Batiar

(; ), a popular name for a certain class of inhabitants of city of Lviv. It is considered a part of the city's subculture, Lviv's ''knajpa'' lifestyle, and became a phenomenon at the beginning of the twentieth century, although its roots go back to the mid-nineteenth century when Lviv was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It declined after the Soviet occupation of Eastern Poland and its annexation to the Soviet Union as part of the Ukrainian SSR in 1939 and again in 1945. The Soviet authorities expelled most of the Polish inhabitants and suppressed the local Polish culture. However, the use of the term continued, and it is a popular term of endearment in today's Lviv. Since 2008 Lviv has celebrated "International Day", started by the "Dik-Art" company in cooperation with the Lviv City Council.

Roots of the term

The Origins of the term may be Hungarian, as from the nineteenth century Lviv was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, some of its policemen were Hungarians, and they may have brought the term to the local dialect from their native language.

Definition by the Encyclopædia Britannica:

History

was the name for lower-class inhabitants of Lwów (the "elite of Lviv's streets"). spoke a distinctive version of the Polish language, called '' Bałak'', a variant of the Lwów dialect. In the popular imagination, a typical was usually financially challenged yet an honest and generous urban citizen with a great sense of humor. Among the most famous s, were such figures as the radio personalities Kazimierz Wajda and Henryk Vogelfänger of the highly popular Wesoła Lwowska Fala radio show, as well as the football star Michał Matyas who played for Pogoń Lwów and the national team of Poland.

The term is still in local use, albeit in the Ukrainian language. Modern are the playboys of the ''Ukrainian Piedmont'', as Eastern Galicia is sometimes referred to, and are easily identified by exquisite manners, stylish attire, and the obligatory attribute of every , a (walking stick).

Quotes

''(Bohdan Rybka, batiar)''

''(Ivan Radkovets, Lviv Studies specialist)''

''(Miroslava Sydor, batiar's koliezanka)''

Cultural influence

The 's Day in Lviv replaced the Soviet holiday of 1 May (the Labor Day), the Day of Worker's Solidarity. s also adopted the proletarian motto: ''Batiars of all countries unite!''.

At the time of the rise of the 's culture, Lviv's Polish-Jewish poet Emanuel Szlechter wrote lyrics for a song that became well known in Poland, (Only in Lwów; from the comedy film '' The Vagabonds'') which became the anthem of the s, and the accompanying music was written by another Polish-Jew Henryk Wars. The Ukrainian repertoire of that song is performed by Yurko Hnatovsky (in retro-psychedelic style) and Zosya Fedina.

s are seen as embodying the unique culture and spirit of Lviv, and are often celebrated in local folklore and popular culture.

Batiars of 21st century

The urban subculture of today's Lviv continues to develop with different styles arising out of its ferment. Among the most prominent representatives are '' Vova zi Lvova'', ''Orest Lyutyi'', and many others.

See also

* Semantic change
* ''Wesoła Lwowska Fala''

References

External links

Witold Szolginia, Batiar and his balak (in Polish)

Homo leopolensis essay from under the "microscope of pan Yurko"


Definition of Betyar by Encyclopædia Britannica


The Batiar's Day report by "UkrInform"







* ttp://postup.brama.com/010224/32_8_1.html Batiar's of the Ukrainian Lviv

{{Lviv

Culture in Lviv
Social class subcultures