The patroness of miners
	Jump over the hide
	Metal reforging
History

- - -

Three days connected with miners' and metallurgists' traditions are solemnly celebrated at the University:
* "Barbórka" - the Miners' Day (St Barbara - the patroness of miners) on 4th December
* "Florianka" - the Metallurgists' Day (St Florian - the patron saint of metallurgists) on 4th May
* the Foundryman's Day celebrated at the end of November

The Miners' Day (Barbórka) has been celebrated by Polish mining students since at least 1878. The program of celebrations at the University usually includes a holy mass, an official meeting, the jumping over an apron - a tradition that symbolises that mining "apprentices" or "foxes" are admitted to the miners' community. There is a beer feast - a meeting of Polish miners, sometimes also a ball. The key elements in those traditions come from the ore mining regions in Slovakia (low-Hungarian mining towns). These traditions were observed in several mining academies and schools: Scheimnitz, Banska Stiavnics (from the late 18th century), Loeben (after 1849) and Pribram (after 1849). These traditions were then brought to Poland by Polish students gathered in the Polish Students' Mining Library in Leoben from 1878.

Some of those taking part in the celebrations wear traditional, black, miner's uniforms. The typical upper part of the uniform is called "kitel" ( a smock), which is a plain, loose blouse with a tippet, sometimes also with outer pockets. "Bibertola" - the traditional apparel of mining supervisors is more tight, has a stiff collar and epaulets. The official Polish miner's unform is a combination of these two. The Lis (Fox)- Major ( a leader in the miners' procession) has got a most elegant uniform: the "biberstola', white trousers, long boots reaching over the knees, a cap trimmed with fox fur, a sash, a piece of leather on the back, white gloves, and a sabre either in a scabbard or held in hand. Those accompanying the Major hold other mining attributes, such as: "barts" - decorative axes, "barteczki"- miners' sticks and lamps. Other uniformed participants usually appear with miner's rapiers conferred on them as awards of honour. The celebrations are accompanied by the miners' orchestra; some old university songs are sung, such as: Gaude Mater Polonia, Gaudeamus and the miner's traditional song "Long Live the Miners".

The jumping over the apron is a custom brought by Polish students of mining from Loeben, then adapted by the Association of UST Students. Since 1948 it has followed the procedure suggested by Bogdan Smyła and further improved by Prof Wiktor Żabicki - who for many years acted as the Master of Ceremony. The candidates to the mining profession (i.e. foxes) are admitted to the miners' community during a ceremony reviving all traditional customs cultivated by the miners' professional associations (gwarki) and by the students. By jumping and being bound with the apron ( a piece of hide) a candidate become a full member of the miners' family. During the same ceremony the University banner and a torch are handed over to the younger generations, which is an impressive symbol. These elements were, however, introduced slightly later.

The parade of "foxes" means the march of uniformed students through the city, each carrying the torch, accompanied by the orchestra. The parade is led by the mounted Lis (Fox)- Major, followed by the Rector and professors in hansom cabs or sleighs. A huge barrel of beer is transported on the platform. They leave the University grounds and march to the Main Square in the town, adding colour to the city and becoming a great attraction for passers-by.

During the beer feast - the miners' meeting certain elements of jumping over an apron are sometimes repeated, otherwise other rites are introduced. People drink beer, sing miners' song, tell jokes; however everything is done in accordance with the rules: there must be a Presiding Board, two beer tables and strict rules of performance.

Many years ago the miners' ball was sometimes held in the dancing halls in famous hotels in Cracow, such as "Grand" or in the Old Theatre. sometimes in the UST main building. Later it was held in underground rooms of the salt mines in Wieliczka or Bochnia.

The Metallurgists' Day "Florianka" (the day of metallurgists' oath)
During the period 1919-1939, the St Florian's festival was organised. That event was aimed to raise funds for helping poor students. After the World War II the festival was organised only in 1947, in 1948 the authorities refused their permission. When Prof. Marian Schneied was the Dean (1960/61), Prof. Różanski worked out a scenario for the metallurgists' oath, similar to the mining traditions. Instead of the jumping over the apron, he introduced symbolic forging of a piece of metal though the piece of hide also appeared in the form of the metallurgists' apron worn at the front. Prof. Różański designed the metallurgist's gala uniform modelled on those worn by the Miners Corps in the Polish Kingdom (1917) and by the alumni of the Academy of Mining in Kielce (1816-1827). Metallurgists' festivities were held during the beer feast "Under the Ladle" or in the main building hall, as a separate event. The Foundryman's Day was introduced in 1975, at the suggestion from the Young Staff Members Group and the Dean - Prof. Jan Lech Lewandowski. Temporarily the day was fixed at the end of November, to link it with St Barbara's celebrations. The Foundryman's oath ceremony is held during the beer feast.

Other University traditions:
- visiting the graves of the departed Rectors on the day before the All Saints' Day (1st November) at the Rakowicki Cementary in Cracow, laying flows and lighting candles
- a holy mass in November in commemoration of the deceased founders, benefactors, professors and students of the University
- repeated matriculation ceremony after 50 years from the date of beginning the studies
- a ceremony commemorating the arrest of professors of Cracow universities by the Germans on 6th November 1939

The University commemorates distinguished professors with plaques, inscriptions and sculptures, or naming buildings or laboratories after them. There is also a plaque in honour of those awarded the title "Meritorious", whose names are put there after their decease.
The University of Science and Technologys got a museum where the University heirlooms are kept and shown to the visitors. The museum is responsible for studying the University history, traditions and customs.
A long tradition among students and teachers, going back to the miners' tradition, is the salutation "God speed you".
The name "St Staszic University of Science and Technology" is the link with the Academy of Mining in Kielce (1816-1827), the "predecessor" of our University, established through the efforts of this great man.
The University emblems - bronze inscriptions and eagles surround the St Staszic's statue in the main building. We are reminded of the miners and metallurgists traditions when we see the green-black and red-black colours on the flags, the UST emblem, Rector's insignia, commemorative medals and other relics from the past.
The custom of wearing miners' caps did not remain, however. The caps were popular in the years 1919-1939 and around 1980, but for a short time only. The attempts to revive the central students' organisation, such as the UST Students' Associations failed, too.

Prof. Antoni Kleczkowski