Ratiboř

This year we said we needed to prepare more killer specials to keep sales going for more than an hour. Even though we processed ten shepherds, it wasn't enough. A large group of volunteers, along with municipal staff, worked all week to prepare everything so that there would not be large lines on Saturday and everyone could be reached.

The smell of the slaughter attracted a really large number of visitors to our village square. People came not only to shop, but many did not even cook at home and whole families came to dine to the accompaniment of the Kordulka dulcimer band. The killings quickly dwindled and preparations for the evening program slowly began. A handicraft workshop opened for the children, a live nativity scene shone on the stage and at four o'clock the mayor started the tree lighting programme.

Traditionally, the children from the primary school accompanied by Radka Mrlinová performed, followed by the Kosáci men's choir with their Christmas song "At the Bethlehem on the shepherd's hill". We were also visited by St. Nicholas and his entourage and then the village square was filled with mulled wine and the sweet melodies of Wallachian carols.

Mr. Michal Burda from the Wallachian Journal described the atmosphere on Saturday best:

"The killer soup I tasted on Saturday in Ratiboř was delicious. The other kebab specialties prepared by the locals were just as good and maybe even better, but unfortunately I had no room in my stomach for them. Too bad. I will taste it again next time. But it wasn't the delicious food that I enjoyed the most on Saturday afternoon in Ratiboř. Even better "tasted" the omnipresent good and positive mood that prevailed among Ratiboř residents. If any event deserves the title of a pleasant neighbourhood meeting, it was certainly the local Saturday municipal slaughter. Many local people and associations were involved in its organisation. And it seems to me that the aim was not just to eat well, but above all to meet the neighbours and just have a good chat. You don't see that everywhere."

Martin Žabčík
Deputy Mayor