Wishes of peace and hope

The traditional Gdańsk Christmas Eve in Długi Targ was preceded by a colorful street march Long a group of singers and shepherds with a star, a turoń and angels on stilts.

The Christmas meeting was organized next to the Christmas tree and the crib Fountain of Neptunea) Loaves of bread, lighted candles, red apples and hay are placed on a long table covered with a white tablecloth.

Interreligious Christmas Eve in Oliwa. A minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the war in Ukraine

The ceremony began with the reading of a fragment in Polish and Ukrainian Gospel on the birth of Jesus Christ.

– Dear residents of Gdańsk, dear residents of Gdańsk, but also those who are tourists in our city today, but perhaps you also protect yourself from war. I hope Gdańsk will welcome you all, whether you live here with your grandfather, your great-grandfather or have been home for a short time. With all my heart I would like to wish you peace and hope, because these are the two values ​​that the newborn Lord Jesus brings to us – she said Aleksandra DulkiewiczMayor of Gdansk.

She expressed hope that the upcoming holidays will be a good time for everyone.

– And I ask you to think of at least one person who will be alone on this day and to ensure that he is not alone – added Aleksandra Dulkiewicz.

May the power of Christmas last longer

Agnieszka Owczarczak, chairwoman of the Gdańsk city council, also sent Christmas greetings to those gathered in Długi Targ.

– This special evening of the year is ahead of us, where we all meet at the table. A night when arguments die down. An evening full of kindness, good wishes, gifts. I wish you not only to spend this evening in such an atmosphere of hope, kindness and love, but also that this extraordinary power of Christmas remains with you every day of the year – she said Agnieszka Owczarzak.

The Mayor of Gdańsk has called for lonely people to be remembered at Christmas. Next to her stands Agnieszka Owczarczak, Chairwoman of the Gdańsk City Council, and Fr. prelate Ireneusz Bradtke, pastor of St. Mary’s Basilica

photo: Dominik Paszliński/ gdansk.pl

President of the Gdańsk City Council She also wished good health and prosperity. – And of course peace, because peace beyond our eastern border is not only peace for our friends in Ukraine, but also peace for us in Poland – she stressed.

The wishes of Aleksandra Dulkiewicz and Agnieszka Owczarczak have been translated into Ukrainian language.

Thank you for supporting Ukrainians

Pastor of the Basilica of Saint Mary Prof. Prelate Ireneusz Bradtke instead, he thanked all those who “show solidarity on a daily basis” by welcoming Ukrainian citizens into their homes and giving them jobs. “By giving them, simply, ordinary human encouragement,” the cleric noted.

Gdańsk Christmas Eve was a great experience for many of its participants.

– I’m here every year. It’s such a solemn ceremony. And this integration of people here does something good. It raises hope that not everyone is bad, that there is still a lot of good in the world, she said. Miss Alicewho had the opportunity to break the cake with Aleksandra Dulkiewicz. – We wished each other health, because it is the most important thing. If there is health, that will be all – added the resident of Gdańsk.

She also attended the Christmas party Mrs. Stanislaus, living near Olsztyn, came to visit her daughter living in Gdańsk. – Everything is beautiful, beautiful decor – she said with delight. Her joy was also heightened by the fact that she could see her great-granddaughter, who participated in the Gdańsk Christmas Eve, dressed as an angel.

On Christmas Eve in Gdańsk, Polish and Ukrainian Christmas carols were performed by two groups: the choir Song and dance ensemble “Gdańsk” and Ukrainian Vyrij Choir.

The history of Gdańsk holidays