Children Present Christmas Story in Polish Language
Walnut Creek, California

The annual celebration of Wigilia (vee-GHEE-lee-uh), or Polish Christmas Eve will be held Saturday, December 13th 2008 at 5:00pm in the Rossmoor Hillside Clubhouse in Walnut Creek, California. The evening is hosted by the John Paul II School of Polish Language and Culture. Advance-purchase tickets are available now for $20.  A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.  Everyone is welcome.

After a blessing to begin the event, the Oplatek (Oh-pwah-tek) will be shared.  The sacred white wafers, much like those used for Holy Communion, are shared with each person present.  During the exchange, good wishes are expressed. This is the most emotional time of the Christmas season for the Polish family. The evening includes a traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner of pierogi, fish, cabbage with mushrooms, beet soup and freshly-baked cakes.

During the feasting, the £owiczanie folk dancing troupe will perform the dynamic time-honored National dance from the ancient capital of Cracow – the Krakowiak (Kra-koh-vee-yak). This will be followed by the students of the school performing the traditional Christmas Story in the Polish language. The audience will be transported to Bethlehem and will witness again the birth of Christ including visits from angels. The children, ages 3-17, will deliver their lines in the language of Polish. The entertainment finale will be the children taking the stage to perform two variations of the famous “Krakowiak” dance in authentic period costumes. These historical folk dances originated in Cracovia – a Southern region of Poland admired for its great beauty and romantic history.  The night will close with a visit from Santa Claus with gifts for the children.

To purchase tickets, please contact Basia Szlachta at bszlachta@hotmail.com.

About £owiczanie
Lowiczanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble was formed in 1975 to research and present authentic programs of Polish traditional music song and dance to Polish and non-Polish audiences. The Ensemble performs throughout the Bay Area and California, and has traveled to present its dynamic repertoire in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Washington as well as in Poland. Lowiczanie dancers are dedicated to its non-profit mission of exploring, preserving, teaching and presenting Poland’s rich cultural heritage through presentations of public programs that include concerts, festivals, workshops, classes and private events such as weddings and anniversaries. Lowiczanie’s achievements were recognized by the Polish government in 1989 with the Oskar Kolburg Award for the exemplary service in preserving the cultural traditions of Poland for audiences outside the country’s boundaries, and again in 2000 with a special citation for promoting cultural activities, awarded by the democratic Republic of Poland. For more details visit www.polishfolk.org.

About the Polish School
The John Paul II School of Polish Language is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has been chartered with the education and continuation of Polish language and culture since 1967.  Enriching the lives of the children and adults within the Polish-American community with Polish history and heritage provides them with a closer identity to their roots and family traditions.  These experiences also create links and bonds with others within the Polish-American community which can lead to travel, higher education and career opportunities.

Children as young as three years old are enrolled in the Polish language and culture classes at the Walnut Creek campus which assembles every other Saturday from September to June.  Children attending the school gain access to appropriate Polish grammar, history, culture and religion.  Fine arts including music, theater, dance and poetry are all part of the rich curriculum.  All contributions are tax deductible.

Please read more about John Paul II School of Polish Language at www.polishschool.org.

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