The Bethlehem Light of Peace, which scouts from the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association will receive from Slovakian scouts, will arrive in Poland on Sunday. The ceremonial handover will take place during a mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Zakopane.
The Bethlehem Light of Peace is an international relay in which the flame from the Grotto of the Nativity travels around the world to bring hope. In Poland, the Light will reach the President of the Republic of Poland, the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament and the Prime Minister, as well as people, organisations and institutions that support the creation of peace every day, and anyone who is willing to receive it.
The flame lit in the grotto travels a long way, thanks to scouts from all over the world, to reach, among others, Poland through countries and continents. From this flame, on 10 December, the candles of Caritas’ Christmas Aid to Children are lit, which then reach many communities, institutions and homes, bringing hope and in a symbolic way igniting in everyone the desire to help others.
This year the Bethlehem Light of Peace is accompanied by the slogan “Let us make peace”. The Polish Scouting Association encourages us to reflect deeply on what peace is. After all, peace is not only the absence of armed conflicts, but also inner harmony, in which the individual finds balance with himself and other people.
This year’s Bethlehem Rally in Zakopane will be attended by more than 3,000 scouts from all over Poland, who will set off to their towns and cities on Sunday 10 December, thus spreading the Light throughout Poland.
On Friday and Saturday Zakopane will become the winter capital of scouting. The two-day rally will begin with an assembly, followed by a performance – a sand painting show presenting the tradition of the Bethlehem Light of Peace. The second day of the rally will include a field game consisting of 6 thematic routes to choose from. Afterwards, a rally town will open on Dolna Równia with a variety of activities that encourage peace and show it from different perspectives.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński