In two days, on December 2, visitors to Kraków will be able to admire the entries in this year’s szopki competition, which will be the annual competition number 82.
In Kraków the tradition of making portable nativity scenes during Christmastime goes back to the 19th century and was started by construction laborers who were out of work during the winter season, and caroling with a szopka was a way for them to earn some income. Since 2018, the Kraków-style szopka has been on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Our own local szopka competition, inspired by the famous Kraków competition, is held by Friends of Polish Art together with the Polish Art Center, and goes back to 2006. The FPA President then was Carolyn Meleski, who – inspired also by a similar competition held in Connecticut – came up with the idea, while another FPA member, Tony Wachocki, was instrumental in organizing the competition. To make the process of creating a szopka easier, Tony designed very detailed templates of St. Albertus, St, Josephat and the Sweetest Heart of Mary churches; the templates are still being used and are available at the FPA web site.
After a few lean years, with only one to three entries, the 2024 Annual Szopka competition, is a big success: this year nine nativity scenes were entered into the competition, three in the “Children and Youth” category and six in the “Adult” category.
The winners of the competition will be announced in a couple of weeks but it is clear that this success was the result of persistent efforts by Brian Malski, the FPA President, as well as FPA offering a szopka-making workshop earlier this fall. The workshop, organized and led by Charles Pelshaw, himself a winner of the 2019 contest, was attended by 30 people. Although the attendees, among them families with children, were not able to finish their szopki then – making a szopka might take many hours – while leaving, they were fired up about completing the project. And a few of them did and entered their creations in the contest.
Szopki entered into the competition are now on display at the Polish Art Center in Hamtramck. Anybody can view them and cast their vote for the “Viewer’s Choice” (the award offered by the Polish Art Center), while judges representing FPA will choose their winners and present them with the FPA awards at the FPA Wigilia on December 14. The FPA judges will look for compliance with the rules, which among others, ask for the szopka to be made of recycled materials and encourage using elements of Detroit area buildings (particularly its churches.) Therefore, on the descriptions of the szopki we read – for instance – Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, St Mary’s Church Royal Oak, or Renaissance Center.
On Black Friday there was a steady flow of customers into the Polish Art Center shop, and they all were drawn to the szopki display.
Today (the day after Black Friday) is Small Business Saturday, the day when people are encouraged to shop locally and support retailers who operate in their communities. This is a way to recognize that these businesses make their communities stronger and more interesting to live in. The Polish Art Center is a great example of such a business. The family-owned and -operated store was established in 1958 and has stayed in the same place while a great many Polish stores disappeared from Hamtramck. While conducting a large portion of the sales online, the brick-and-mortar store provides an unforgettable, exiting and unique experience of immersion in Polish culture.
Next Saturday, December 7, the Polish Art Center will have its Open House, with many attractions awaiting customers, including a visit by Saint Nicolaus. Stop by, enjoy the beautiful displays of Polish folk art, Bolesławiec pottery, Christmas ornaments and of course the szopki entered in this year’s competition; do not forget to cast your vote!
Text and photos: Alina Klin
