The Goral
Here's a very brief history of the Goral (Highlander) people, who originated in and around the Tatra mountains.
By 1000 A.D., the original Celts, Saxons and
Slavs living together around the Tatras for seven centuries had
finally mixed and a new mostly-Slavic culture began to form.
In the 1200s more Germans, Slovaks, Poles, Wallachians (Romanian
& Baltic shepherds), and Russians arrived. The largest influx
of settlers came in the mid-1500s when many Germans arrived from
Levoca, Slovakia, Wallachian shepherds from the Carpathians,
Poles from Zywiec, and Hungarian nobles from southern Slovakia,
all given special privileges by the king. 
In the
1600s an influx of fleeing peasants from Zywiec, Sucha and Wadowice,
Poland joined them. Out of this crucible in remote and rugged
country of battling the harsh climate, infertile soil, invading
armies, and oppressive rulers a highland culture emerged. The
1600s really marked the maturing of the Goral's culture: its
distinct dialect, farming practices, architecture, dress, music,
cuisine and mindset.
By this time the Gorals settled all around the Tatras, but were
mainly concentrated in far northern Orava, Slovakia, the Podhale area of Poland (north
side of the Tatras), in the Pieniny mountains to the east, and
northern Spis county, Slovakia. They have always been a very
independent people and loved their "Szlebodu" or freedom
as they say it in their Goral dialect. In 1651 they rose up and
ousted a particularly feared tyrant named Mikolaj Komorowski
who ruled Zywiec, Nowy Targ and Zakopane. Their ornate costumes
of wool and flax are very regional in design, but the men's trousers
bare the kind of military stripes once common to Hungarian troops
in Orava and Liptov counties in Slovakia.
In the years of World War II the Goral were much persecuted and
killed by German troops. They responded by fighting the Nazis
as partisan freedom fighters and keeping open the courier routes
across the Tatras. The Goral are revered 
throughout the
Slavic world -- especially in Poland -- for their wisdom, self-sufficient
nature, hard work ethic, and bravery. And their rich cultural
dress, music, tales of the mountains, and hearty cuisine are
also beloved. The majestic Tatra mountains are still where they
feel most at home. And many people are discovering the colorful
beauty of their culture, their kindness, and their unique farming
and shepherding inhabitants. These are the Goral. For more on
their history, visit the Tatra-Area
Timeline. To see what areas they've called home visit
the Goral Map.