Buda Family Archive

collection Buda Family Archive
authors Zygmunt Buda
starring Czesława Bojenko; Mirosław Bojenko; Sergiusz Bojenko; Zdzisław Bojenko; Janina Stafisz; Jacek Buda; Katarzyna Buda; Marek Buda; Zygmunt Buda; Jolanta Chmielewska; Teodora Chmielewska; Franciszek Stafisz; Łucja Stafisz; Janina Stafisz; Jadwiga Stawska; Marian Szpejcher; Zofia Szpejcher
length 11'19
country Poland, Sierpc
locations Sierpc, Poland  Warsaw, Poland 
year 1956; 1957
format 16 mm
color black and white
signature PAFD 0037 002
description

Zygmunt Buda was born in Poznań in 1924 and was interested in photography since his childhood. From 1941, he worked in the Poznań photographic company Foto-Stewner, founded by Ernest Stewner. After the end of the war, he worked as a photographer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, from which, in the 50s, he was dismissed for political incorrectness. From the 60s, he worked in the Film Services Department at the corner of Marszałkowska and Krucza streets in Warsaw. Zygmunt recorded films with a business camera with a 16-millimeter tape and a private SANYO camera with an 8-millimeter tape, which he received as a gift from a family living in the USA. His sons, Jacek and Marek, as well as the next generations of the Buda family, also became enthusiasts of filming family life. 

Part 1

The Buda family spends their first Christmas at home at Puławska Street in Warsaw in 1956. Janina Stafisz (sister of Zygmunt’s wife, Katarzyna) dressed as Santa Claus is sitting on a couch. Jacek and Marek Budowie, together with the sons of their neighbors, Sergiusz and Mirek Bojenka, are standing around Santa giving gifts. As Jacek Buda recalls, his childhood friendship with Mirek has survived to this day. Among the gathered are also Jacek’s parents, Zygmunt and Katarzyna, their neighbors Zdzisław and Czesława Bojenek and aunt Wadecka (sister of Łucja, grandmother of Jacek and Marek from Sierpc) with her grandson Piotr.

Part 2

Christmas Eve dinner at the house of the Chmielewski family in Sierpc in 1957. Gathered at the table, Zygmunt, Katarzyna, Jacek and Marek Budowie share the Christmas wafer with Franciszek Stafisz (Katarzyna’s father) and his wife Łucja, Teodora Chmielewska (Katarzyna’s sister), her daughter Jola and Katarzyna’s youngest sister, Janina. After dinner, children perform in front of Santa Claus giving gifts. You can also see the extended family of Łucja Stafisz, Marian and Zofia Szpejcher.

Part 3

Zygmunt, Katarzyna, Jacek and Marek go sledding down the hill in the Jordan garden in Sierpc. The Budom family is accompanied by Jola Chmielewska, Janina Stafisz and the neighbor Jadwiga Stawska.

(AT)

 

 

keywords Poland  Sierpc  Christmas  Santa Claus  gifts  Christmas Eve  Christmas tree  Christmas wafer  children  childhood  family  family life  free time  sledge  snow  hill  winter  fun  Jordan garden 
source of funding Ministry of Culture and National Heritage