Mini festival in Greenfield to celebrate Polish, Eastern European heritage

West Springfield-based craft specialist Susan Urban will be demonstrating traditional Eastern European paper cutting at a Polish and Eastern European mini festival at The LAVA Center on Saturday, April 26.

West Springfield-based craft specialist Susan Urban will be demonstrating traditional Eastern European paper cutting at a Polish and Eastern European mini festival at The LAVA Center on Saturday, April 26. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JEANNE SOJKA

Montague resident Carol Kostecki will share the Polish and Eastern European tradition of pysanky, or Easter egg painting, at a Polish and Eastern European mini festival at The LAVA Center on April 26.

Montague resident Carol Kostecki will share the Polish and Eastern European tradition of pysanky, or Easter egg painting, at a Polish and Eastern European mini festival at The LAVA Center on April 26. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JEANNE SOJKA

By CHRIS LARABEE

Staff Writer

Published: 04-16-2025 11:40 AM

GREENFIELD — Whether your family traditions are pysanky egg decorating, wycinanki paper cutting or traditional folk dancing, residents are invited to celebrate all things Polish and Eastern European at The LAVA Center.

The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will continue to exhibit “New Roots in River Banks: Polish and Other Eastern European Immigrants to the Connecticut River Valley” through the end of April and is celebrating the display with a mini Polish and Eastern European festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.

The festival will feature a lineup of music, folk dancing, traditional craft demonstrations and “New Roots in River Banks” on display. The exhibit, which has made stops around the Pioneer Valley, explores the arrival of Eastern European immigrants and their experiences from the 1880s through the 1920s.

Jeanne Sojka, curator of the exhibit and business manager at the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association in Deerfield, said the festival is an opportunity for folks to engage in their heritage — or even explore a culture different from theirs. The event is also a chance to learn about the folks who immigrated here to work in factories or on farms.

“They are people who overcame a lot and were very determined to become good citizens. … They became quite successful, but clearly their children and grandchildren have become Americanized,” Sojka said. “Many of their descendants are still living here today and you don’t often hear about it.”

A key part of Eastern Europeans’ culture, as with many cultures, is the food, Sojka said. There will be Polish, Ukrainian and Jewish treats on hand for people to try.

“Food is very important to the Polish and Eastern European people,” she said. “The saying is, ‘A guest in your house is God in the house.’”

There are three cultural demonstrations scheduled for the day, with the first being Montague resident Carol Kostecki showing off pysanky, which are decorated and designed Easter eggs. She said many people assume the eggs are decorated using paint, but it’s actually a combination of wax and dyes.

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“It has a religious background. The colors all mean something and the symbols all mean something,” Kostecki said, adding that it’s a fun way to connect with one’s cultural heritage. “I find that people, if it’s their background, they appreciate it more.”

Following Kostecki will be West Springfield-based craft specialist Susan Urban, who will demonstrate wycinanki, or paper cutting, from noon to 1 p.m. Brattleboro International Folk Dance group leader Rachelle Ackerman will show off Eastern European folk dancing from 1 to 2 p.m.

PVMA museum educators Helena Alves and Patty Soloman will also be around from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to work with kids on crafts, including paper egg and paper cutting designs, as well as traditional clothing and costumes for paper dolls.

A Facebook event with more information is available at bit.ly/4cyxUWB.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.