Polish songs in Rudziszki

The Polish Culture Festival of the Trakai region „Polish song, be heard!” is an event “travelling” from place to place – each year it is held in another place of the Trakai region. This year it took place in Rudziszki. The 23^rd Polish song and dance festival was combined with a harvest festival. In Rudziszki Poles together with Lithuanians, Russians and Belarusians sang songs in many languages.

The Polish Culture Festival of the Trakai region “Polish song, be heard!” organised by the Trakai Branch of the Association of Poles in Lithuania (ZPL) is usually held at the beginning of summer. This year’s late spring and early summer was a difficult time for Poles living in the Trakai region.

In August the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania has returned to the council of the municipality. “One has to miss a good thing to become convinced that something is lacking. Now we know how does it look like when we do not govern the region. Our people have felt that – Polish schools were in danger of closing, people had to organise protests and the financing of all ensembles present here today was cut. We have found solutions to the problems and combined two events into one” – said the Head of the Trakai Branch of the Association of Poles in Lithuania and the Vice Chairman of the Seimas Jarosław Narkiewicz.

The 23^rd Polish Culture Festival of the Trakai region “Polish song, be heard!” was a presentation of the output of the Polish ensembles from many places of the Trakai region. A concert of a choir consisting of the “Mezzo” Chamber Orchestra and members of ensembles from the Trakai region inaugurated the festival. Polish folk songs and songs about the Vilnius and Trakai region were sang. Then each ensemble appeared and performed on the stage. A guest appearance was made by the band “Lalki Corporation” from Belarus. The star of the evening was Polish band “Maleo Reggae Rockers” whose performance carried the audience away.

This year Polish Culture Festival was combined with the Harvest Festival. There was a mass, bread consecration and ingenious and lavishly decorated harvest stalls. Farmers’ wives from Trakai, Senieji Trakai, Świętnik, Lentvaris, Szklary and Rudziszki have prepared delicious dishes. Soup cooked by the Starosta of Rudziszki was served. In the stall prepared by guests arrived from The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship one could knead the dough and bake Toruń gingerbread. Actors form the “Baj Pomorski” Theatre in Toruń taught children how to make puppets. It is impossible to describe all the colours, tastes, smells and sounds of the festival. Photos from the festival in Rudziszki will be soon available on the “Wilnoteka” portal.