They Greeted the New Year in the Heart of the Earth

150 people enjoyed the New Year’s Eve Ball in the Wieliczka mine at the depth of 125 meters underground. This time the New Year was greeted in the Warszawa Chamber not only by Poles but also by guests from Greece, France, North Ireland and Sweden. At midnight the Treasurer, symbolising the Old Year, gave place to the New Year of 2010 who arrived in the form of ... a young woman.

The guests were welcomed by the host of the evening, Michał Milowicz, a well known and appreciated actor. The royal ball began with a polonaise. The musical setting of the complete underground New Year’s Eve event was provided by the performance group, Omen. There were competitions and contests, including the election of the King and Queen of the Ball, and such attractions as the Michał Milowicz Show prepared by the actor specially for the New Year’s Eve festivity.

The chef prepared an exquisite menu which included duck filet in honey and beer marinade with cranberries, potatoes and roast apples, poultry roulade with porcini mousse, shrimp cocktail in chicory leaves, and panna cotta with fruits of the forest.

Just before midnight, the Treasurer arrived to the Warszawa Chamber, as it befits the ghost of the mine his appearance was unexpected, as a grey-haired old man with a miner’s lamp in hand. The flame of his lamp (zicherka) lit the way for the guests following him to the Stanisław Staszic Chamber. As the clock struck midnight the New Year arrived in an elevator from the height of several dozen meters. Champagne corks popped and a snow cloud of confetti fell on the merry-makers from the top of the chamber ceiling (36 meters high).

In the 16th century an outstanding humanist, Adam Schroeter wrote these words: salt underlies all and any fun in this world, and without a salt-spiced joke all merriment fades. His words may well be confirmed by the guests who greeted the New Year of 2010 in the Wieliczka undergrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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