuce (2 villages) and smaller groups in 7 other enclave villages in northern Slovakia.
The main towns of Goral lands include:
The various dialects spoken by the Gorals belong to theWest Slavic family with influence from other surrounding linguistic groups, notably theEastern Romance languages.[37] In particular, the dialect spoken inPodhale, called thePodhale dialect (Polish:gwara podhalańska), is ofPolish origin and part of theLesser Poland dialect group, but it has been considerably influenced bySlovak in recent centuries.[38] In addition to Slovak, theGoral dialects contain some vocabulary fromHungarian and otherBalkan languages.[39]Kazimierz Dobroslowski asserted that thePodhale dialect had loan-words fromRomanian andAlbanian, as well as similar belief system elements, music and material culture.[40]
The Podhale dialect is thede facto standard literary Goral ethnolect due to Podhale being the most widely known region. However, the majority of Gorals speak closely related dialects. Gorals themselves rarely differentiate between their dialects and just refer to them asGórolski.[41]
For most Gorals today, the decisive factor in their self-identification with nationality is not ethnic but territorial.[citation needed] For example, those living in areas under a long tradition of belonging to the Polish state identify themselves as Polish,[citation needed] while those living in Slovakia have identified themselves asSlovaks,[citation needed] with notable exceptions to this rule on both sides of the border. While the origin of the Goral ethnolect is Polish,[42] the language of Gorals in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic is gradually shifting and increasingly becoming more similar to the literary standard in their respective countries.
Silesian Gorals of the Czech Republic identify themselves on the nationality level as Poles and are members of thePolish minority in the Czech Republic, which is proved by their communal activity: the annualGorolski Święto festival held inJablunkov is a showcase of a local Polish Goral traditions and is organized by thePZKO (Polish Cultural and Educational Union). This Goral festival preserves the traditions of the Polish nationality group inTrans-Olza.[43] It is the largest cultural and folklore festival in Trans-Olza gathering thousands of spectators each day of festivities. However, the Poles do not form a majority in any of the municipalities of the area, and some local Gorals identify themselves on the nationality level asCzechs. In this respect, the village ofHrčava (the second easternmost village in the Czech Republic), with the vast majority of citizens declaring Czech nationality, can be noted. In this village, the Poles form only a 2% minority.[44] Local Silesian Gorals formed a majority in the past and they speak theregional Cieszyn Silesian dialect in everyday communication. In Slovakia, Gorals sought formal recognition as a distinct minority,[45] something the Slovakian government approved in January 2025; the status means the group will gain representation in the government's Council for National Minorities, and get more access to cultural support funding.[46]
Historically, the issue of their ethnic identity has been controversial and resulted in claims and counterclaims by both Poland andCzechoslovakia. Gorals, like many other peasant communities inCentral Europe, determined their own ethnic identities within thenation-state system during the 19th and early 20th century.[47] Although nationalistpropaganda was generated by both Poles and Slovaks, this process of the Gorals' identification with a nationality was still not complete when theborder was finalized in 1924. A notable example wasFerdynand Machay, apriest born inJabłonka,Orava,Piotr Borowy fromRabča,Orava andWojciech Halczyn fromLendak,Spiš, who went to the 1919Paris Peace Conference and, during a personal audience, lobbied U.S. presidentWoodrow Wilson to sign these lands over to Poland.
The Gorals have a similar belief system elements, music and material culture as that of theVlachs and related groups (e.g.Moravian Vlachs), from whom it has been argued they originate.[1] AnthropologistCarleton Coon grouped Gorals with theHutsuls, who dwelled in what was then the southeastern corner ofPoland and is now southwesternUkraine.[48] In the 19th century, Polish scholars viewed the Gorals as linguistically close to the Poles, but having close ties withSlovak folk culture.[49] It was noted that Gorals' social and economic life resembled that of Vlach shepherd culture.[49]
TheZakopane Style architecture, established at the end of the 19th century, is held as a Goral tradition. The architectural style draws on local architecture andVernacular architecture of the Carpathians, and is widespread in thePodhale region.
Zakopower is a popular folk-pop musical group from Zakopane. TheTrebunie-Tutki folk musical group from Zakopane blend traditional Goral music withreggae.
