Old crafts - basket weaving

Kálmán Varga - basket weaver ; ; Basket weaving is a forgotten folk craft. ; Basket weaving and cane bending have been known since ancient times. The most suitable for this are wild basket willow and gray willow or rabbit willow. ; Basket weaving quickly spread among people involved in agriculture and animal husbandry. Those involved in animal husbandry made corrals, fences, crop storage, chicken coops, cart baskets, beehives from canes, those involved in crop production made picking containers, grain storage, and winegrowers made harvest baskets. During the war, coffins were even made from canes. Objects often used in everyday life (coal baskets, wooden baskets, yard brooms) were also made from canes. ; By the time a basket is finished, it has undergone several work processes. The harvested cane is peeled after 8 hours of cooking, then sorted and dried. The cane prepared in this way can be stored for up to 10 years. ; ; The raw material and tools for basket weaving: willow cane, golden willow ; Tools: knife, garden shears, various prods, pliers, hammer. ; ; Life story of master basket weaver Kálmán Varga: ; ; Kálmán Varga, resident of Csallóközkürt, 70 years old, basket weaver, He learned the craft of basket weaving from his great-grandfather as a small child.  Craftsmanship has accompanied him throughout his life, and more and more beautiful woven objects come out of his hands ; He makes cane baskets, table baskets, hollow baskets, but also baskets suitable for storing wood. ; In addition to basket weaving, he also undertakes the construction of hedge fences. His work is praised by the hedge fence of the Museum of Hungarians in Slovakia. ; He does not disdain corn weaving and broom making ; ; PRESERVING OUR VALUES, TRANSFERRING THE LEGACY OF OUR ANCESTORS: ; Kálmán Varga feels it is his mission to introduce his knowledge, the talent inherited from his great-grandfather, and the cultivation of folk culture to more and more people, and to pass it on from generation to generation. He regularly participates in various traditional events. ; He is a visitor and guest at school events. His mission is to introduce this folk craft, ; so that as many people as possible can master the ins and outs of basket weaving and pass on his knowledge to posterity. ; Uncle Kálmán believes that basket weaving can be learned by today's youth with enough diligence and time, all it takes is patience, a love of nature, and humility towards the profession.