Every year the Roncesvalles Polish Festival kicks off with a Polish Harvest tradition, the Dożynki (pronounced: doh-ZHIN-key.)
The tradition of Dożynki extends back many hundreds of years and has much in common with other harvest celebrations in Europe and around the world.
It starts with a procession which carries the ceremonial Harvest Bread (a symbol of bounty), a number of dignitaries and celebrants, and the Starosta and Starościna, the “Lord and Lady” of the Harvest. In our Festival, they are the Festival Ambassadors. This year our Starosta and Starościna are Jesse and Sophie Flis.
Our Dożynki procession begins at Roncesvalles and Howard Park Avenue on Saturday at 12:00 and proceeds to the south end of Roncesvalles.
After the procession, the Opening Ceremonies commence at 1:30. The Harvest Bread is blessed and presented to the Starosta and Starościna, there will be brief speeches from our Master of Ceremonies, Tony Cauch (Chair, Roncesvalles Village BIA), our Festival’s patron, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto, and other dignitaries.
This year we are honored by the attendance of:
- Marek Ciesielczuk, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto
- Teresa Berezowski, President of the Canadian Polish Congress
- representatives from the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Ontario
- Peggy Nash, MP Parkdale-High Park
- Cheri di Novo, MPP Parkdale-High Park
- Councillor Gord Perks, Ward 14
and other dignitaries.
After the speeches, the Starosta is presented with the “key to Roncesvalles Village” and a lantern is given to the Starościna. With the key and lantern, the Starosta and Starościna visit Roncesvalles Village and spread thanks, cheer and goodwill.
After this presentation, the Dożynki cake (courtesy of Granowska’s Bakery) is cut and, the Festival is declared open, and the fun begins in earnest. As they say in Polish: “Jak się bawić to się bawić!” Translation: If we’re going to party, then let’s party!
