906 05 Sobotište, Slovakia
+421 34 628 21 02
info@muzeumhabanov.sk

Traditional crafts and way of livelihood of anabaptists in Sobotište

The Anabaptists in Sobotište were skilled craftsmen, especially cutters, blacksmiths, carpenters, wheelwrights and tanners. The wider population was best known as excellent tiles, potters and jug-shapers. The locals also called them masters of centuries-old crafts. They also devoted themself to milling, peasantry and viticulture, in the wider are they were known as healers, barber-surgers and women as nursemaids.

Agrarian culture and viticulture

Anabaptists were engaged in agriculture and domestic cattle breeding, although not to the extent of crafts. After the abolition of serfdom in 1848, many nations sold their estates and among the buyers of land were several descendants of anabaptists. They also owned several vineyards and continuously established new ones. Habán vineyards in Sobotište were located in the locality above Šlachovcom and in Seničky. In order to store large quantities of wine, they built an extensive cellar near Klučirňa. After the extension of the filoxers in the second half of the 19th century, most of the vineyards in Sobotište disappeared.

Medicine, healing and nursing

In the field of health, anabaptists played an important role. They brought many elements to medicine at a time when there was a shortage of trained doctors. The anabaptist doctors were mainly engaged in internal medicine, using various medicinal plants, herbs and medicines, made according to their own prescriptions. In the diagnosis and treatment they were able to apply the knowledge not only from the personal practice and oral administration of other doctors from the Community, but also from the field of natural sciences. The nurses and nursemaids formed a special group in the anabaptists community and were sought after in noble families. Most of these nursemaids came from Sobotište and Veľké Leváre.