This weekend marked the 28th annual Dozynki celebration at Corpus Christi Church. Dozynki is the Polish fall harvest festival, similar to America’s Thanksgiving. Corpus Christi celebrated for two days with live music, delicious Polish food, raffles, a farmers’ market, crafts, Polish beer and more.
We arrived Sunday afternoon just as 11:30 Mass was ending. Entering the behemoth Victorian/Romanesque style church left me breathless, immediately reminding me of the colossal churches of old Europe with intricate detail, enormous scope, and awe inspiring preservation. Inside the magnificent church, the young and amiable Father Anzelm Chalupka approached to personally welcome us.
Outside the sweet smell of sauerkraut drew me toward the food tent. Helpful volunteers (most of whom were speaking Polish) served up Polish sausage with sauerkraut, golabki, pickles, and pierogi. Grilled chicken dinners and an arsenal of cakes, breads, and pastries were also available. The “bar” served a selection of Polish beers: Zwyiec, Okocim, Lezajsk, Harnas, and Zamkowe.
An occasional break in the clouds released the hot August sun, but that didn’t stop a few revelers from kicking up their heels to polka to the Pic-A-Polka Orchestra. Aside from the food and music, my favorite encounter of the day involved chatting with Daniel Kij (pronounced “key”) at the table representing the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State. Mr. Kij is knowledgeable and friendly. We discussed my ancestors and family history while he looked up my surname in his many reference books.
The combination of the surrounding historic East Side, with Polish being spoken all around, and the crowds of white-haired buscia’s and dja dja’s made for a nostalgic experience. If you missed the festival this year, definitely plan on attending next fall. In the meantime, stop by or call to arrange a tour of the church (this is the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone). Festival or not, the architecture alone is fascinating.
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