Each year the organisers of the European Christmas think hard how to make the opening ceremony the most original of all. The tenth European Christmas opening show was absolutely unprecedented and unique.
Right from the very beginning the delegates were nicely surprised by the whole attire of the Academy at which entrance there were two rows of 30 soldiers, each one holding a lit torch.
The delegates, dressed in their traditional costumes were being greeted by Mr Roman Dawid Tauber himself and directed upstairs were the students were holding the flags of the participating countries. Prior to the official beginning there was a short meeting of Ms Keller, Mr Benvenuto, the representatives of clergy and the army at the president's office.
Accompanied by the background Chopin music Ms Keller, Mr Tauber and Mr Benvenuto cut the ribbon symbolically opening the whole event letting all the delegates in. We listened to European anthem followed by the Polish one and the speeches delivered by Roman Dawid Tauber, Governor's Representative- Ms Grazyna Cudak and Vice-President of AEHT Mr. Alfonso Benvenuto. The speakers pointed out the fact that organising such an event in Poznan, Poland was for them a great honour, while Mr Benvenuto paid a special attention to the educational aspect of such events, which cannot be underestimated.
Another important moment of the evening was the presentation of the delegations each accompanied by a huge applause. Then downstairs at the Academy's restaurant a Christmas Eve Supper took place. It was a real feast, full of delicious Polish traditional dishes being beautifully served by the students.
Following the supper, Christmas Carol Competition was held in the Winter Garden. It gave the delegations a chance to present their musical talents. The jury which comprised of Ms Keller, Mr Tauber, Mr Benvenuto and three appointed at random students reconciled everyone: big Polish and Austrian groups and smaller delegations from Hungary, Sweden and Czech Republic.
The Santa Claus and his assistants made the happiness even bigger by distributing small gifts which had been gathered prior to the opening, at the entrance of the Academy. Yet the presents were given in exchange for some small tokens, such as short singing or dancing performance.
Line of honour. Polish Soldiers.
Students carrying flags.
VIP meeting at the President's office (foreground first one on the right)
The officials are cutting the ribbon.
The speech delivered by Mr Roman Dawid Tauber
The speech delivered by Ms Grazyna Cudak the representative of the
Governor of Wielkopolska Province Mr Andrzej Nowakowski
The speech delivered by Mr Alfonso Benvenuto
Line of honour. Polish Soldiers.
Students carrying flags.
VIP meeting at the President's office (foreground first one on the right)
The officials are cutting the ribbon.
The speech delivered by Mr Roman Dawid Tauber
The speech delivered by Ms Grazyna Cudak the representative of the
Governor of Wielkopolska Province Mr Andrzej Nowakowski
The speech delivered by Mr Alfonso Benvenuto
