The star of the Harvest Festival was the BAYER FULL band, and guests who came to Kraśnik Dolny could admire the beautiful harvest wreaths.
As early as an hour before Holy Mass, the Bolesławiec Municipal Brass Band marched through the streets of Kraśnik Dolny. Its bandmaster, Jan Chojnacki, created a solemn and elevated atmosphere in the village. Delegations with wreaths also began arriving; they were welcomed by Bolesławiec Municipal Head Andrzej Dutkowski and Bolesławiec Municipal Council Chair Bogusław Uziej. Finally, those gathered saw the last of the impressive wreaths—the one created in Kraśnik Dolny itself.
The Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Reverend Doctor Andrzej Jarosiewicz – dean of the Bolesławiec East Deanery, while the homily was delivered by Reverend Doctor Stanisław Kusik dean of the Bolesławiec West Deanery. The clergymen spoke about how much work farmers must put in every year so that bread is not lacking on Polish tables. It was also the moment when the priest blessed the harvest wreaths and the gifts presented during the service.
After Holy Mass, the Municipal Head spoke.
Andrzej Dutkowski emphasized the commitment of the residents of Kraśnik Dolny to organizing the Municipal Harvest Festival. Warm words were addressed especially to farmers from Bolesławiec municipality, who work tirelessly every year. As the Municipal Head of Bolesławiec emphasized, the Harvest Festival is a tribute to farmers, their work and their efforts.
Next, Municipal Head Andrzej Dutkowski and Anetta Kamińska, wearing linen aprons, sifted flour and grain, thereby officially opening the 2014 Municipal Harvest Festival. A moment later, those gathered saw the harvest procession. During it, the hosts of the Municipal Harvest Festival, Beata Widera and Olgierd Poniźnik, revealed several unknown facts about the village head of Kraśnik Dolny, Wacław Gardyński. It is worth mentioning that this year’s procession of the harvest festival hosts was unusual, as its members appeared in special costumes. They delighted the crowd and prompted a storm of applause. This was also when the harvest festival stewards, Anna Rajfur and Jan Puk, presented a large loaf of bread to Andrzej Dutkowski, while the youngest residents of Kraśnik Dolny offered bread to the assembled guests.
Because of the rain, members of the Bolesławiec Land Song and Dance Ensemble presented the harvest ceremony on the stage instead of on the boards in front of it. Led by Elżbieta Tor and Sławomir Ratajski, the dancers combined dance and acting in their performance. This marked the beginning of the artistic performances prepared for the day.
During the Municipal Harvest Festival, the newly built Community House in Kraśnik Dolny, located next to the sports field, was also symbolically opened. It was an opportunity to thank Lower Silesian Voivodeship Marshal Cezary Przybylski and the Director of the Department of Rural Areas at the Marshal’s Office, Paweł Czyszczoń, for the support they provided during construction. The symbolic key to the Community House was presented to village representatives, who thanked the municipal authorities with a bouquet of flowers.
At the Municipal Head’s signal, balloons rose into the sky, and the Community House was opened to visitors. Several surprises awaited those who decided to see the building. The first greeted guests in the lobby, where they could view two exhibitions prepared by residents of Kraśnik Dolny and employees of Bolesławiec Municipal Office. The first presented works created at the Creative Barn, photographs of impressive harvest wreaths made in Kraśnik Dolny, and photographic documentation showing the local community’s activities to date. The second presented selected municipal investments from above. Everyone could take leaflets concerning Kraśnik Dolny, Bolesławiec municipality and harvest festival traditions.
A film presenting the entire Bolesławiec municipality, comprising 30 localities, was shown in the lobby. It attracted great interest. Sweets and apples were prepared for children, and those who wished could help themselves. History enthusiasts were also given free copies of a guide published by Bolesławiec Municipal Office.
Next, children from the Primary School in Kraśnik Dolny performed on stage, singing a song and dancing a krakowiak and a grain-stalk dance. After the children’s performance, Joanna Berdzik, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of National Education, appeared on stage and presented a gift for the students—a multimedia interactive whiteboard—to Krystyna Myszkun.
It was time for the first contest. When the host asked the trick question of who knew how to milk a cow, several brave volunteers answered yes. We tested their skills in practice. Those gathered saw an artificial, life-size cow, which the volunteers had to milk. There was plenty of laughter, but the task was completed.
Meanwhile, the municipal Song and Dance Ensemble “Jutrzenka” took the stage, giving another excellent performance and performing several encores.
Those who entered the contests for the most beautiful harvest decoration and the most beautiful homestead finally learned the results. According to the judging panel, consisting of Krystyna Grela and Karolina Wieczorek,, which viewed 29 harvest decorations, the most beautiful was created by Alicja and Patrycja Woś from Kraśnik Dolny. The next places went to Elżbieta Pachołek from Rakowice and Wioletta Konefał from Kraśnik Dolny. The decorations stood out for their cohesive composition, careful workmanship and creativity. The panel also awarded five joint fourth places to Stanisława Miller from Kraśnik Dolny, Czesław Burdukiewicz from Stare Jaroszowice, Krystyna Klisiewicz from Kraśnik Dolny, Anna Rajfur from Kraśnik Dolny and Beata Mazur from Kraśnik Dolny. The remaining contestants received honorable mentions.
The contest for the most beautiful homestead was also decided. First place was jointly awarded to Izabela Błotna from Dobra and Józef Grabowy from Łaziska. Second place went to Magdalena Rupia from Warta Bolesławiecka.
Delegations from individual villages began voting for the most beautiful harvest wreath. Each locality could award 1, 3 and 5 points in succession. The decorations, made from grain, rowan, flowers, vegetables and fruit, delighted people with their beauty and the scale of their craftsmanship. The village councils thus selected the three most beautiful wreaths.
Before the votes were counted and the results announced, those wishing to participate were invited to compete in an egg race. There was also a straw-bale lifting competition. Prizes went to the youngest participants in a quest prepared by the residents of Kraśnik Dolny.
Finally, we also learned which village council had created the most beautiful wreath. The highest-rated entry, receiving a total of 42 votes, was made in Nowa Wieś, whose residents repeated when collecting the prize that they still could not believe they had won. Ocice, with 40 votes, and Łaziska, with 30 votes, took the next places. The organizers’ entry was also awarded; as every year, it impressed with its beauty and precision.
After 7 p.m., the crowd in front of the stage welcomed the Harvest Festival’s star, the BAYER FULL band, with applause. The band, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, received flowers and traditional Bolesławiec pottery for the occasion from Iwona Przybylska, Secretary of Bolesławiec Municipality, and Janusz Cieśla, Director of GOKiS. The audience had a wonderful time with hits such as “Majteczki w kropeczki”, “Żono moja” and “Wszyscy Polacy to jedna rodzina”. BAYER FULL’s leader had an excellent rapport with the audience and engaged them in a witty dialogue from the stage during the performance.
The Municipal Harvest Festival ended with dancing that continued into the late night hours.
The Municipal Head of Bolesławiec thanks everyone involved in organizing this year’s Harvest Festival, especially the residents of Kraśnik Dolny, GOKiS employees and Municipal Office employees. Special thanks also go to the Rural Housewives’ Circles and the municipal Fire Service units.