When you visit the Folklore Museum Hayati Ladia in Proti, at Serres, Region you come to the tobacco warehouses of the Ladia family that were built in the early 20th century. The tobacco warehouses, with the hayati and the cobbled path in the courtyard of the country house, typical Pangaeorean type house ,of the family, constitute a a unified tobacco production unit of the pre-industrial period. Its premises are housed in a wide-fronted mansion bought in 1919 by Evangelos Ladias from the Muslim Mehmet Kehagia, is a sample of local architecture and an example of cultural exchange between Christians and Muslims.
Through the objects of the permanent collection housed in the two warehouse buildings, you are getting a tour in moments of the daily life of a typical tobacco-producing family, along with the economic and political history facts of the turbulent 20th century, which transfers society from pre-industrial to industrial age.
The preservation of the family memory, the preservation of the local history and the preservation of the material evidence of folklore culture, were the motivation for the establishment of the folklore Museum by Vasiliki Ladia and Christos Tsifoutis.
The doors of the Hayati Ladia Folklore Museum opened for the first time in 2014. The local community embraced the museum and recognized its important cultural contribution. This acceptance led to the creation of AMKE of the Folklore Museum Hayati Ladia Protis Serron and the formation of the first Board of Directors.
Our mission:
The preservation of family memory.
The promotion of the social, economic and political history of the Proti Serron.
The rescue of the material evidence of the folklore culture of the wider area of Serres.
The study of folkrole culture, traditional practices and professions.
The promotion of scientific research in the fields of history, folklore culture, social anthropology, architecture and in general the support of all arts.
Cultural communication with institutions and individuals through the organization of educational programs, periodical exhibitions, workshops and other activities.
See the Museum’s collection
The collection of the Folklore Museum Hayati Ladia consists of about 800 objects, dating between 1870-1960. Most come from Proti and the surrounding area and describe the daily life of pre-industrial society. For the better management of the collection, it was recorded and documented. The objects were assigned a unique tax code and documentation tabs were formed according to the international standards SPECTRUM and CIDOC – ICOM.
The main occupation of the people of the house is tobacco production
In the 20th century the cultivation of tobacco is the dominant agricultural occupation in Proti, Serres and in the villages around Paggaio. The “basmas” variety, one of the most exquisite varieties of world tobacco production, thrives in the lands of the region. The high demand for eastern tobacco and the high commercial price of basma, contribute to the economic prosperity of the region.
The tobacco growing cycle starts in February and ends in October. Family members work non-stop for the common good, without the requirement of a salary. Mutual assistance, after all, is the only way to survive at home. The woman-mother, in addition to the continuous work in the field, is also responsible for the household chores. Older children take care of the younger ones and from pre-adolescence follow their parents in the tobacco fields. Child labor is considered self-evident and part of the education of the child, who leaves school during the months of intensive work. Law 4029 of 1912 “On the work of women and minors” protects the right of children to education and prohibits work before the age of 12, but the customary rule prevails over the law, as does the need for labor. The work of women and children in tobacco growing is of great importance for the economy of the time.
In the summer months when jobs increase and the hands are not enough, the pre-industrial society employs the network of kinship relations. The mahala families exchange labor power as part of mutual aid. When this is not possible or not enough, farm workers are hired. Workers can be permanent on large crops or seasonal on smaller ones, locals without a lot or foreigners moving from non-rural areas.
The self-sufficiency of the house
The economy of the pre-industrial age is based on sustainability, reuse and processing. The limited production of products also limits the needs of man, most of which were covered within the house.
In the first of the 20th century, along with tobacco, the “good households” cultivate their cereals and vineyard. So the house always has its flour, bread and wine…
The smaller farmers, who have a few acres, focus exclusively on tobacco growing, which is more profitable.
From the loom to the… singer
The loom contributes to ensuring the self-sufficiency of the house of the pre-industrial period. Occupies the brightest room. Girls learn to weave at a young age, the household loom is exclusively a female occupation. In non-existent homes, the dowry is assigned to professional weavers or weavers.
The female tobacco grower does not have time for the loom, the large tobacco growing cycle lasts about ten months and this is a necessary hand. Only in winter can she embroider and weave, channeling her creativity.
The ondoudi
The oud is a versatile room on the ground floor of the house. It is used for cooking, as a living room and on winter nights the children sleep in it because it is warm from the stove or the fireplace.
Pre-industrial society uses natural resources to a limited extent as they are not readily available.
The living room
The kitchen
The “being” with the meder
The bedroom
Grandma’s loom
hayati ladia folklore museum
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the “Hayati Ladia” Folklore Museum for granting us permission to republish material from their website in our magazine.
Their valuable contribution to the preservation and promotion of Greek folk tradition is truly inspiring, and we are honored to share their work with our international readership through the Terirem Project.
Thank you for your trust and collaboration.
