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Chapter 7. Friends of the Muszyna Almanac Meetings
Every first Saturday of July, authors and friends of
the Muszyna Almanac gather at Wanda’s Garden in Muszyna to promote the
latest Muszyna Almanac and award scholarships to talented young people.
When the first issue of the Muszyna Almanac appeared
in 1991, a modest meeting of the small team of its authors was held. It
was attended by seven people. Such meetings occurred in the years that
followed, on the occasion of subsequent Muszyna Almanach editions but
the number of participants steadily increased.
In 1995, the hosts surprised their guests with a special
cotillion often containing a humorous saying. In 1996 it proclaimed: ‘Witaj
brachu w Almanachu’ ( ‘Welcome Bro’ to the Almanac’). In 1997 the inscription
read. ‘I read the Almanac and love Muszyna!’ In 1997 for the first time
a theme was introduced — Hawaiian Day, and participants were required
to come in garb reminiscent of the beautiful Pacific islands. The guest
of honour at the meeting was then Public Library director Łucja Bukowska,
known for her numerous contributions to Muszyna, who had worked closely
with the Almanac. In 2000, when the 10th edition was being
promoted, more than 200 people were in attendance.
There was no lack of ideas as to the themes for future
meetings. The Friends picked up on the masquerade idea and annual contests
for the best costume have been held. At those Saturday in July Almanac
meetings, the recipients of the latest scholastic and music scholarships
are announced. The first scholastic scholarships were awarded during the
promotion of the 9th Muszyna Almanac yearbook in 1999, and
the first artistic scholarships were granted at the 12th annual
promotion in 2002. Since 2003, scholarships have also been awarded to
the best middle-school pupils in Stará Lubovla, Slovakia. In the years
that followed, different themes were selected for the annual meetings.
Since the 1998 meeting fell on 4th July, American Independence
Day set the tone, and the guest of honour was the superb Muszyna-born
poet Adam Ziemianin. On that occasion the cotillion read: ‘Our Sheriff
is Adam Z.’ Wanda’s Garden was decorated with the necessary props including
a saddle and other riding and cowboy accessories, and guests turned up
in cowboy, Indian and riding garb. The 1920s and ‘30s were the theme the
following year, and the cotillions reflected their spirit. In 2000, the
guest of honour was the mayor of the village of Andrzejówka, who had served
in that capacity without interruption for 40 years, and the theme was
‘Muszyna at the cultural cross-roads’. Wanda’s Garden was appropriately
decked out with multilingual inscriptions welcoming guest who came in
the folk costumes of different nations and the traditional garb of Muszyna.
The following year (2001), a ‘Mountain Robbers Feast’ was the theme of
the year, so Wanda’s Garden was teeming with highland brigands, Janosiks
and Ondraszeks (Slavic Robin Hoods) of every size, shape and nationality.
This time the meeting’s guest of honour was Juliusz Jarończyk, a well-known
Muszyna photographer and model-maker who has contributed to the successes
of young people affiliated with the Zefirek Modelling Club. In 2002, guests
enjoyed a rock’n’roll climate, and the guest of honour was the late Peasant
Party activist and editor Henryk Wi¶niewski (who died in 2004). In 2003,
we honoured the long-standing sympathisers, collaborators and friends
of the Almanac from south of the border, the Slovak couple Gabriela and
Jan Malastovec from Stará Lubovla. The theme was therefore Slovak Day.
Everyone also had fun in the years that followed . In 2004 we marked Olympic
Day, and Muszyna was teeming on the occasion with athletes, Grecian gods
and the like. In 2005 it was Ball at the Opera time. Again, the guests
rose to the occasion and came elegantly attired like for a premiere at
the Opera of Milan and we enjoyed a concert by the Warsaw Salon Orchestra.
The year 2006 took us to Enchanted Story Land where we were able to meet
the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Miss Piggy, Pippi Langstrumpf,
princesses and princes and many other interesting characters. In 2007,
Wanda’s Garden was invaded by Indians and the theme was Indian Summer.
W enjoyed seeing a presentation of Crow Indian culture prepared by the
members of Limanowa’s Hau group, and Indians from the Andes provided the
dance music.
The guest list had grown to 300 by 2008, when the Muszyna
Almanac’s 18th anniversary was marked. The theme was secondary-school
graduation, and everyone had to wear the traditional school arm patches.
We could enjoy a performance by the Łejery Children’s Theatre of Poznań,
named after the Muszyna poetess Emilia Wa¶niowska. In 2009, the rhythms
of Zorba the Greek resounded, and the theme was ‘Greece — the cradle of
our civilisation’. Music was provided by the Greek ensemble Zorba from
Wałbrzych, and guests could pick up some basic contemporary Greek phrases
adorning the environs of Wanda’s Garden. In 2010, when the 20th
jubilee Muszyna Almanac yearbook appeared, a fancy-dress ball was held
at Wanda’s Garden, with dance music provided by the Spa Orchestra under
the baton of Mieczysław Smyda. In 2011 the theme was Blackjack, marking
the Almanac’s 21st year. Since 21 is a lucky number the meeting
was embellished with flowers. Sadly, this time the weather did not cooperate,
however spirits were raised by the performance of the Happy Harmonicas
of Stará Lubovla and the talented youth from Muszyna’s Town and District
Centre of Culture. The year 2012 transported us to enchanted world of
folk beliefs, populated by witches, devils, water demons, vampires, nymphs,
wizards and the like.
The purpose of our meetings is to have a good time but
also to share opinions, carry out interesting discussions and obtain new,
missing information to supplement articles under preparation. These meet-ups
are above all intended to encourage participants to write stories about
Muszyna families, childhood memories, the adventures of holidaymakers
and about people to whom Muszyna once owed a great deal. They serve to
promote cooperation and new friendship. And they are also a way to thank
the benefactors who contribute to our scholarship fund.
We invite you to the meet-up of the Friends of the Muszyna
Almanac, held in Muszyna always on the first Saturday of July!
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