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Highlanders from Sywiec region take part in the carol contest during celebration of Zywieckie Mating day, the oldest and largest competition of carol singing and ongoing new year celebrations of Beskid mountains on January 22, 2022 in Milowka, Poland. Many researchers believe that the celebrations origins date back to the times of King Jan Kazimierz and the Swedish invasion of Zywiec in the 17th century. Each year, folk groups from the region, dressed like horses in large, colorful hats and masks, and Bears in fur suits take part in the carol contest. According to the organizer, the carols contests should bring hope and success for the all year around. However with modern times, even with a strong tradition changes were inevitable, as in the beginning of the 20th century the clothing was made of straw and nowadays with access to clothing and with a slow decline of agriculture in the region, the characters are more colorful and creative has no limits. This year the organization has felt a decline on the folk groups participation and the number of the public as declined as the Omicron variant spreads around the country. Poland is now going trough the 5th wave of the pandemic and today set a new infection record of 40876 cases and the predictions show that the number will increase in the next days. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images)
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