Poznan’s Higher Institute for Hospitality and Gastronomy had already hosted the ‘Christmas in Europe’ event in 2001. Since then ‘Christmas in Poland’ has been held in that country, adopting the same formula. Eight years after this first edition, still fondly remembered by the participants, the AEHT once again accepted the offer from Poznan’s WYZSZA SZKOLA to run the event from December 3rd to December 8th 2009; this school is open to Europe and to the world, just like the city of Poznan itself (capital of the region of Greater Poland) which is twinned with 11 European cities and three others elsewhere in the world. A true example of a genuinely open city!
Christmas in Poznan: near to St Stanislas church
They gave us a fine inaugural ceremony, the European flag flew high and proud, the AEHT logo was visible everywhere, even in Poznan’s central station, the Ode to Joy was given a triumphal rendering, and all the trappings of solemn occasions were there: horses, carriage, torches, trumpet fanfare. And what a pleasure to hear these beautiful pieces of music in the St Stanislas baroque church, with its perfect acoustics!
Congratulations to all the delegations who attended, and in particular to the students from Belarus and the Ukraine for their brilliantly contagious joint performance for the cultural programme. Thanks to the Vilnius school for its spontaneity. And well done everyone for the European buffet.
As usual, we tried out the recipe for the atmosphere of Christmas in Europe, which is like that of ‘Spanish Inns’ in which, as legend has it, you find what you bring with you. Those who bring their own skills will be curious to know about others’ skills, and will benefit from them. The same applies to enthusiasm, the spirit of sharing and the taste for foreign languages.
All of these ingredients are mixed together, improved on and even transcended by the local organising team.
’ Dziękuję’ to Danuta, Eva, Anna, and to the teams of teachers and students in Poznan under the direction of the school’s rector, Dr Roman David Tauber.
In your school you have organised a meeting for the young people of Europe (enlarged for the event!). And you have not forgotten to add a touch of local colour, particularly thanks to the Polish culinary specialities served with each meal. And you gave a sumptuous and solemn touch to the last AEHT event of the decade. Many thanks to you all.
Christiane Keller
Christiane Keller (right) wished to share this photo with her friend and accomplice Danuta Przybylak, the driving force behind the 2009 Christmas in Europe in Poznan.
