Before the festivities in Żeliszów got fully underway, residents and invited guests attended a solemn Mass, after which—accompanied by the flag-bearing delegation and uhlans—they all proceeded to the cross erected in the center of the village.
“Our parents, who arrived here in 1945, erected a wooden cross at this spot,” said Ryszard Kaprawy before the unveiling. “Today, we are putting up a new cross here bearing the words ‘we believe,’ ‘we trust,’ and ‘we are with You.’ In this way, we pay tribute to and remember our loved ones, thanks to whom we are here.”
The cross was consecrated by Rev. Romuald Glapa, parish priest of the Parish of St. John of Nepomuk in Żeliszów. The residents then went to the Community Center, where Dr. Stanisław Tokarczuk gave a lecture and multimedia presentation entitled “A Sentimental Journey through the Borderlands.”
The festival was officially opened jointly by Żeliszów village head Olga Burdyna and commune head Andrzej Dutkowski. The artistic program began with a performance by the “Siwy Włos” ensemble from the Municipal Cultural Center in Piława Górna. It is a cabaret and variety group made up of local retirees and pensioners. They entertained the audience with sketches and humorous songs. Children were then invited to compete in a cabbage race.
The “Żeliszów” Singing Ensemble then took the stage, but its performance was interrupted by a member of “Siwy Włos,” who presented Olga Burdyna with a previously forgotten sweet treat. While the ensemble continued performing, the children—prepared by Danuta Kędzierska—waited for their turn; they presented several important facts about cabbage in a humorous way.
Cabbage chopping aroused the most excitement at the festival. Two pairs competed: Andrzej Dutkowski and Olga Burdyna, and Deputy County Head Stanisław Chwojnicki with Deputy Chair of the Lower Silesian Regional Assembly Grażyna Malczuk. Both pairs performed excellently, so no winner was selected.
While Natalia Dudziak from Agnieszka Orawiec’s vocal studio was performing on stage, Olga Burdyna delighted those gathered in a fanciful cabbage-themed outfit. After a performance by students from the Jan Brzechwa Primary School in Żeliszów, it was time for another contest. This time, the task was to throw cabbages at a target. Both the youngest participants and adults took part. The eagerly awaited “Jutrzenka” Commune Song and Dance Ensemble then took the stage, inspiring the first brave spectators to dance.
The stars of the evening were sisters Irena and Natalia Jewtuszok, talented bandura players from Ukraine. The girls quickly won the audience’s hearts with their smiles and the optimism conveyed by each successive song they performed. Their choice of repertoire encouraged those gathered in the square in front of the Community Center to join in the singing.
The Kresowa Cabbage Festival ended with a dance party. In addition, throughout the day participants could enter a raffle, enjoy activities for children, and taste delicacies prepared especially for the occasion.
On behalf of the organizers, we would like to thank the donors who funded the cross: Kamieniarz s.c. Łukasz Modliński, Jan Cołokidzi, Mariola i Zbigniew Korczowscy, Barbara i Tadeusz Kozdraś, KGW Żeliszów, Ekoceramika Spółka Suszki, Agnieszka i Robert Krzyżanowscy, Róża Matki Boskiej Częstochowskiej, Lidia i Jacek Kozłowscy, Lucyna i Andrzej Kędzierscy, Olga i Józef Burdyna, Ryszard Kaprawy, Izabela i Mariusz Urwant, Maria i Tadeusz Góreccy and Zakład Kamieniarski Dubieccy.
(Gmina Bolesławiec/Karolina Wieczorek)