The Polish cultural event Biesiada, the biggest of its kind in Scotland, took place on Sunday 30th of September in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy.
The event was organised by Fife Polish Association MOST with support of FRAE Fife, Fife Council, Lauder College, NHS Fife, Fife Constabulary, Food for Life Project, generous private donors and a numerous volunteer group.

According to the figure given by Fife Fire and Rescue Service, the number of people who attended the Polish cultural event was around 5 thousand compared with an initial estimate of between 200 and 500.

“We didn’t expect such an enormous audience today. We were hoping for maximum 500 people and it’s great that around ten times more attendants made it” said Kasia Dokurno, Secretary of FPA MOST.

Among the special guests there were: Donald Tusk, leader of Poland’s biggest opposition party Civic Platform, Cllr. Joe Rosiejak, Honorary President of Fife Polish Association MOST, Naeem Khalid, FRAE Fife Co-ordinator, Colm Wilson, FRAE Fife link worker to FPA MOST, Cllr. Alice Soper, Fife Council officials and the representatives of Polish Veterans Society in Kirkcaldy.

The event aimed to gather people from different communities including Polish, Scottish and all the ethnic minority communities. It also hoped that people would share Polish and Scottish culture to increase understanding of Polish traditions, customs and cuisine as well as provide information on the Fife Polish Association’s work.

FPA MOST was established in June 2006 by a group of young and enthusiastic Poles with support from FRAE Fife. The name ”MOST”, Polish for ‘bridge’, symbolises an integration of Polish community within itself and with Scots in Fife. With its activities entirely voluntary, FPA MOST establishes contacts and meets with representatives of local Council, agencies and voluntary organisations. MOST also organises presentations and provides information which should help newly arrived Poles settle in Fife and furthermore the Association has created a Polish Community Centre ‘Swietlica’, where Poles meet together on a regular basis each Sunday.

Naeem Khalid, FRAE Fife Co-ordinator said: “FRAE Fife is proud to see one of its thirty-one community groups, Fife Polish Association MOST, been capacity build by it link worker to this level.”

Cllr. Joe Rosiejak said: “It is a tremendous success and I am delighted to see new generation of Poles wanting to integrate into the local community. For me, a great example of this integration is the performance, where Poles and Scots teach each other their traditional folk dances.”
After the greeting and opening speeches delivered by Maciej Dokurno, chairperson for FPA MOST and Cllr. Joe Rosiejak, Polish politician Donald Tusk answered questions asked by the Polish community members. He talked to local Polish veterans and enjoyed some Polish food. Mr Tusk was interested in how the Polish community is integrating in Fife and what problems it experiences. He said: “I am happy to be here and see that you can live far away from your country and still maintain your national pride.”

Thank to live music from Shinding, Polish folk music and traditional Scottish dance demonstration gave all the attendants a magnificent opportunity of cultural blending. All those present at the event found plenty of interesting activities, things to do or learn from the information stalls of FRAE Fife, Fife Council, NHS (inter alia offering blood pressure measuring and diabetic tests), Police, Fife Fire and Rescue Service, Lauder College and a stand promoting Poland as a tourist destination.

The various range of competitions and activities offered throughout the event included activities for children, sport competitions, “My Fife” – photo exhibition and contest, a quiz about Poland and Scotland and an amusing beret throwing competition with prizes to win.
On the day the First Polish Amateur Football team ‘White Eagles’ had a match with Albert Tavern group from Falkland. Polish team won by 7 goals to 0. The Polish team is sponsored and coached by Interactivesport Football Coaches. The team's head coach, manager Ade Johnson said: "The score line for the day reflects, celebrating Polish talent and culture in Fife".

At the end Maciej Dokurno thanked Cllr. Joe Rosiejak, Honorary President of MOST, Colm Wilson, FRAE Fife Link Worker to the Polish Association and Fife Council Arts Development team. They all received Polish traditional gifts as a symbol of thankfulness and appreciation of they help in FPA MOST’s work and growth.

Mr Dokurno said about Colm Wilson from FRAE Fife: “Colm’s remarkable involvement into the Association makes him being not Irish anymore but becoming Polish altogether.”

“I am really proud of working with the Polish community and the Polish Association MOST. It has been a great pleasure and I personally like Polish people, who are very friendly, hospitable and outgoing”: said Mr Wilson.

Marta Weychan