- – We started with temporary stalls 50 years ago – a vendor at a fair from ul. St. Barbara. – Unfortunately, tourists have less time for us. Or none at all
- I notice that at every second or third stop there is a small statue of a bearded man in a skullcap for sale. Or a magnet that says “Jew in the hall, money in your pocket.”
- In the other stands, what catches my attention, among other things, are the small puzzles with Jesus (PLN 10), and near the icons I also find a toy manicure set and a terry cloth with a marijuana symbol.
- You can find more of these reports on the Onet home page.
“These are not souvenirs from the Paul Fathers!” I hear an announcement from the loudspeaker of the Jasna Gora temple, warning of “people who engage in illegal trade” on the ground in front of this temple. But the official shop of pilgrims – “Claromontana” – also has legal competition. It includes traders who operate stalls along the part of Šveta Barbara Street leading from Jasna Góra. It is a unique place where the sacred often blends with the profane.
Rosary with relics
“Excuse me, what relic does this rosary contain?” I ask at the first open kiosk. I don’t expect a piece of a saint’s tunic to cost more than 20 PLN, but I’m counting on at least a third-class relic (that is, an object, for example, that was in contact with such a tunic).
I visited a souvenir fair from Częstochowa, run by an association of local merchants, on the first Wednesday of August 2024.
It seems that the sellers of St. Barbara have introduced their own degree.
“The relic in this rosary is a drop of water from the miraculous spring at Lourdes, trapped in one of the stones,” the saleswoman answers.
Rosary holder with relics
The supplier of devotional items for another wooden kiosk used a similar patent. I learned that in the “rosary with the Holy Land” a grain of soil, also found in one of the links, comes from the area around Jerusalem.
A pause with rosaries from the Holy Land
“The Pope Effect”
On a Wednesday morning in early August—despite the Hajj season—there is not much traffic between the stalls, so the vendors are mostly chatting with potential customers. Most of them assume I am a fan of souvenir magnets.
“I’ll show you this year’s model, a real hit,” encourages a wooden booth owner near the neon sign that reads “Souvenirs/Exhibition” at the beginning.
The exhibition starts at ul. St. Barbara – from the direction of Jasna Góra.
Team John Paul II turned out to be a great success when he became younger on the magnet. He is tilted downward, and looks like the Pope at the end of his papacy – upward: in the middle of it.
– Polish product: New from a supplier from Wieliczka – I hear you.
Magnet with a younger pope: Here is John Paul II at the end of his papacy
The magnet with the younger Pope has two versions: night and day – with the illuminated Yasna Gora. I like the night one more.
– Like everyone else: the Pope’s effect is better on a darker background – says the seller. – Don’t be afraid: only 10 PLN. This is not Gubałówka or Krupówki in Zakopane..
John Paul II – this time in the middle of his pontificate – in the newness of this year of the fighters. Saint Barbara of Czestochowa
“Time is not the same for Saint Barbara”
The merchant himself begins to say that “times are not the same for Saint Barbara.”
– We started with temporary booths 50 years ago, and solid wooden booths came later. We are a community. Unfortunately, tourists have less time for us. Or none at all. Organized tours to Częstochowa now usually take several hours to visit the sanctuary. Then drive to Piekary Śląskie. There are no longer any night flights from which pilgrims can visit us without hurrying, says the seller of the younger Pope. His words are confirmed by the cards on several closed platforms: with the message “For sale” and a telephone number. The further we go from Jasna Gora on the street, the more closed platforms there are.
According to my interviewer, the gallery is in the Mujahideen. The best times of St. Barbara are behind her – this is a view of the terraces farthest from the temple
“A lot of people ask about it.”
What is familiar near Jasna Góra other than magnets? I notice that at every second or third stand there is a small statue of a bearded man in a skullcap for sale. And with a penny. Or a magnet with the inscription “Jew in the hall and money in your pocket”.
Souvenir magnets from Czestochowa at an exhibition on Święta Barbara Street
– I also have such statues on the platform, because Many clients order a “Jew from Częstochowa” for their home so that they can keep their money there. The client decides. And if you are so curious and wise, buy from me a statue of an owl, – finishes my interlocutor.
“The Jew from Czestochowa,” as the sellers say, is one of the most popular souvenirs from Jasna Gora.
In the other stands, what catches my attention, among other things, are the small puzzles with Jesus (PLN 10), and near the icons I also find a toy manicure set and a terry cloth with a marijuana symbol.
Teddy bear with marijuana symbol on background of Jesus image
In the stands at ul. St. Barbara there are several paintings depicting the Last Supper. When I asked if they were selling better after the hype during the opening of the Olympic Games, I heard only: “Take it – from 40 PLN”. And from the stand selling records, including religious music, this time comes a song by the band Bakari with the lyrics “Love me, love me fiercely / Love me standing, lying down”.
The exhibition in Częstochowa also includes several portraits of John Paul II.
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.
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