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KRAKÓW, Poland (OSV News) — A group of young violinists known as "Mala Armia Janosika" has captured global attention with their Christmas carol performance. The children's orchestra, dressed in traditional Polish highlander attire, went viral after a video of their midnight Mass performance was shared online.
The orchestra performed at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rabka-Zdrój, a town 42 miles south of Kraków. Damian Palasz, the conductor and founder of the orchestra, expressed surprise at the video's popularity. "I would never expect this," he told OSV News on December 27. After posting the video on TikTok and Facebook following the Mass, it quickly gained traction.
American influencer Ian Miles Cheong shared the video on December 25, commenting on its beauty and garnering millions of views and likes. Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also praised the performance by sharing it on social media. American author Jack Posobiec contributed to its reach by posting it on his X account.
The orchestra is named after Juraj Janosik, a legendary Slovak highlander hero akin to Robin Hood. Palasz founded "Mala Armia Janosika" as a serious musical project for children to emphasize Polish tradition during Christmas.
Consisting of about 300 members ranging from age four to teenagers, the orchestra requires each child to be well-prepared before performing publicly. They have played at various events in Poland and even performed for Pope Francis during Polish Days in Rome.
Palasz hopes that their newfound fame might lead to an invitation to perform in Chicago for the Polish community there. He expressed a desire for a sponsor to facilitate such an opportunity.
The lyrics of their viral carol are sung in "gwara," a local dialect:
— “Jezusa narodzonego wszyscy witajmy” — “Jesus who is born, let us all welcome!
— “Jemu po koledzie dary wzajem oddajmy,” — “To Him, after the carol, let us give gifts to each other.”
— “Oddajmy wesolo, sklaniajmy swe czolo.” — “Let’s give cheerfully, let’s bow our foreheads.”
— “Sklaniajmy swe czolo Panu naszemu.” — “Let us bow our foreheads to our Lord!”
Paulina Guzik is international editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @Guzik_Paulina.
