| Rok temu arcybiskup Phillip Wilson miał okazję podziwiać szopkę krakowską wystawioną w kościele św. Maksymiliana Kolbe, gdzie proboszczem jest ks.Marek Ptak. Szopka tak mu się spodobała, że w tym roku poprosił o gościnne wystawienie jej w katedrze św. Franciszka Ksawerego. I tak 17 grudnia stało się zadość Jego życzeniu.Piękna, 4-metrowa szopka stoi teraz obok głównego ołtarza. Obok szopki umieszczono taką oto informację.
Polish Christmas Traditions: Cracow
Midnight Mass, the Christmas Tree, carol singing, the giving of presents - these are all traditions which the Poles share with other European nations. Family arguments, dodgy pop songs and spicy dishes which children aren't necessarily desperate to eat - those are not ruled out either. But let's not get carried away with the Scroogey side of Christmas (although it would be interesting to find a good Polish translation of the word 'humbug') as Poland has many marvelous traditions of her own, some of them deeply moving.
The Cracovian Crib
The Cracovian Christmas crib has the shape of a slender, multi-level, pinnacled and richly decorated edifice constructed in light, not very durable materials. Its characterictic feature, especially nowadays, is the fanciful accumulation of minature details reminiscent of Cracow`s architecture. This is intended as a setting fit to present the great mystery of the Nativity of the Son of God.
In the latter half of the 19th century a fashion appeared in Cracow for groups of carollers with puppet-show cribs, to be given hospitality in private houses. A separate crib-makers guild was established, and its members were mostly bricklayers, carpenters, and builders` assistants living in suburbs like Krowodrza, Grzegórzki, and Zwierzyniec.
In the autumn and winter these people needed additional income. They made two types of cribs: small ones with no theatre, and large ones, even up to 2 metres high, witch intricately made edifices for the performance of a puppet show with words and music. This was called "chodzenie po kolędzie" ("going carolling").Up to the First World War a crib performance would be art and parcel of the Christmas festivities in middle-class and educated people`s homes. The First World War brought the heyday of the Cracovian puppet-theatre cribs to an end.
Between the Wars it seemed the tradition would never revive. Fortunately, however, thanks to an annual crib parade announced in 1923 by the Cracow Industrial Museum followed by a competition for the best crib, the tradition was saved.
The Cracovian Crib before you is one of several different Nativity scenes which are displayed in rotation at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 85 Rosewater Terrace, Ottoway each Christmas.
The architect and builder is Rev. Fr Marek Ptak, CR, who, with the help of a small group of volunteers, has everyone wondering which spectacular scene will be on display next.
We invite you and your families to come and see this year’s display. Our Church is open Monday to Saturday from 6.00pm - 7.15pm and Sundays from 8.00am - 11.30am.
Irena Dyrynda
Parish Secretary
St Maximilian Kolbe Parish
Ottoway SA
Ph: 08 8447 3223
stmax@ottowayparish.com
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