The below brief story gives a glimpse into the historical Slovenian Village Councils, one of many examples of how circle has been alive in many traditions, cultures, and communities all around the world. With gratitude to Marjeta Novak for sharing this story.
Circle in Historical Slovenian Village Councils
In traditional Slovenia of Central & Eastern Europe, Village Councils were held in circle under a centrally located Linden Tree. At each tree a circle of “stone-chairs” was located, each often representing one of the land-owning village families. Typically, there would be twelve stone seats under the tree. Many of these stone circles are still preserved across the country, some being over 500 years old.
Village Councils would include family elders gathering under the Linden Tree to discuss varied communal affairs:
tending to communal grasslands and woodlands, determining what to do and when to do it
helping families in distress, for example to organize the re-building of the house that was burnt down
setting up village defences so as to better resist against the invading 15th and 16th century;
managing minor village disputes.
And example of such stone circles is in the village of Vrba (north Slovenia). In Vrba there still remain 16 “stone-chairs” preserved around the centrally-located Linden Tree, which is over 200 years old. All traditional houses in the village were built with their roof ridges pointed towards the central circle.
To carry the wisdom of Village Councils forward, after Slovenia gained independence in 1991, its national parliament was built from the traditional village council model, with chairs arranged in concentric circles.
As centuries-old meeting places, Linden Trees have become a symbol of the Slovenian nation, representing peace, truth and justice, just as it was in village councils held in circle.