The fate of Johann Haupt, photographer and historian from Jihlava
Topic: Renewing tradition as an act of identity and pride in the city's history
The story follows the fate of Johann Haupt, a photographer and historian from Jihlava who, at the end of the 19th century, continued the fading tradition of miners' parades and breathed new life into it. Fascinated by the mining glory of Jihlava, Haupt managed to enthuse the locals and turn the historic parade into a celebration that united the town across generations. The film tells the story not only of Haupt's initiative, but also of the fate of the tradition itself - its demise, repeated attempts at revival and its current continuation.
The setting
Destination.
Specific localities:
- Church of St. John the Baptist: spiritual and symbolic centre of the parade
- Masaryk (formerly Horní) Square: the scene of the main celebrations and the play
- Historical streets of the town: route of the festive Havířská parade
- Museum of Highlands Jihlava: the place of Johann Haupt's activity
- Haupt's photo studio: the main character's space where ideas and visions are born
Characters
- Johann Haupt: main character, visionary and restorer of tradition, photographer, museum curator, enthusiast for Jihlava history
- Ignatz Göth: Haupt's successor, teacher and continuator of the parade tradition until the Second World War
- Arnošt Kába: historian and museum worker who tried to revive the parade in the 1950s in completely different conditions
- Ing. Milan Kolář: initiator of the revival of the festival after 1989
- Local miners, residents of Jihlava, members of associations and orchestras: living backdrops to the story, who give the tradition both content and energy
History and cultural context
The Havířská parade in Jihlava has its roots in the celebration of the mining past of the town, which was one of the most important silver centres in Europe in the Middle Ages. In 1799 the first 'costumed' miners appeared at mass, but it was not until 1890 that Johann Haupt revived the tradition and transformed it into a spectacular town festival.
Haupt combined historical authenticity with aesthetics and social impact. His initiative led to the formation of the Association for the Preservation of the Hanoverian Procession (1919), which had 300 members. Parades were held regularly until 1944, when the tradition was interrupted by the war and the expulsion of the German population.
In the post-war period, the tradition was repeatedly tried to be revived - most significantly by Arnošt Kába (in the 1950s) and most recently in 1999 by the civic association led by Ing. Milan Kolář. Today, the miners' parade is held every two years as a multi-day celebration that commemorates not only the mining past but also the cultural continuity of the town.
This story has a strong emotional and visual potential - a combination of history, identity and civic initiative.
Films made:
About Jihlava Mining, short animated film, Tereza Atanascheva and Eva Bystrianská, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kxEC5K6N7w
Jihlava Mining Parade, 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8aAAYvAGNM
Jihlava Mining Parade, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8aAAYvAGNM
