Credit: Otilia Dragan/Chronicle.lu
On the evening of Wednesday 13 December 2023, The Luxembourg-Poland Chamber of Commerce (LPCC), the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Luxembourg and the Foreign Trade Office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in Amsterdam held the Polish Apple Christmas Fest at the Konvikt centre in Luxembourg-Ville.
The evening started with traditional Polish Christmas carols, sung and accompanied by a drum, violin and accordion. The evening was dedicated to Polish products, with a specific focus on apple-related specialties – from various kinds of apples to juices, ciders and more.
The Polish Ambassador to Luxembourg, Piotr Wojtczak, said: “Many have asked me what the significance of the apple is. […] Poland is among the biggest producers of apples in Europe. On this occasion, we wanted to present the best apple products and culinary traditions [of Poland]. We wanted to create links through the Embassy, the Polish and the international community. We would like to extend Christmas wishes to all, but some families in the world are not able to unite in peace, notably in Ukraine and the Middle East.” He encouraged the attendees to think of those less fortunate families and expressed his hope that the latter should find “a little joy and peace” during the special time of Christmas.
Magda Lekan, representative of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in Amsterdam, noted that “a Polish saying goes ‘A good neighbour is worth more than a distant friend.’Working on this project together, we opened a door to fifteen Polish producers.” She went on to say that they aim to “shorten the distance between Luxembourg and Poland”.
Artur Sosna, President and Chairman of LPCC, concluded the speeches adding that the organisation sees itself as a “business bridge”, creating various business events. He invited the guests to later discover the various traditional foods and drinks on offer.
The evening continued with a buffet of Polish soups, main dishes and desserts. Several other types of Polish products, including cheeses, cured meats and desserts were also available for guests to discover.
