On Saturday morning, the BOK-MCC art studios hosted a grand fortune-telling and future-prediction event. The children taking part in the classes told fortunes for themselves in more than thirty ways. There were traditional fortune-telling activities, such as pouring wax and reading the shadow cast on the wall by the wax. The children arranged shoes to find out which of the girls would be the first to get married. The name of one’s beloved was formed from apple peelings thrown over one’s shoulder. There was a magic bottle which, after being spun, revealed whether the near future held a visit to the dentist or a present from Santa Claus. The children wrote their dreams on slips of paper, then placed them in a bowl, poured water over them and waited to see which one would float up, because that was the one that would come true. They also found out what their future professions would be. They learned the language of flowers and the symbolism of numbers.
There were also humorous games for discovering the character of a future spouse based on his appearance. If the beloved has a beard and moustache but is bald, the fortune-telling said, he will be a cook by profession. And if he turns out to be short and overweight, he will probably be a hunter who likes wide ties and military pea soup, while also being experienced and sensual.
The children took part in the games, learning about the tradition in this cheerful way, and the tradition turned into a joyful social gathering that day. The classes were led by BOK-MCC instructors: Edyta Orlińska, Stanisława Wojda-Pytlińska and Katarzyna Klepaczek.
The next themed workshop for children will involve making Christmas tree decorations together on Saturday, 11 December. The number of places is limited, so it is worth registering in advance. Registration is available at the BOK-MCC secretariat, tel. 644 21 45, or at the Tourist and Cultural Information Point, tel. 645 32 90.
(information by Grażyna Hanaf)
