Oskar Kolberg came to Częstochowa in 1853; he noted that in his list of travels. It is probable that he visited the city later in 1855. Since he was working as an accountant for the Management Board of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway, which ran through Częstochowa, he could visit the place often.

The following excerpt comes from his monograph:
“Częstochowa is famous for numerous pilgrimages that come to the city. It is divided into the Old and New Town. The Old Częstochowa, near the Warta river, includes the St. Sigismund Church, which is older than the monastery in Jasna Góra; it has an impressive synagogue, a city hall, school, and a few factories. From Old Częstochowa and the train station, there is a long street with trees that leads up the sloop; this is the New Częstochowa. At the summit of Jasna Góra, there is a Pauline monastery with a church and a chapel with the Icon of the Black Madonna. The church has a high tower, seen from 4 kilometres. Some people believe that the name Częstochowa (from ‘często chować’ – to hide something often) comes from the fact that in the past it often hid Polish soldiers from enemies; others think it is because the city hid itself by its seven hills”.

Kolberg relates the legend about the miraculous painting:
“In 1439 Hussites came to the monastery and robbed it. They took also a painting. However, they managed to go no further than to the place of today’s St. Barbara’s church. Horses refused to go further. One of robbers threw the painting of the Black Madonna away and smashed it into three pieces. Another robber made two cuts on St. Mary’s face. At once, both robbers were struck down, and died; the rest ran away. In the place where the cart stood a spring flowed from which pilgrims take holy water. Next to it St. Barbara Church was erected. The painting was restored in Cracow; yet no one repaired the cuts. The painting was then relocated in a coffin back to Częstochowa. Its fame spread across the land”.

The description of the city of Częstochowa could not disregard the issue of pilgrims:
“Hordes of people gather into groups of dozens of people. Men and women go slowly with bundles on their backs. They bring with them some victuals, clothes, songbooks and rosaries. One of the older men goes at the head. He takes care of their comfort and sleeping places. Each group represents a separate congregation. They hold lights and banners. There is always one of them, it can be a priest, who reads books and initiates singing, like a cantor in church. When they reach Jasna Góra, the cantor instructs everyone to kneel, and, himself standing, commences his oration looking at the church on the Jasna Góra mountain”.

The following excerpt from Kolberg’s monograph concerns the customs related to death:
“In the vicinity of Częstochowa, just after the death of a sick person, people put him or her on straw to reduce this person’s suffering. Later they throw the straw on a road and burn it. Moreover, they take out from the chamber holy water and holy herbs. Sometimes they take out of the house tables and stools and knock them over. The widow moans in front of the house. The women from neighbourhood accompany her”.

Kolberg’s manuscripts from this region include also some accounts of demonological beliefs:
“Wiła is depicted as a small person with a beard who wears black clothes girded with a white belt and who holds a white stick. He is a practising bogey. At night he plays some pranks on people, and if somebody gets scared, he laughs and shows some funny tricks. They say that it is a small devil; however, it seems that in the past he was a pagan god, and along with spreading the Christian religion he turned into a devil. Wiła laughs especially at seduced girls who cry and complain”.