Polish not only ones celebrating

With everything from brownies and babka to porcelain pins and soccer balls, this year’s… With everything from brownies and babka to porcelain pins and soccer balls, this year’s PolishFest had something to offer for everyone.

Lawrence Kozlowski has helped organize and run the display of Polish tradition for 18 years, and each festival has been a success in one form or another, he said.

“If one person comes here and thinks about their heritage, then we’ve been successful,” he said, while making a traditional Polish food called mazurka, a type of wafer served during the Christmas season.

Many people came to take part in the activities, held Sunday in the Commons Room of the Cathedral of Learning, as well as to sample the various wares from the vendors.

People do not have to be Polish to enjoy the festival, Kozlowski explained. The event gives people an opportunity to enjoy a Sunday afternoon, to learn about Polish heritage and to simply have fun.

“We’ve begun to get a lot of non-Polish people,” Kozlowski added.

The Commons Room was divided into a number of booths and tables, each with a different arrangement of crafts, traditional food or novelty items.

One booth had Polish novelties, such as license plates with the phrase “Polish and Proud,” as well as T-shirts that borrowed from a familiar theme, with the words “Hard Polka Cafe” printed on the front.

Another booth was selling handmade Christmas decorations, such as folded-paper trees and ornaments. There were also hand-carved and -painted wooden boxes that depicted various animals or scenes.

Traditional food was also served, and some booths offered free samples of items like pierogies – or, as a sign on the booth explained, “Filled Dumplings.”

Myrna’s Catering Inc. served food for those who wanted to do more than just sample. Visitors could choose from stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut and kielbasa, or halusky.

Those looking for baked goods were not let down, as a booth run by the Good Samaritan parishioners offered many treats for a sweet tooth. Chocolate peanut butter balls and lemon cookies were just some of the sweets available.

And for those who weren’t into sweets, there were many varieties of baked bread, too.

Anyone who came to hear traditional music was not disappointed, as Polish music was always playing, either from recordings or in a live performance.

Florence Kozlowski, who performed traditional music with the accordion, knows the value of keeping traditions.

“Traditions are what count, and that’s what you pass on to your children,” Kozlowski said.

“You have to respect each other’s ethnicity,” she added.

Kozlowski also attributed the success of the event to a few altruistic people.

“It is a success because of the help of a few” Kozlowski said. “It was a truly cooperative effort.”

There were also many reminders of a Polish holiday, St. Nicholas Day, as a traditionally dressed St. Nicholas roamed the crowds, reminding people what to do for the holiday.

“Remember to put your shoes out on Dec. 6,” he said. “You will get candy only if you were good. If you were bad, all you will get is coal, and you have no use for coal.”