Wrocław Festival Celebrations [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

Wrocław Festival celebrations commenced by a march of the members of the City Council from St. Elisabeth's Church to the City Hall. The city councillors were accompanied by the members of Bractwo Kurkowe [the Rooster Fraternity] and Bractwo Rycerskie [the Knight's Fraternity]. The Market Square saw a parade of mounted City Guards, and heard the performance of the representative orchestra of the Wrocław Police Hedquarters performed, as well as cannonry, fired at noon sharp. Additionally, a ceremony of crowning the Rooster King took place, as well as a celebratory session in the Old City Hall. This, in short, is what the celebrations of Wrocław Festival looked like, an event held on July 24th for 25 years now. This year's title of the Honorary Citizen of Wrocław was awarded to Prof. Jan Miodek, who was honoured during the celebratory session of the City Council. "The Professor Jan Miodek's activity strengthens our city's position on the academic map of Poland. Owing to him Wrocław is known abroad" Jacek Ossowski, the Head of Wrocław's City Council quoted the Professor's laudation. For 25 years Professor Jan Miodek has been a director of the Polish Philology Institute of the University of Wrocław; he is also the director of the Polish Language History Institute, as well as a member of the Linguistic Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Polish Language Board. Wrocław and mayor's awards During the session also Wrocław Awards were honoured. The recipients were: rev. Adam Drwięga, a vicar for the Wrocław Cathedral for many years, Wanda Izdebska - sister Anatolia from the Immaculate Mary Sisters, and the director for the Social Welfare Home for Children and Youth at ul. Objazdowa in Wrocław, the rector of the Nature Sciences University of Wrocław, Prof. Roman Kołacz, Wojciech Siwek, the member of the artistic committee of the Jazz nad Odrą Festival, Prof. Krzysztof Szwagrzyk, an academic teacher and a propagator of contemporary Polish history, as well as the Willy Brandt Centre of the University of Wrocław - an international institution of the university, which popularizes knowledge about Germany. The Mayor's Award was honoured to: Józef Hałas, artist and painter; financier Martin Ring; Stowarzyszenie na rzecz Edukacji i Rodziny [Pro-Family and Education Association] "Nurt", as well as the Lower Silesia branch of the Worldwide Association of the Home Army Soldiers. The awards were honoured to the most deserving residents and institutions of Wrocław and the region. The celebratory session of the City Council is one of the elements of Wrocław Festival, held each year in the Town Hall's Great Hall.