The 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald, considered one of the most important battles of Medieval Europe, will be celebrated in Poland on July 13, 2010 with reenactments.
King Władysaw Jagiełło lead an alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, against the Knights of the Teutonic Order. The Order was decisively defeated in this battle and never regained its previous power.
In the painting, by Jan Matejko, one of Poland’s greatest artists, you find the Grand Master of the Order at the middle left being slain. King Jagiełło is in red to the right.
In Haczów, Poland 83 year old Stanisław Wyżykowski has been hand crafting Hurdy-gurdies. He has built more than sixty since 1967.
Mr. Wyżykowski built his first Hurgy-gurdy for the late actor, Wojciech Siemion. It was modeled after an instrument owned by his family.
His instruments are primarily purchased by music groups, museums, and fans of the instrument in Germany, Sweden, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Ukraine, and Slovakia.
Mr. Wyżykowski is a carpenter by profession. For several years he played in folk bands. In addition to Hurdy-gurdies he produces cymbals, double bass, and classic violins which look like sticks. He has also trained several students.
W Haczowie na Podkarpaciu żyje najstarszy i jeden z nielicznych w Polsce wytwórca lir korbowych. 83-letni Stanisław Wyżykowski od 1967 roku zbudował ponad 60 lir, które znalazły nabywców w kraju i za granicą.
Pierwszą lirę zbudowałem dla świętej pamięci Wojtka Siemiona. Wzorowałem się na instrumencie, który był własnością mojej rodziny – powiedział Wyżykowski.
Większość wyprodukowanych przez niego instrumentów trafiło do zespołów muzycznych i muzeów.
Wśród nabywców są miłośnicy tego instrumentu z Niemiec, Szwecji, Stanów Zjednoczonych, Nowej Zelandii, Australii, Węgier, Ukrainy, Słowacji. Wielokrotnie liry korbowe Wyżykowskiego były wypożyczane jako rekwizyty do filmów i spektakli.
Wyżykowski z zawodu jest stolarzem. Przez kilkadziesiąt lat grał także w kapelach ludowych. Najczęściej można go spotkać w jego pracowni w Haczowie.
Nie brakuje mi zamówień. Bywa, że pracuję po kilkanaście godzin dziennie. Dzięki Bogu zdrowie dopisuje – mówi 83-latek.
Oprócz lir wytwarza także cymbały, kontrabasy i oryginalne skrzypce. Te ostatnie swoim wyglądem przypominają laski. Wykształcił kilku uczniów.
Lira korbowa znana była w Europie od wczesnego średniowiecza. Jej popularność przypada na X-XIV wiek, później stała się instrumentem muzyków ludowych. Do dziś można ją spotkać w składach niektórych kapel ludowych Ukrainy, Białorusi, Słowacji czy wschodnich regionów Polski.
Instrument posiada gitarowy korpus rezonansowy i skrzynkę z komorą kołkową, wyposażony jest w 1-2 struny melodyczne oraz 2-4 struny boczne. Wszystkie struny pocierane są nie smyczkiem, lecz wmontowanym w instrument drewnianym kółkiem natartym żywicą i obracanym za pomocą korbki.
The Hurdy-gurdy has been present in Europe since the early Middle Ages. It became an instrument of folk musicians. To this day it can be found among traveling folk bands from Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, and eastern Poland. It is still is played by professional, often blind, itinerant musicians known as lirnyky. Their repertoire is primarily para-religious in theme, although it includes many historic epics known as dumy and folk dances.
These itinerant musicians were heavily persecuted by Russian authorities up to 1902. The persecution reached its peak during the 1930’s when Soviet authorities deemed Ukrainian traveling musicians who played the Hurdy-gurdy to be an “undesireable” element. They organized an ethnographic conference for the lirnyky, and at that conference the 250-300 lirnyky attending were executed.
Here is Andrey Vinogradov playing and chanting at traditional Russian round dance:
NEW YORK MILLS —” The annual Village Bell Festival will be held today and Saturday in the Main Street park. Food, rides, and games will be going on throughout the weekend. There will be an two-day long villagewide garage sale and craft fair starting at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. respectively.
The festival is a family affair and no alcoholic beverages will be allowed on village property.
Saturday
Starting at noon and lasting all day:
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church will offer various Polish dishes.
The New York Mills Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will offer hot dogs, beverages, and a summer basket raffle.
The Red Knights will offer strawberry shortcake, a snowmobile trailer raffle, and a variety basket raffle.
Malson-Jones VFW Ladies Auxiliary will offer fruit turnovers.
Noon – 9 p.m. Kiddie rides and games.
Noon – Chicken barbecue sponsored by the New York Mills Lions Club
4 p.m. Hot air balloon walk and balloon tethering, weather permitting.
5 p.m. Gigantic Parade
6 p.m. Citizen of the year award
7-8:30 p.m. Joe Angerosa Elvis impersonator show in Veteran’s Park.
Dusk – Fireworks display from Twin Ponds Hill.
From the AngloPolish Blog – July 15th marks the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald, a major turning point in European history, when the combined forces of Poland and Lithuania turned aside the hegemony of the Teutonic Knights and their falsified claim on Polish and Lithuanian lands.
…and another in the series
The Battle of Grunwald was one of the largest battles in Medieval Europe. It took place on July 15, 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila (Władysław Jagiełło) and Grand Duke Vytautas (Witold), decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. Most of the Teutonic leadership was killed or taken prisoner. While defeated, the Teutonic Knights withstood the siege on their capital in Malbork and suffered only minimal territorial losses in the Peace of Toruń (1411). Territorial disputes lasted until the Peace of Melno of 1422. However, the Knights never recovered their former power and the financial burden of war reparations caused internal conflicts and economic decline in their lands. The battle shifted the balance of power in Eastern Europe and marked the rise of the Polish–Lithuanian union as the dominant player in the region.
From the Rolco Sports Network: International Polish Sports and Culture Celebrated by Jeff Weiser
DETROIT — It was a spirited and enthusiastic audience. Polish sports and culture was the topic being celebrated. The international achievements of the 2010 inductees of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame were staggering. The pedigree of accomplishments of Danny Ozark, Kristy Kowal and Jane ‘Peaches’ Bartkowicz was inspiring. They were being honored at the special event at the Hockeytown Café adjacent to Comerica Park.
(L-R) Baseball ambassadors, Greg Luzinski, Raymond Rolak and Tom Paciorek celebrate at the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame luncheon event to honor the 2010 inductees. Danny Ozark, Kristy Kowal and Peaches Bartkowicz were this years NPASHF inductees. PHOTO CREDIT: courtesy of DSBALively and amusing questions were at the forefront of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association meeting. It was at this luncheon when the athletic achievement of the 2010 induction class of the NPASHF was highlighted.
Jim Conrad, Chairman of the NPASHF, welcomed the media and talked golf. He said there were still golf packages available for the July 23, outing at the Greystone Golf and Banquet Center in Romeo, Michigan.
Kristy Kowal, of Reading, Pennsylvania was both an NCAA Champion and Olympic Medal winner. Besides her athletic success, Kowal graduated with academic honors from the University of Georgia, School of Education and currently is an elementary teacher in her hometown. She was NCAA Women of the Year in 2000.
Danny Ozark was celebrated not only for leading the Phillies to three straight NL East titles in the 70’s, but also for his famous fractured English. Ozark, who passed away at 85 last year, had been retired and living with his wife Ginny, in Vero Beach, Florida. He had a very long career in professional baseball, starting with the Dodgers.
Junior tennis sensation, ‘Peaches’ Bartkowicz, was noted for all her International Championships including the 1964 Women’s Jr. Wimbledon title and three medals at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics (demonstration sport). In 1970, along with Billy Jean King, they partnered to win the doubles in the Wightman Cup championship. They also were some of the pioneers to elevate the women’s professional tour. She won the Florida Orange Bowl title four years in a row in the 1960’s, and trained in Indian River County.
Kowal was especially pleased to share the day with her parents, Ed and Donna Kowal. Kristy regaled the group with the retelling of how she just missed gold at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney by a touch. Also, she kept everyone smiling as she retold of her mothers efforts (Donna) on making the best stuffed cabbage east of Philadelphia. She also reminisced how her teammate, Amanda Atkins, used to push her to excel at practice.
Former White Sox broadcaster Tom Paciorek kept the audience lively with baseball tales and stories of dugout snacks, both prudent and clandestine. Paciorek exclaimed boldly, —I am 1,000 % Polish and proud of it.— He told the humorous story of his ill-fated, one day summer vacation job at the famed Hamtramck Kowalski Sausage Company and Polka concerts by the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra.
Paciorek remembered fondly how Ozark helped him master the art of playing first base in his early major league days with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Greg ‘Bull’ Luzinski shared his best ‘Wimpy’ Paciorek stories with anecdotes about voracious hamburger eating episodes. Luzinski gave a running account of where the best burgers could be found in Chicago near old Comiskey Park and in Polish-Town on Milwaukee Avenue. Paciorek countered by gushing about the wonders of a Connies Chicago Pizza.
The conversation always got back to Ozark chronicles. Center stage became brighter as Luzinski reveled in the humanistic coaching techniques that Danny Ozark employed in the big leagues. —The Phillies would not have had the great 70’s teams if it wasn’t for Danny Ozark,— said Luzinski. —We had some great horsepower but it was Skip (Ozark), who kept the personalities together.—
Paciorek amused the group with Tiger Stadium stories also. He started the narrative of how former DSBA member and Detroit Tiger broadcaster Larry Osterman got knocked out. It was while announcing the game on television; Osterman got flattened after being struck in the forehead with a foul ball. Bill Freehan was his broadcast partner and it was his first game. Freehan was overcome with so much air time to fill with the accident, he never did another broadcast. Paciorek added with a smile, —The booth behind home plate didn’t have a screen. Ernie Harwell always said those games should have come with combat pay. You could get shell shocked in there from all the serious foul balls.—
He also told of how he lost out to the Bull for being able to use —Beer Barrel Polka— as his theme from the organist at Comiskey Park. —Look at the size of his neck,— said Paciorek. GEEZE (long pause and pointing to Luzinski), who is ever going to argue with the Bull? Look at that neck,— he again emphasized smiling.
Ken Kal, and Raymond Rolak kept the roundtable luncheon spirited with hockey stories and their baseball memories of old Tiger Stadium.
Kal, the radio voice of the Detroit Red Wings, told of the saga of George Eichorn being the producer for the unique radio presentations of Detroit sports-talk host, Ron Cameron. —I only did it for a year,— said Eichorn with a wink. —I got to talk to Howard Cosell, what an issue that was,— he added. Cameron was also known for his Florida restaurants with Dick Vitale. Eichorn received a testimonial plaque from the NPASHF.
At the back table, Rolak spoke on how Stan Musial could keep a crowd entertained and awed with his harmonica concerts. —People forget that Stan was the General Manager for the 1967 World Series winning St. Louis Cardinals,— said Rolak. Musial was the first inductee into the NPASHF in 1973.
Boxing referee Frank Garza presented to Conrad, a poster from a championship fight in Poland to be displayed at the NPASHF Museum, located in Troy, Michigan.
Kowal, donated her U.S. Olympic cap and USA swimsuit from her last World Championship competition also for the NPASHF Museum.
At the induction banquet she was honored to be presented into the Hall of Fame from her University of Georgia swimming coach, Jack Bauerle. Bauerle was also the U.S. Olympic coach at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bauerle, who is passionate about telling the story of Kristy’s success, said emphatically, —She is the best of the best.—
The Polish Community Center at 225 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY is hosting a Polish Summer Festival 2010 on Saturday, July 17th from 2:30-8:30pm and Sunday, July 18th from 2-7pm.
Saturday’s activities include music by the Maestro’s Men & Stephanie’s Honky Band, a Polish- American kitchen with take-out available, a Polish Cultural Exhibit, as well as a Basket Raffle, bake sale, and an imported Polish beer tasting. Saturday admission is $15. Children 16 and under free.
Sunday is Family Day with kids activities, games, and a Bouncy Bounce. There will also be a participatory pierogi making demonstration. Music by the Polka Family Band with special appearance by “Hexplay” reunion from 5-6 pm. The St. Adalbert’s Dance troop will perform and the Polish- American kitchen, Polish Cultural Exhibit, as well as a Basket Raffle, bake sale, and an imported Polish beer tasting will continue. Sunday admission is $12. Children 16 and under free.
Advance ticket price for Saturday and Sunday is $22, a $5 savings. Advance tickets must be purchased and paid-in-full by July 9th.
The PCC has a spacious dance floor, plenty of parking. All Are Welcome!
Vienna in 1897 was the vibrant capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, that comprised more than a dozen nationalities, including Poles. The Empire had taken southern Poland in the 18th century partitions and called it the province of Galicia. Its residents became Austrian citizens and Vienna draw a share of opportunistic Poles. By the end of the 19th century, one in five Viennese was Polish….
At the end of June, at the time of Summer Solstice, when night is shortest and Nature bursts with blossoms and growth, we celebrate the Holiday of Fire and Water, also called Noc Kupaly, Sobótka or Kres…
Mieszkaniec Rakszawy (woj. podkarpackie) ogrodził swoją działkę, przez którą niektórzy parafianie chodzili na skróty do kościoła. Nie spodobało się to proboszczowi parafii w Trzebosi, który skrytykował go za to z ambony. Sprawę nagłośniły nowiny24.pl.
