KGHM celebrates St. Barbara's Day

70 KGHM employees received state awards, miner's knives, and honorary miner's swords during the ceremonial St. Barbara's Day Academy. After a break due to the pandemic, the copper giant is returning to the celebration of the miners' holiday in its traditional formula. We received wishes from the most important people of our country. Also, the Chairman of the Law and Justice party Jarosław Kaczyński sent a special letter.

Without face masks or restrictions, in a unique atmosphere and with the participation of invited guests, distinguished employees of KGHM received medals for long service from the Voivode of Lower Silesia, Jarosław Obremski, and the CEO of KGHM, Tomasz Zdzikot. 30 people received honorary miner's swords, a symbol of the miner's honour, freedom and dignity.

– Although I am here a short time only, I can already say that KGHM is a unique community, a very special Team. It is a great value. KGHM is one of the pillars of the Polish economy. This success would not exist without your work. It is not only the persons honoured today who deserve recognition and thanks, but the entire mining community of KGHM. It is you who create the value of our Company. May Saint Barbara watch over you every day! Long live the miners' state! - said Tomasz Zdzikot, CEO of KGHM.

The copper miners were congratulated, wished and thanked for their daily efforts by invited guests and the most important persons of the State.

In the letter sent, President Andrzej Duda expressed his best wishes to the miners and emphasised the expertise, commitment and dedication of KGHM employees.

'I want to thank you from the deep of my heart for your efforts, which are of particular importance for the development of the Republic of Poland (...) I wish that, especially in these days, you will feel happiness and pride from belonging to the mining fraternity as well as to this great family formed by all those who support mine workers and their efforts on a daily basis. May your professional successes build the prosperity of your loved ones, your workplaces, your towns and regions, and finally our entire Homeland.'

On the occasion of St. Barbara's Day, wishes for KGHM employees were expressed in a special letter sent by the Speaker of the Sejm, Elżbieta Witek.

'This year's St. Barbara's Day is of special significance, as it concludes the unique time for KGHM to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the discovery of the largest deposit of copper ore in Europe. This ground-breaking discovery meant that today we are immensely proud of the modern copper mining and smelting industry, which is flourishing so beautifully in Lower Silesia.

All of these achievements are also earned, with great dedication, by the miners of Polish Copper, who are celebrating their feast day today, and to whom I wish happiness and every personal prosperity from the deep of my heart. Thank you for your professionalism, perseverance and commitment. At the same time, I would like to send my congratulations to all those who have been decorated and honoured. I wish you all many successes and satisfaction from your extremely important daily service.'

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, in a letter to KGHM miners, wrote:

'On this special day I would like to extend my congratulations and highest regards to all miners, employees of KGHM Polska Miedź SA, as well as their families. KGHM is a real pearl in the crown. The results and key investments carried out by the Company are proof of this. Thank you for the effort you make every day, for what you do for your region and for Poland. I believe that belonging to the mining family is a source of your pride and satisfaction. May St Barbara watch over you and take care of you, give you strength and perseverance'. The letter from the Prime Minister was read by the Minister Krzysztof Kubów.

Jacek Sasin, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of State Assets, in his letter sent to the miners, highlighted the global importance of KGHM as the world's leading producer of copper and silver.

'This success would not have been possible without your professionalism and daily hard work. It is thanks to this work that KGHM is a competitive brand, investing in innovative solutions and recognised on the global market (...). I would like to thank the entire team of KGHM Polska Miedź for your effort and responsibility, which contributes to the economic growth of our Fatherland. On the occasion of today's holiday, I wish you perseverance, safe service and every good fortune. May Saint Barbara support you in all your challenges and continually surround you with her protection!'

The Chairman of the Law and Justice party Jarosław Kaczyński also sent a commemorative letter:

'On this special day, bowing before you in gratitude for your hazardous daily effort, I would like to wholeheartedly wish you, the entire community of KGHM Polska Miedź and your families health, happiness and every success, including work and professional satisfaction. And to the Company itself, continued dynamic growth and the achievement of its goals.'

A celebration for the whole region

The people of the Copper Belt could also feel the festive mood of the miners’ holiday. After a two-year break, the spectacular Major Fox Parade returned. The march through the streets of Lubin ended at the Market Square with a ceremony of jumping over a leather apron. This traditional ceremony of becoming a miner is a special event for young apprentices of the mining industry, who are welcomed into the mining family by jumping over the leather apron.

A St. Barbara's Day inn and an old-fashioned miner's party called 'comber babski' are planned for the evening.

4 December - Saint Barbara's Day & Miners Day

The further celebrations will take place on Sunday 4 December.

In Lubin, Polkowice and Głogów, the name day of the miners' patron Saint Barbara will begin with a miner's wake up call. From 6 a.m. residents of the region will be reminded of this special holiday by miners' orchestras.

Then, at 9.00 a.m., a Solemn Holy Mass is scheduled for the intention of the miners and their families at St Maximilian Maria Kolbe Church in Lubin. The Orthodox Chaplain of the Mining Industry, the Parish Priest of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Lubin, also invites to the Mass for the intention of the miners (9.00 a.m. , Orthodox Church, Lubin, 1 Maja 13B).

At 1 pm at the monument of Jan Wyżykowski, the discoverer of Polish Copper, a continuation of the ceremony and the flower laying ceremony by delegations is planned.

Saint Barbara of Nicomedia, who lived at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries AD on the territory of present-day Syria and Turkey, is the patron of the professions called 'hard work' - miners, steelworkers, sailors, fishermen or soldiers. The celebrations known as 'Barbórka', such as academies, meetings and masses, as well as various side events, are traditionally held on 4 December, on the occasion of the St Barbara day.