Banska Bystrica Local Customs

In every city in Slovakia there is a memorial of some sort to the Slovak National Uprising during WW II. I will be writing an entire travelogue about that, but this photo below shows Banska Bystrica's memorial (roundish building in lower left).

I have just read a message from someone who lived in Banska and this is the story behind the shape of the memorial....

''I liked your comment on the Slovak Uprising Memorial in Banska. There are couple version explaining what shape does this memorial have. Actually, although I am from Banska originally, I have to admit I have never heard one you mentioned - saying that it is an imitation of a military hat... Well - you can choose. Some people say it is:

1. A broken heart

2. A loaf of bread (offered to soldiers)

3. Janosik's hat''

[Note: Janosik is a Slovak folk hero and I will be writing about him on my Zilina page. He is called The Slovak Robin Hood.]

Now...I am quite sure my version of it being a military hat is all my own making. I bet I heard it as Janosik's hat and just confused things. But, I like the broken heart explanation best. So...the reader can choose. I think if you get to know Slovaks, you will go with the broken heart, too.