Chociaż podczas kazania nie padło żadne nazwisko, na efekt słów proboszcza nie trzeba było długo czekać – jeszcze tej samej nocy ktoś pomalował panu Sławomirowi Prucnalowi sprejem elewację domu i budynku gospodarczego. Pojawiły się tam napisy “złodziej” i “zrób bramę”.
“Od tamtej pory odczuwam wrogość ze strony niektórych mieszkańców” – powiedział nowinom24.pl pan Sławomir. “To jest moja własność. Nie zrobiłem nic złego, na wszystko mam dokumenty i wymagane pozwolenia. Zresztą do kaplicy prowadzi droga publiczna, z której każdy może korzystać, a nie jak do tej pory chodzić przez moje podwórze” – dodaje.
Prucnal mieszka w Rakszawie jednak należy do parafii w Trzebosi. Jak zaznacza, jest osobą wierzącą, praktykującą i zaangażowaną w sprawy parafii – przed tegoroczną Wielkanocą ufundował np. witraż do kościoła wart 4 tys. zł, za co otrzymał podziękowania od proboszcza. Niestety, jak się okazuje, dobra opinia na nic się zdała. Proboszcz Józef Fila twierdzi, że ogradzając swoją działkę pan Sławomir zrobił krzywdę parafianom, bo utrudnił im dojście do kościoła i gotowy jest spotkać się z Prucnalem w sądzie.
Pan Sławomir zażądał, za pośrednictwem adwokata, by proboszcz podczas jednego z kazań, publicznie go przeprosił. Do tej pory jednak się nie doczekał i wszystko wskazuje na to, że przeprosin nie będzie. “Nie pozostaje mi nic innego jak pozwanie do sądu proboszcza o zniesławienie” – stwierdził pan Sławomir.
Konfliktem na linii proboszcz-parafianin zainteresowała się komenda policji w Rakszawie, która – pod nadzorem prokuratury w Łańcucie – prowadzi śledztwo w tej sprawie.
In short, the parish priest in Trzeboś, Poland, took his neighbor from Rakszawa to task from the pulpit because his neighbor closed off a portion of his land, which he uses as a garden. Parishioners visiting the chapel next to the parishioner’s land had been using the garden as a thoroughfare to get to the chapel. The chapel is easily accessed from the road, and there was really no need for the shortcut.
After denouncing the neighbor from the pulpit, his home was vandalized.
Interestingly, the neighbor, a good Catholic and member of the Trzeboś parish, is a huge supporter of that parish, recently paying several thousands of złoty for the installation of a new stained glass window at Easter. His good efforts, of course, have been forgotten. The pastor has stated that he will take the neighbor to court for “wronging his parishioners.”
Hearing this is chilling. These towns are small, and one negative word from a local pastor can ruin a person’s life (as well as his property). It gives great power to priests who see everything as belonging to them. Of course, these little chapels and sanctuaries are huge money makers for the local pastor. It is an undertaking, engaged in by some pastors in Poland; the promotion of special shrines and chapels for the sole purpose of financial gain. Of course the people tend not to see that, but rather operate on faith, giving glory to God by their hard work and donations.
It is interesting that this happened in Rakszawa. I’ve been there. One of the churches in the area was built during communist times, at night, by the labor of people who worked the entire day before. All material were donated. The story is similar to the one concerning the building of the Arka, the only Catholic church in Nowa Huta. One apocryphal story I heard noted that when the communist authorities showed up to put a stop to the work in Rakszawa, they inquired as to who was in charge. They were consistently pointed to an elderly grandmother who sat at her kitchen table all night. She, of course, let the communists know exactly what she thought of them – she sat silently refusing to answer their questions.
Bishop Hodur spoke strongly against priests who criticized and derided their followers from the pulpit. The pulpit is the place from which the sacrament of God’s Word goes forth. It is sad that it continues to be profaned in such a way.
The priest involved is the Rev. Józef Fila of Divine Providence Parish in Trzeboś, Poland. The chapel in Rakszawa: B.V.M. of Częstochowa. Sad…
Join Albany’s Polish Community Center on Saturday, June 26th for Mystery Dinner Theater, “Home on the Mystery Range.”
Doors open at 6pm, 6:30 pm Cocktail Hour, 8pm Polish – American Buffet dinner, ticket are $40 per person. For more info and reservations call 518-456-3995.
The PCC is located at 225 Washington Ave Ext., Albany NY 12205.