For centuries clasps have been an important element of Goral traditional costumes. Originally used for fastening shirts, they fell out of use whenbuttons became popular, remaining only asornaments. In the early 20th century they were already rare, used only by senior and youngshepherds, who grazed their sheep on mountain pastures. In the 1920s and the 1930s, they were considered collector's items and sought after by tourists. InZakopane, they were often worn as ornaments for the "cucha" (outerwear), sweaters, or occasionally on leather bags. Today the clasps are a popular element of highlanders from thePodhale region, but the way they are worn differs from the original one: instead of fastening shirts they are usually attached to them or sewed on.[50]
Theparzenica embroidery dates back to the mid-19th century. Initially, they were simple string loops, used for reinforcing cuts in front of cloth trousers. They had practical functions and protected the cloth from fraying. The modern lookparzenica got from those tailors who began using red or navy blue string, simultaneously increasing the number of loops. Later theappliqué design was replaced withembroidery. Using woollen yarn allowed the parzenica to become more colourful and eventually it became a stand-alone trouser ornamentation, developed by talented tailors and embroiderers.[51]
In the second half of the 19th century, it became fashionable in thePodhale region to adorncorsets with depictions ofthistle andedelweiss. These motifs were the most popular in the early 20th century. When "Kraków style" came into fashion, highlanders of the Podhale region began ornamenting the corsets with shinysequins andglass beads.[52]
InCieszyn Silesia and northern Slovakia, theshepherd's axe and elements of the folk costume are termedVlach (Polish:wałaska, wałaszczaki,Slovak:valaška).[53]
Goral folk costumes can be found in theNational Museum of Ethnography in Warsaw,[54][55]The Tatra Museum in Zakopane, theEthnographic Museum of Kraków, and theCity Museum of Żywiec.
Most Gorals are adherents of theRoman Catholic Church and are often noted for their staunch religiosity. TheSanctuary of Our Lady of Ludźmierz is of particular significance to the Gorals, being the oldest shrine in the Podhale region. Also, there are numerous Catholic religious cults and traditions connected to the church.[citation needed]
The Polish Gorals also hold a particular reference for PopeJohn Paul II, who they consider as their own, even though Karol Wojtyła was born inWadowice,Lesser Poland and was not a Goral himself. However, the Late Pope was always considered as "the son of the mountains" by the Gorals.[56]
A notable portion of Gorals areAugsburg Confession Lutherans, who are clustered around the town ofWisła. This is the main centre of Protestant Gorals, and it is the only city in Poland where Catholics are a minority.[57]
In Slovakia, significant portions of Goral settlements fall under the territorial jurisdictions ofRoman Catholic Diocese of Spiš.
W XIII w. na ziemiach polskich zaczęli się pojawiać Wołosi, osadnicy z Bałkanów, którym udało się ujarzmić Karpaty i wprowadzić tu gospodarkę pasterską.
Od XV w., oprócz ludności polskiej, na Podhale zaczęła napływać ludność pochodzenia rumuńskiego – Wołosi. Zajmowali się oni wypasem bydła i owiec.
Gorali, podobne ako Rusíni, žijú na oboch stranách štátnej poľsko-slovenskej hranice[...] Je to veľmi vzácna a zvláštna subskupina v tom, že jej jazyk pripomína skôr poľštinu s istými prvkami slovenčiny[...]
Górale podhalańscy jako odrębna grupa zaczęła kształtować się w XIV wieku.
Pierwsi śmiałkowie wędrowali ku Tatrom z Małopolski doliną Raby, przez dzisiejszą Mszanę Dolną, potem w poprzek Gorców ku wsiom Niedźwiedź i Obidowa, by połączyć się w Klikuszowej z trasą dzisiejszej zakopianki.
Przed 1234 r. musieli być tu ludzie, skoro przywilej dla Teodora Gryfity z rąk Henryka Brodatego wymienia już jakieś nazwy. Osadnicy ci składali się zapewne z elementu przestępczego, który wybrał niedostępne tereny górskie dla ukrycia się przed sprawiedliwością.
Od XV w., oprócz ludności polskiej, na Podhale zaczęła napływać ludność pochodzenia rumuńskiego – Wołosi. Zajmowali się oni wypasem bydła i owiec.
Zetknięcie miejscowych z Wołochami było szorstkie. Długosz opisywał ich jako ludzi prymitywnych, brutalnych i skorych do rozboju.
Nowi przybysze sprowadzili na te tereny inne niż osadnicy z nizin sposoby gospodarowania. W ten sposób wywodząca się z Małopolski gospodarka folwarczna wzbogaciła się o tradycyjne formy chowu zwierząt w górach, rządzące się innym prawem i odmienną obyczajowością. W tym spotkaniu dwóch kultur rolniczych wiodącymi pozostały sposoby gospodarowania przyniesione z nizin, w jakimś tylko zakresie dostosowane do lokalnych warunków siedliskowych i wołoskich systemów chowu zwierząt gospodarskich w górach.
Karpaty były od XV w. zasiedlane przez ludność wołoską, która na północnych stokach polonizowała się, na południu ulegała wpływom słowac.
[...]pomiędzy XVI a XVIII wiekiem wiele osób z terenu Polski osiedlało się w tych słowackich regionach, przynosząc ze sobą swój język i gwarę.
Formalnie osadnictwo na prawie wołoskim polegało na przejmowaniu pasterskich form prawnych i gospodarczych. Mieszkańcy nowo zakładanych wsi płacili czynsz w naturze, oddając panu między innymi po jednej owcy z każdej hodowanej dwudziestki.
Highlander slang is a Polish language dialect, that contains plenty of Polish archaisms and many words from Slovak, Hungarian and Balkan languages.
Górale z Podhala zawsze uważali Jana Pawła II za swojego. Choć urodził się on w Wadowicach, oddalonych kilkadziesiąt kilometrów od Podhala, to dla górali Karol Wojtyła zawsze był "synem gór".
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