MOŠČANSKI GASILCI
V neposredni bližini mesta, kjer stojite, je stal gasilski dom zgrajen leta 1847. Moščanski gasilci so bili tesno povezani z moščanskim praznikom »sveta kuzla«, ki mu je posvečen ta zaklad.
SVETA KUZLA
Sveta kuzla je bil selski (Selo) in moščanski praznik ob vaškem žegnanju na dan sv. Jakoba, 25. julija. Simbol tega vaškega praznika je bila kuzla – psica, obdarovana s kostmi. Selo z Mostami je častilo kuzlo, Štepanjci kolerabo, Vičani konja, Šiškarji pa komarja.
Praznik je bil povezan s selskimi in moščanskimi gasilci, ki so se svete kuzle s pripravami veselili že tedne prej. Na ta dan so bila na gasilsko parado z veselico povabljena vsa prostovoljna društva ljubljanskih predmestij. Veselica je morala biti začinjena s pretepom, drugače praznik ne bi bil vreden svojega imena.
V počastitev praznika so gospodinje delavskih selskih družin kuhale in cvrle, povsod je vladalo veselo razpoloženje. Možje so že zjutraj poklali piščance, kokoši in kunce, ki so jih gospodinje zatem ocvrle, poleg tega pa spekle še potice in šarklje. Gostilna Sedmica (Zigmar, v smeri proti današnjim Fužinam) je ta dan pekla krofe, ki so jih brezplačno delili.
(Vir: Kregar Jože, Moščanska kronika, 2016)
Od kod poimenovanje sveta kuzla? Morda je povezano le z vročino pasjih dni v juliju in avgustu ali pa se navezuje na antično izročilo pasjih dni. »Pasji« so zaradi ozvezdja velikega psa, kjer najdemo zvezdo Sirius. Ta se s soncem poravna v poletnem času in takrat na jutranjem nebu močno sveti. Grki so razlagali, da poletna vročina prihaja iz vlažnega in vročega pasjega gobca (zvezda Sirius je v »gobcu« ozvezdja psa) in vsega kar se je v teh dneh slabega zgodilo, je bil kriv pes. Rimljani so vroče dneve, ko so prekinili poljedelska in druga opravila, začeli imenovati dies caniculares, canicula latinsko pomeni majhen pes, psička (tudi kuzlica). Rimljani so imeli avgusta v času pasjih dni tudi običaj žrtvovanja psov.
MOSTE FIREFIGHTERS
Very close to the point where you are standing once stood Moste Fire Station which was built in 1847. Firefighters in Moste were much involved with local holiday called Saint Bitch.
SAINT BITCH
Saint Bitch was a local holiday in Selo and Moste and was celebrated on 25th July (st. Jacob). The symbol of this holiday was bitch – dog to which they gifted bones. Selo and Moste cherished the bitch, people in Štepanjsko naselje turnip cabbage, those at Vič cherished the horse and people in Šiška the mosquito.
Firefighters in Moste were looking forward to Saint Bitch celebration weeks ahead of it. On the day of the celebration there was a firefighter’s parade and a big firefighter’s party to which all the firefighters from Ljubljana and surroundings were invited. The party had to be accompanied by some fights.
Women of the working families in Selo and Moste were frying and cooking, everyone felt cheerful. Men have slaughtered the chickens, hens and rabbits early in the morning, so that women fried them later and baked local pastries. The guesthouse Sedmica was offering free doughnuts on that day.
(Source: Kregar Jože, Moščanska kronika, 2016)
Why the name Saint Bitch? It might be due to hot summer days also called the dog days in July and August or there is a connection with ancient tradition of dog days. They are called “dog” because of Canis Major (Great Dog) constellation in which we can find the brightest star Sirius. Sirius shines strongly during summer nights. To the Greeks and Romans, the “dog days” occurred around the day when Sirius appeared to rise just before the sun, in late July. They referred to these days as the hottest time of the year, a period that could bring fever, or even catastrophe. In ancient Rome the supplicia canum ("punishment of the dogs") was an annual sacrifice that took place on August 3rd and in which live dogs were suspended from a furca ("fork") or cross (crux) and paraded.
