Christmas is not only about Christmas Eve fortune-telling; it is also a time of giving presents and exchanging many good wishes. “Peace to people of good will”—we rarely reflect on the meaning of the words and familiar formulas we say. But it was thanks to people of good will that a gathering was held at the Community Hall in Łaziska on Sunday evening, 16 December. The first edition of the Evening of Christmas Traditions, held the previous year, suggested that there was a demand for such activities, so the organizers decided to continue them.
In its first phase, the event took the form of various workshops. Four art groups worked at the tables, making, among other things, decorative Christmas trees, three-dimensional stars for windows, beautiful gilded hay stars, pasta Christmas trees, paper figures for a nativity scene with hay inside, and beautiful, very labor-intensive paper swans. On the stage, another group, consisting mostly of men, made a nativity scene. That evening, it was to perform an important task.
In the middle of the room, a music group practiced carols, dividing into vocal parts and honing its musical skills. In the kitchen, cookies were baked and pierogi were made. Everyone had the opportunity to change the group they were working with. The children, who were everywhere in large numbers, made use of this opportunity most often. Adults, once they had chosen a group, generally stayed with it until the end.
After the decorations had been made, the carols rehearsed, the pierogi cooked and the cookies baked, a solemn moment arrived. Everyone cleaned the room together and arranged the tables and plates. The participants of the Evening of Christmas Traditions shared the Christmas wafer and exchanged good wishes. After tasting the dishes and baked goods, children from the local 4 H Club presented a nativity play. The festive mood spread to everyone in the room. In this mood, the event’s participants would await Christmas.
(information from GOKiS Bolesławiec with its registered office in Kruszyna/GA)