The custom of making flower carpets is closely linked to the celebration of Corpus Christi in Poland. At the end of the 14th century, the feast had already been celebrated in every Polish diocese.
For more than 200 years, Spycimierz, a small village in Uniejów (central Poland), has created colorful flower carpets along the Corpse Christi procession route. The decorative element was originally yellow sand and tree branches, but flowers were introduced in the 1920s. Symbols and religious paintings were placed on floral rugs, and it was dominated by rosettes. Other decorative elements included leaves, cereal ears, and bark from trees.
Throughout the Spycimier ceremony, gates are a unique element. In the present day, two are erected: one above the procession passage, one at the entrance to the church square. These are substantial constructions, 6 meters in height and 4 meters wide, which must be prepared well in advance. The frame of the gates is surrounded by coniferous branches, in which colorful flowers are woven. Flowers are woven into the delicate branches of spruce that hang from the upper beam, on which the cross and the religious image are fixed.
Flower gates, representing the passage, complement the symbolism of flower rugs. Families in several villages set up colorful and symbolic carpets along the route of the procession in front of their homes. These flower carpets cover the road that leads from the church through the village and can be almost two kilometers long. A number of hours are spent in preparation, and the end result is a temporary and collective art piece meant to express spirituality and creativity.
In Poland, the feast is celebrated in a very special way. They usually start from the church and then proceed to four altars arranged at a certain distance from the church. The Gospel is read at each altar. Spycimierz tradition endures and is passed from generation to generation. The pattern is also regularly made in schools, with support from the local parish and non-governmental organizations.
The parishioners and Uniejów Commune take care of their preservation by participating in co-financed projects from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Numerous investments have been made including the Spycimierz Corpus Christi Centre. Over time, the tradition has united the entire community, and it has shaped local identity.