Od lipe do prangerja (From the Linden Tree to the Pillory)

Od lipe do prangerja (From the Linden Tree to the Pillory) is one of the oldest events in the Upper Savinja Valley – this year it will take place for the 46th time in a row. Every year, from June 20th until the first weekend of July, a series of events take place, including a football tournament, an art and ethnographic exhibition through which the people of Rečica revive past events and traditions of the Upper Savinja Valley. The event concludes with a festive evening titled "Evening under the Market Linden Tree," (Večer pod trško lipo) following entertaining games between the hamlets of the Municipality of Rečica ob Savinji.

Programme 2025

📍 Friday, June 20 2025, 6 PM: OPENING OF THE ETHNOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION: FROM THE APPLE TO THE CIDER (OD JAPKE DO TOKCA)

Ethnographic exhibition created in collaboration between the students of Rečica ob Savinji Primary School and the Rečica ob Savinji Tourist Association, held at the Medgen Borza in Rečica ob Savinji.

The exhibition can be viewed during the Medgen Center’s opening hours: on weekdays from 9 AM to 12 PM, except on Wednesdays, when it is open from 2 PM to 6 PM.

📍 Wednesday, June 25 2025, 3 PM: REVIVING OLD GAMES: DODGEBALL

Reviving traditional games at the sports field in Rečica ob Savinji.

📍 Sunday, June 29 2025, 3 PM: Games Between the Settlements of the Municipality of Rečica ob Savinji

Games between the settlements of the municipality at the sports field in Rečica ob Savinji. The event will be hosted by Franci Podbrežnik.

📍 Saturday, July 5 2025, 8 PM: EVENING UNDER THE MARKET LINDEN TREE (VEČER POD TRŠKO LIPO) - CONCERT OF ANSAMBEL ŠTIRJE KOVAČI AND ANSAMBEL VESELI DRENOVCI

An evening full of nostalgia, the sound of the accordion, and good vibes in the market of Rečica ob Savinji.

Od japke do tokca (From the Apple to the Cider) - a tradition that lives on

Apple cider or as we call it, "tokc," is a traditional Upper Savinja drink found in the cellar of every true local. Although over time tokc has lost some of its prestige and is known by many only as a homemade drink enjoyed during work, its popularity has been steadily growing in recent years.

Apple cultivation has a very long tradition dating back thousands of years. The homeland of the apple tree is probably the area of present-day Kazakhstan, where wild ancestors of today’s varieties can still be found. With the development of trade routes, apple trees gradually spread to Europe, including the area of present-day Slovenia. In Slovenia, apples were already grown during the times of the Celts and Romans, but fruit growing especially flourished in the Middle Ages, when monasteries played an important role in preserving and spreading fruit varieties. In the 19th and 20th centuries, fruit growing began to develop more systematically with the introduction of new varieties and technologies. Today, the apple is one of the most important fruit crops in Slovenia.

Apple cider, or tokc, is a fermented beverage made from apples. The production of apple cider was historically an important part of the traditional autumn rural customs. The name  tokc is said to come from the old practice where apples were not ground before pressing but were pounded with a special wooden mallet called a tolkec inside wooden containers. Its history is very rich, as it is believed to have been known already by the Germanic tribes and later the Romans. It is widespread throughout Europe wherever apple orchards can be found.

Since the organizers wanted to revive this old drink and the traditional method of its production—which is also part of the cultural heritage of the Upper Savinja Valley—they created this year’s exhibition. Through it, they aim to emphasize the importance of apples, which are deeply rooted in Slovenian folk tradition, symbolizing  health, fertility, and a sense of home. On the other hand, they want to bring closer the autumn days when tokc was pressed, an important refreshing drink especially enjoyed during the summer months. Today, homemade apple cider is once again gaining recognition as a local, natural alternative to industrial beverages. You will rarely find tokc in regular stores, but if you visit a farm, they will surely offer it to you as a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.

The organizers chose to include this part of the ethnographic display simply because tokc is our apple treasure. At a time when store shelves are filled with juices containing artificial additives and few vitamins, homemade tokc is a true hero: natural, locally produced, and with no need to decode the ingredients. Moreover, it reminds us of times when life was slower, people were more connected, and apples were not just food—they were a reason to gather, to laugh, and to share stories. May these stories live on through this exhibition!