Rok w „Sokole”. Działalność Towarzystw Gimnastycznych „Sokół” w cyklu rocznym (1867–1914). Zarys problematyki

Abstract

A year at „The Falcon”. The annual activity of the “Sokół” (“Falcon”) Polish Gymnastic Society In 1867 in Lviv the Polish Gymnastic Society was established, adopting two years later the name “Sokół” (The Falcon). Since 1884, the “Falcon” societies started to be set up outside Lviv, then outside the Austrian partition and in Polish communities in Europe and both Americas. Between the wars there were over 800 of them in the Republic of Poland. Their activity in Poland was only stopped by the outbreak of the Second World War. Despite their name, those societies ran a very diverse activity. Thanks to their broad offer including gymnastics, sports, civil defense training, drama groups, choirs, orchestras, cinemas and libraries, patriotic, social and light entertainment events, as well as extensive infrastructure facilities like The Falcon buildings, playgrounds, shooting ranges, pools etc., the Falcon “nests” used to become local centers of social and cultural life. This article outlines the annual cycle of the Falcon activity, including the seasons of the year, particularly in the first half of the 20th c.