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The tradition of handcrafting Polish Christmas ornaments continues in Ford City
The tradition of handcrafting Polish Christmas ornaments continues in Ford City
By Patrick Shuster
LEADER TIMES
Friday, December 9, 2005
FORD CITY -- Paper, glue, thread and beads sound like the makings of a simple craft project, but the items become much more than that as several women found out Wednesday.
The small group of women attended a lesson in making traditional Polish Christmas ornaments, but received an interesting history lesson as well.
Karen Buccieri, of Ford City, has followed her ancestor's traditions by making a variety of paper Christmas ornaments which are steeped in Polish traditions.
"There used to be a Polish Culture Society in Ford City and I can remember them making the ornaments and decorating the Christmas trees at the church," she said. "I always thought they were such beautiful designs and shapes and decided to learn to make them myself."
Buccieri said many of the Polish community in Ford City still carry on the tradition of making the paper stars, and boxes and eggs. This week's lesson was a way to teach others about the tradition.
"The ornaments are made of paper so that after Christmas, they could be burned in the fire," she said. "Each year, new ornaments were made to decorate the trees."
Buccieri said the belief was that the ornaments were gifts for Jesus Christ and that gifts should only be given once, hence making new ones annually.
Carol Augustine and Donna Trudgen, of West Kittanning, said they saw an ad for the class and decided to try their hand at creating holiday ornaments.
"People these days don't focus on tradition and this is a fun way to keep those traditions alive," Augustine said.
Trudgen agreed, "This was something totally different to try and learn something about a different background that mine."
She and Trudgen, neither of whom had made the ornaments before, diligently folded paper, applied glued, and threaded beads and wheat shoots together to form the delicate ornaments. When they finished, the group had created ornaments consisting of a larger colorful box with strands of beads and wheat with smaller boxes attached at the ends.
A group of local children also participated, creating their own paper vases with small flowers and wheat inserted inside.
Patrick Shuster can be reached at pshuster@tribweb.com or 724-543-1303 Ext. 237.
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