It’s a hard word to translate: odpust most strictly means “indulgence” or “pardon.” But there are other, wider meanings. In Pyzówka today, it would best be translated as “church fair” or “church fete.” In short, today was the Solemnity of John the Baptist, the patron saint of Pyzówka’s small parish. (Technically, the Solemnity is tomorrow, but who wants to have a church fair on a Monday?)

That means a festive Mass, with the majority of parishoners dressed in traditional highlander clothing and a string band playing during the offering and communion. And because G is a member of the group, I was able to join them before Mass as the got in tune and rehearsed for a moment.

Mass began and I stayed with the band as they took their place in the choir loft. And suddenly, there was the reminder of what Catholicism in America used to look like: no Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers; the priests alone distributed Communion. Additionally, while there was no actual rail, so to speak, parishoners behaved like there was an altar rail.

After Mass, there was Adoration complete with a procession around the church.

But for the children, all that was, in a sense, only a prelude to the real highlight of the day: stall after stall of venders selling one (or more) of four things: cheap plastic toys, cheap plastic jewelry, bags of candy, and/or fireworks.

Dolls, gummies, tractors, bracelets ping pong sets, rings, lawn mowers, hard candy.

A jarmark for kids. We returned with mountains of silliness and sweet gesture. The Girl decided we needed to buy something for the Boy. She chose a toy, asked how much it was, and paid for it with her own money. And she even haggled (with some encouragement from me) the price down five zloty.

She becomes more Polish every moment.

With her godmother