Wesołych Świąt from the bottom of our heart

Wesołych Świąt, or Merry Christmas, from the Polish Women’s Business and Professional Club, who held their annual Christmas party, filled with traditions to keep Polish culture alive in the Southcoast. 

The New Bedford Country Club was decorated with red and white, the colors of the Polish flag representing leadership and loyalty. Most of the women wore red dresses and a slideshow with memories from the year played during the entire event. There was a tree with Polish flags, and an Angel Tree with hand-painted ornaments featuring members who have passed since the club began in 1937.

This party is an annual gathering, to celebrate Christmas spirit and keep Polish holiday traditions around.

“Proud is what comes to mind when you look at these women,” said Lisa Bindas, who does most of the social coordinating for the club, “And most people will also remember the saying that Polish women are ‘Strong like Bull!’”

The event started with a buffet and the traditional Oplatek prayer. In this prayer, members received a oplatek wafer, which is a reminder of the Eucharist and God’s connection to Christmas. The wafer is broken by the oldest or most respected family member, and then passed around. Everyone breaks their piece and gives it to a loved one, making a wish as they do.

After dinner, the party continued with another tradition, the induction for new officers and a re-induction for officers. The president, Renee Domagala, lit her candle from a candle representing the past. Following officers lit their candles from hers, the flame representing loyalty. 

Once they were pledged in, members toasted the officers with Polish liquors, either blackberry brandy or krupnik, a Polish honey liquor. 

The Krakowiak Dancers surprised guests with a performance. The troop was started over 75 years ago, and performs traditional Polish dances. There are a number of traditional dances, but they performed the Śląsk dance for this party. In this, two women fight for the attention of one man as they all dance together.

The final event was carolling, with the dancers and a few of the officers leading songs while everyone sang along. The majority were in English with a few songs in Polish, such as a Polish rendition of “Feliz Navidad” as “Wesołych Świąt.” As a gift, guests left with an ornament made in Poland from a type of soil found only in one place in Poland. 

“The main reason [of this club] is to keep … the Polish tradition alive, because otherwise if we don’t celebrate this, it fades,” said Domagala, “[The Polish ancestors are] very strong people and strong willed. And a lot of tradition. And it’s important to us.”