Good practice:

The Book of Vinesprouts of Kőszeg (since 1740) and St. George’s Day celebrations

Kőszeg with its approximately 11,500 inhabitants and aging society faces challenges of population-retention, attractiveness as a typical rural small- and medium-sized town. Its traditional region was torn by the iron curtain just at the edge of the town for decades that has effected the integrity of the community. In the framework of ‘KRAFT Creative Cities, Sustainable Region’ initiative, local traditions have been refurbished to promote placemaking and reinforcing the community, among others the Book of Vinesprouts.
Since 1740, samples of grapevine shoots are annually harvested on St. George’s Day (24 April) and recorded with professional accuracy, reproduced pictorially in the Book of Vinesprouts, which custom is worldwide unique. This remarkable book kept in Kőszeg Town Museum preserved all records and water-coloured painted pictures providing scientific basis for the annual Grape and Climate conference.
The tradition and celebrations on St. George’s Day is one of the most dominant programmes of the town where the sense of belonging of inhabitants could be improved. As a unique tradition, inhabitants as beneficiaries of the practice could feel proud of this custom, which forms their regional identity.
The celebration covers wide variety of programmes from street dance shows, orchestra music to scientific lectures and the county-level wine competition. All non-governmental institutions which preserves the wine tradition in the area are represented as main stakeholders.

The programme basically built on volunteering work and minor budget the town allocates to the celebration.

The St. George’s Day celebrations (approx. from the ‘70s) attracts numerous inhabitants and visitors year by year. Besides this the greatest evidence of success is keeping this tradition alive which positions the town on the global map.

The good practice would serve for other agriculturally active regions/ towns and cities both aspects of tradition and recording. This kind of time series recording can also deepen and enhance ‘genius loci’and the strength of locality, e.g by conducting different interesting local analysis, like examination of local effects of climate change.
If we focus on the tradition the GP provides insights to other cities which aim to conserve of traditional production processes in innovative form. The book itself represents a valuable intellectual property, meanwhile the celebration addresses integrity with elder, recent and fore coming generations. As a testimony of the supportive ecosystem services it serves environmental education which activity would be relevant in any territory.