Saturday 6 December 2025 was a day off from lessons, but that does not mean we were idle. For our school community it was an exceptionally busy weekend: a carol concert, the theatre, a celebration with the Związek Podhalan and workshops in faraway Chișinău.
Polish Christmas carols at Westminster Cathedral
We attended a concert of Polish Christmas carols at Westminster Cathedral. Three of our teachers – Ms Ewa, Ms Iza and Ms Małgosia – sing in the ‘Ave Verum’ choir.
Westminster Cathedral, built at the turn of the 20th century in the neo-Byzantine style, is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales. Singing carols together is one of the most vibrant Polish Christmas traditions and, for many families living abroad, a way of maintaining their bond with Polish culture.
Theatre, highland tradition and workshops in Chișinău
We also went to see ‘Pinocchio’ performed by Teatr Syrena. The character of Pinocchio was created by the Italian writer Carlo Collodi, whose novel was published in book form in 1883 and remains a classic of children’s literature to this day. The story of the wooden puppet whose nose grows whenever he tells a lie continues to entertain and teach each new generation of readers.
On Sunday we attended the anniversary celebration of the Związek Podhalan w Wielkiej Brytanii i Irlandii Północnej (Association of Podhale Highlanders in Great Britain and Northern Ireland). The photographs from the celebration show traditional highland costumes, and St Nicholas was among the guests too. Podhale, the region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, is renowned for its distinctive highland culture – its music, dance, dialect and richly embroidered costumes.
Mr Piotr travelled the furthest: he flew to Moldova, where he ran workshops for young people of Polish heritage in Chișinău, the country’s capital.
It was a wonderful weekend – a time of community, full of magic, emotion and a family atmosphere. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it happen.
