Queen of Hearts - Stained Glass in Wawel Castle

I took this photo on a family excursion to Poland back in the Summer of 2001. It is from a side chapel in the Wawel Castle in Kraków. I love the rich colors, cartoonish vegetation, and heart shapes that float throughout the layered sections of this image. I'm not able to find a title of the piece, or any information about who it is depicting, although it is most likely a representation of the Virgin Mary. It appears that this figure is wearing a crown as the "Queen of Heaven", and her hands are crossed over her chest area drawing your eye to the "Immaculate Heart of Mary", a symbol of her joys and sorrows, virtues, and never-ending love for mankind.

This window was created in 1908 in the decorative Art Nouveau style by Józef Mehoffer (Polish artist, 1869-1946) for the Chapel Szafraniec. Józef Mehoffer was a Polish painter and decorative artist, one of the leaders of the Young Poland artistic movement from the late 1800s to early 1900s. He was one of the most revered Polish artists of his time, promoting such themes as decadence, symbolism, and neo-romanticism.

Christmas in Krakow - The Tradition of the Szopka

Every December, the main square of Krakow, Poland hosts a contest of Szopki. The unique designs (pronounced "shopki" or individually, "shopka") are Christmas Nativity Scenes specifically made in the city. The tradition comes from the early 19th century in the late fall, when typically busy carpenters and masons spent their idle time making these cribs to earn extra income. Now, made by families, hobbyists, and enthusiasts from any background, UNESCO recognized the practice in 2018 as a part of the world's cultural heritage. The crèches are painstakingly made from colorful tinfoil and cardboard often planned many months in advance. The buildings are a representation of landmarks found in Krakow and may also depict something noteworthy from the area or in recent history.

Here is  my own personal szopka given to me as a gift from a family member who traveled to Krakow during the Christmas season. It is about 14 inches high - some of them are made to reach over 6 feet in height and require at least two people to carry them. Wesołych świąt!