In 1972, during the Christmas Holidays, Chet Kowalkowski and Stas Bulanda were having a few drinks at the Omen Restaurant and Lounge on the south side of Chicago. Chet brought up the subject of caroling as his father and Frank Labuda did in the 1940’s. Somehow, as the years went by, it was forgotten by the generation that followed. So, Chet and Stas decided to bring back the old tradition. They went to a few lounges and with Chet on trumpet and Stas on concertina, they began playing and singing the old traditional Koledy. The response was so overwhelming they did it again the following year. The 3rd year Stas couldn’t make it so Chet called on another caroler, Joe Jozwiak, along with John Zadelek and Fred Dubiel. They caroled for another 3 – 4 years; occasionally Chet’s dad, Andrew went along. In the early years we only caroled for a day or two, but we stayed out till the wee hours of the morning I mean 3 and 4 am waking people up dancing, drinking and singing it was really great. At this time the polish carolers were visiting friends and relatives and people in the polish Community. Fellow Musicians heard how much fun and joy it was bringing to people, that they too wanted to go caroling. Around the 8th year, the carolers decided to visit shut-ins, hospitals and nursing homes and continued to visit our regular polka friends and business establishments.
Today, there are over 60 Chicago polka musicians ranging from 20 years old to some who are in their 80’s that have dedicated their time away from families to bring the spirit of Christmas to the less fortunate. Carolers go caroling between 10 – 14 days during December. Each night there are 8 to 12 carolers and sometimes more. (Some of them also relocated and moved out of state and have started caroling in their area). They also played the Polish Midnight Mass with the choir at St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Lemont, on Christmas Eve for 13 years and also the Easter sunrise mass.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicagos-Polish-Carolers/362533657264573?fref=ts
