Thousands of people came to the city on Sunday evening to watch the opening of the Košice Fairytale Christmas, the lighting of the Christmas tree and lights on the Hlavná Street.

On this day, Christmas markets were also open, offering mulled wine, various types of punch and grilled goodies that smell far away. In the stalls of craftsmen, you will find Christmas decorations and trinkets that are sure to please every recipient. There is also a charity hut of U. S. Steel Košice, where we provide space for various non-profit and charitable organizations.

The first to greet the people of Košice was the mayor  of Košice, Jaroslav Polaček, who appreciated that the main Christmas stage is moved this year so that the entire Christmas tree can be seen.

Our company has traditionally been the main partner of the event. Therefore, the Acting President of U. S. Steel Košice, Mike Piekut, also addressed the visitors. When asked by the presenter what is most important to him during the Christmas holidays, he replied: "The most important thing is the time and moments spent with family and friends. There are really a lot of them in this pre-Christmas period. Our record is 27 meetings in one season and we will do everything we can to set a new family record here in Košice."

Mike Piekut wished all Košice residents a beautiful, healthy, merry and happy Christmas holidays: "It will be my first Christmas season in Košice, I am looking forward to meeting many friends, maybe even at these stalls on Hlavná Street."

After lighting the Christmas tree and decorations on Hlavná Street, Jaroslav Polaček and Mike Piekut went to sell the mayor's punch. There was a huge interest in it, because the first contributors were also promised bottles of honey from the bees that they keep on the roof of the City Hall. The money raised will help the ANPES (Association of the Deaf of Slovakia) in Košice, the social service and canteen of the Jewish Religious Community of Košice, the OZ Smile on Me and the Boat of Hope OZ. 

Mike Piekut and Miroslav Kiraľvarga also stopped by our Charity hut. During ten days, the facilities of the Archdiocesan Caritas Košice will take turns in it. On Sunday, it was people from the Charity House of St. Edith Stein from Vojčice, who offered beautiful Christmas decorations. They managed to collect more than 400 €.

Other organizations will also find space at the charity hut, the list of which can be found together with the program in the bulletin at this link: bulletin 2024_14.11.24

Photo: Ján Kisucký