GALA EVENING: A BEAUTIFUL FINALE
The final act of this Christmas in Europe was the gala- and farewell-evening. It took place on the evening of Friday December 12th in the beautiful conference hall of the Dukla hotel in the city centre.
As soon as you entered the hall, you guessed that the Prešov School had been determined to make this evening into an unforgettable memory.
Superbly laid tables, welcome drink, students in formal attire with white gloves, the participants too wearing either their traditional costumes or evening dress, an enticing menu and a festive atmosphere befitting Christmas. So much for the décor. It was Josef Senko’s pleasant duty to pronounce a welcome speech to all the participants, expressing his joy at being present at this feast and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015.
AEHT Vice-President Klaus Enengl for his part took the opportunity to thank the two mainstays of the 23rd Christmas in Europe by presenting gifts to Jozef Senko and his Deputy Marek Sotak; he mentioned that thanks to Christiane Keller, Christmas in Europe had continued without interruption for 23 years.
The evening was punctuated by various performances: by two singers, Julia Pavlovicova and Marianna Cuchtova from the Prešov School of Music, and especially by the students from the Konstantinova 2 Secondary School in Prešov, directed by Iveta Sopkova in an astonishing number in which they presented sublime figures in black-light using which gloves. The display could not fail to move the guests.
It was 21.00 when the time came for the presentation of the certificates. Each delegation in turn received the document from Jozef Senko and Marek Sotak, the presentation being accompanied by a kiss and applause. A little later Christiane Keller was on her feet, speaking to her audience with her legendary force of persuasion to remind them again of the ideals of Christmas and also of Europe.
Towards midnight the AEHT flag, which had been in the possession of the Prešov School since the Marseilles event in 2013, was handed over to the Luxembourg delegation headed by its Director Elisabeth Reisen, and by Jean Marc Dijou, the teacher in charge of Christmas in Europe in Diekirch in 2015; also present at the ceremony were Christiane Keller, AEHT Vice-President Klaus Enengl and AEHT General Secretary Nadine Schintgen. In a few words Elisabeth Reisen issued an invitation to all the participants to come to the Luxembourg event. Jean-Marc Dijou spoke at greater length to issue his invitation to the participants to make the trip to Luxembourg in 2015.
But before the participants dispersed, the service brigade were acclaimed, together with their teacher Juraj Krajnak, for having accomplished their task so well: they were given a well-deserved standing ovation. See you next year in Diekirch!
