After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Three Kings' Procession returned to the capital. Organized on January 6, 2023, it concluded with flying colors. Literally! The event culminated in a boisterous, joyful carol singing in Polish and Ukrainian. Once again, the Uskrzydlamy Foundation, together with Westbridge (a UK donor to Ukraine), SuperDrob SA, and CPF Poland, partnered with the food stand and carol concert, and sponsored bigos for the throngs of Procession volunteers. The Foundation's free tasting stand was incredibly popular. Nearly 2,000 servings of Ukrainian Christmas Eve cabbage and kutia (approximately 280 kg) were distributed to Procession participants. A crunchy surprise was prepared for the children: gingerbread cookies decorated with company logos. It's an honor to be able to support such a unique event, which attracts so many people every year. According to the Organizer, nearly 80,000 people participated in this year's edition in Warsaw alone.
The large attendance of foreigners, especially Ukrainian citizens, was doubly gratifying. For Orthodox Christians, January 6th is Christmas Eve, so it was a pleasant surprise for them to sing carols together in Ukrainian and sample their national dishes, which were at the heart of such an important event. This allowed us to express our connection with Ukrainians living in Poland who had to leave their homeland. The refugees commented that the dishes were delicious. The Poles, on the other hand, were delighted to have the opportunity to sample a bit of Ukrainian cuisine.
The Three Kings' Procession embodies and promotes family values, which are also very close to the Uskrzydlamy Foundation itself. Supporting these types of family-friendly events is important; it unites, integrates, and fosters solidarity among people, entire families, and even—as in this case—different nationalities.
The largest street nativity plays emanated extraordinary energy, joy, and a blaze of color. A spectacular procession comprised angels, shepherds, courtiers, and knights, with the Holy Family marching majestically at its head, just behind the star. The processions, shimmering with various colors like a kaleidoscope, set off from Castle Square to Józef Piłsudski Square. There, in a charming market setting teeming with stalls, visitors could purchase Christmas decorations, handicrafts, gifts, and homemade food. However, everyone awaited the most important moment – the solemn adoration of the Magi before the Lord Jesus. Each participant received a hymn book and a crown to sing together to the Newborn. This allowed the various communities to experience a special time. As always, the event was filled with joyful and friendly atmosphere and positive emotions.
We are delighted that this year, the Uskrzydlamy Foundation, by joining the Three Kings' Parade, was able to symbolically express its solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian nation. We are pleased that we could participate in organizing a concert of Ukrainian carols and a tasting of Ukrainian dishes on this important day for our neighbors across the eastern border – the eve of Ukrainian Christmas. – Randa Ombach, President of the Uskrzydlamy Foundation
We would like to thank the Three Kings' Procession Foundation for their fantastic cooperation. We are also delighted to once again be able to support the organization of this unique family event.
