Festival+of+Light

The 31st of October any year

Today or should I say tonight is the Festival of Light inPoland

I was fortunate enough to be present inPolandone year, and attended the Festival of Light with a Polish family

May I say to one and all “ Just once in your life time make an effort and go there “

It is so emotional similar to the Last Post on Remembrance day, but this lasts longer than the bugle call

In my humble way I will try to describe this awe inspiring experience.

Imagine if you can that you have driven out of the City and all it’s lights and are travelling through the inky black country side, when you see a glow in the sky up ahead.

You arrive at a huge cemetery which is packed with people all with bowed heads, for all the family goes to the cemetery on this night, from new born babies to aged Grandparents, they are all there to pay homage to their ancestors,

The Local Authority has arranged for piped music, softly playing Handel Requiem Mass

The glow in the sky is caused by candles, __**and candles only**__ which have been brought by the family to illuminate the graves of their ancestors, thousands of them as each person brings his or her own, and one for the baby.

The Teenagers mount guard at the Head-Stone, and they change the guard with military precision ( Even as I write this description, I am experiencing the shivers down the spine as I recall the night )

In the flickering light the crucifixes at the Head-Stone appear to be alive with movement.

Everyone speaks in a hushed tone, if they ever speak at all

The reverence and homage has to be seen to be understood

No one is in a hurry to leave, in point of fact just the opposite finding jobs to do such as arranging the flowers, adjusting the candles etc.

And throughout it all not one baby cries. That is the magnitude of this:- The Festival of Lights. Heed my recommendation make an effort if only once but go you must. It will stay with you for the rest of your life.