Heľpa

The oldest written note about this village comes of 1549. The rights as well as duties of several communities, including Helpa, were stipulated there. Yau can read in this document that James and Peter of Helpa lived in an estate, keeping 250 pieces of sheep. Later, at the same time, when agricultural areas were enlarged, they specialized also for planting of agricultural products and cattle breeding. So, the original shepherds became successively the farmers, just since 17th century. In the second half of 18th century, the iron industry started to be developped. When the Czechoslovak Republic was founded, the activity in local iron works were definitely stopped in 1926. On the other hand, in the course of the first Slovak Republic, the economical, as well as the social situation, improved moderately. Nevertheless, all essential changes were effected after 2nd World War. During construction of socialism era, the community got local radio, sporting stadium, public illumination, departement store, elementary school building, gymnasium, new houses, nature theatre, health service centre, new water reservoirs, and the brook, which flows through the village, was reconstructed.

After Velvet Revolution in 1989, the number of reconstruction as well as investition activities continued. New gears of earth gas, sewerage, phone gears were constructed, main village market place was renovated, new parsonage or ski towage were built, the environs of a church were renovated, and all streets got new asphalted carpet. The civic as well as interest assotiations participate on improvement of life environment and improvement of standard of living. So, voluntary fire brigades belong to most active bodies. Sporting activities are in big development, concentrated into various sections. The culture is representated with three dancing and singing choirs. Local branch of elementary artistic school educated several young artists. Since 1966, so called Song and Dance Horehron Days are organized there regularly each year. At the beginning of June, it is, for instance Kolovrátek („Street-Organ“) Children Folk Festival, and later, the review of military folk bodies.

Helpa is, thanks to its beauty and customs´ originality, a jewel of Slovak ethnography and source of inspiration for Slovak as well as foreign artists. On the other hand, the target of organizers  of Children Cultural Festival is to take place such various events which enrich local culture, revive town´s way of life and make actual all values of local, regional and European culture. During past seven annual courses, there was organized in nature theatre a festival, where nearly 3000 children participated. The event was enriched with many adjoining events, where children artistic as well as people´s creative activities were supported.    

Text: Denisa Arvajová, helpa.sk

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Foto: picasaweb.com, sk.wikipedia.org