The Polish Way

THE POLISH WAY GUIDE TO POLISH CULTURE

By Adriana Blindu

THE POLISH WAY GUIDE TO POLISH CULTURE

An invitation to learn and discover what Polish culture has to offer.

Text Adriana Blindu Design Adriana Blindu Photography Adriana Blindu Proof Reader Lucian Blindu Copyright © 2021 Adriana Blindu.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without permission in writing from the author.

Above: Nowadays, Poles like to mix traditional folk pattern with modern clothing.

Contents Chapter 1 Introduction

6

Brief history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

Chapter 2 Weddings

10

The entrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

Food and drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

After the party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

Chapter 3 Holidays

22

Christmas Eve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24

Christmas food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26

St. Nicholas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27

Easter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28

Easter basket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30

Wet Monday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32

Chapter 4 Religious customs

34

All Saint’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35

St. Andrew’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36

Three Kings Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38

Chapter 5 Unique customs

40

100 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

41

Ice sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42

Ice swimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46

Sleight ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48

Fat Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Sandwiches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Name Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Student Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Harvest Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Polish costume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

58

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Justyna Rutek Stay at home mom Burke, USA

Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country located in Central Europe. The name of Poland has a unique, and beautiful meaning tied to its landscape. It is derived from the name of the tribe Polanie, which means people living in open fields. While Poland has a wide variety of landscapes far beyond fields, the name speaks to the regional tribes’ rich history throughout the country. Poland has a population of nearly 38.5 million people and its capital is Warsaw. The Polish currency is zloty.

Above: The National Flag of Poland was officially adopted on August 1, 1919. The National Flag of Poland features two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red. ...

The white color represents the hope for peace by all the people of Poland. The red color symbolizes the many struggles for freedom over the centuries.

FUN FACT: Students traveling by train always get student discounts on the tickets!

6 | Introduction

Poland is located between Germany Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. Thanks to great public transportation you can travel by train nonstop from Warsaw to Berlin for only $35 and it will take only 6 hours. Another example is Warsaw to Prague for only $25 and it takes nine hours nonstop.

Above: The red line around Poland shows its boarders. Warsaw is the capital of Poland.

Introduction | 7

Brief history Poland has had a long and rich history. Over the past thousand years the country has defended its freedom and sovereignty from foreign aggressions on numerous occasions.

1918 November 11: Polish Independence Day. Marshall Józef Piłsudski becomes “chief of the state”.

1919 June 28: Signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Poland is ratified as a sovereign state and gains access to the Baltic Sea. 1920 April 21: Signing of the Treaty of Warsaw, also known as the Polish-Ukrainian Alliance, signed during the Polish-Soviet War. 1921 March 17: Adoption of the modern Polish constitution: the March Constitution.

1922 November 5–12: Legislative election. Gabriel Narutowicz becomes President on December 9.

December 16: Gabriel Narutowicz is assassinated and Stanisław Wojciechowski becomes President on December 22.

1926 May 12–14: May Coup organized and carried out by Marshal Józef Piłsudski, overthrowing the government of President Stanisław Wojciechowski and Prime Minister Wincenty Witos. A new government is installed, and Ignacy Mościcki becomes President on June 4.

1928 March 4-11: Legislative election, often considered the last free election in Poland until 1989. Piłsudski’s Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government, a coalition of the Sanation faction, wins the election.

1932 July 25: Signing of the Soviet–Polish Non-Aggression Pact.

8 | Brief history

1934 January 26: Signing of the German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact.

1939 September 1: German Invasion of Poland.

September 17: Soviet Union invasion of Poland.

September 18: The Fall of Warsaw. Poland is occupied by October 6.

November 6: Sonderaktion Krakau terror operation taken by Nazis against university professors, targeting Poland’s intellectual elite.

1940 April–May: Katyn Massacre. One of the earliest mass shootings of prisoners of war during World War II. May 16: Authorization of German AB-Aktion in Poland targeting Polish individuals suspected of potential anti-Nazi activity.

1941 August 17: Signing of the Sikorski-Mayski agreement between Soviet Union and Poland signed in London.

1943 April 19 - May 16: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the first popular uprising in Nazi-occupied Europe.

1945 May 8: End of World War II in Europe.

Brief history | 9

Chapter 2

WEDDINGS

Agnieszka Tyryłło Army Officer Giżycko, Poland

10 | Weddings

Poland has its unique wedding traditions and superstitions. Polish people love celebrations! That is why they celebrate weddings for two days. These two days fests are all about food, Polish wedding dances, ceremony, drinking and playing games. The weddings last usually until 4am or later and the guests sleep nearby the venue so they can meet a day after wedding to continue celebrating. Weddings in Poland are usually planned two years in advance and everyone always has a videographer and photographer to record the whole celebration.

FUN FACT: Neighbors of the couple position themselves on the way out from the ceremony venue and sing songs indicating that they will not let the newlyweds pass through unless they collect a fee (of wedding vodka bottles and candies for the kids). The wedding gate usually takes form of a ribbon or a string hung with decorations blocking the road. The gate is one of the most specific habit of all polish wedding traditions.

Above: An image from Google map Above: During the wedding you will hear “Na zdrowie” a lot and when you hear it you get your shot glass and always cheer with everyone before taking a shot of vodka!

Weddings | 11

The Entrance Chleb i Sól

Their entrance is marked with eating a piece of beautiful decorated bread representing that the couple may never know hunger — and salt — representing life’s difficulties and finding a way to cope with them. The parents perform this symbolic custom to signify a “Gift from God” and the “Basic necessity of Life” to show the unity that has been created of two people into one couple. There are also two shot glasses, one filled with water and the other with vodka. The bride and groom do not know which glass contains which. The first glass is offered to the bride for her choosing. It is said that whoever consumes the vodka will be the leader in the marriage. After the shot is taken, the glasses are thrown backwards over the shoulder of the couple and smashed as a sign of good luck.

Below: The parents are welcoming young couple with traditional bread and vodka shot.

12 | The Entrance

Right: The first shot is going “decide” who will “rule” in the household.

The Entrance | 13

Food and drinks Wódka i kiełbasa

Old Polish tradition requires wedding celebrations to be full of food and drinks.

The food comes in plenty from dumplings, herring in oil, and vegetable salads.

For a standard wedding lasting about 12 hours, there are typically served between four and five hot entrées, along with appetizers, pastries, cake and fruit. So if you finish your first meal and think it wasn’t too filling, just wait… there’s a lot more to come. Overeating and hangover are guaranteed. Menus depend on the taste buds of the couple, anything from meats, vegetables, soups.

All the food is washed down by an endless supply of drinks. The most popular drink is vodka shots that flow throughout the reception ceremony. People sitting next to you will every now and then propose a toast to the couple, so there is no 14 | Food and drinks

Above: Most of the time vodka bottles have labels on them to make it more personalized and fun.

Nowadays newlyweds prefer to decorate the bottles in more unique name than just putting their names.

need to sip wine or other alcohols between those drinking sessions. The most common dishes you can find on the table are: • Typical Polish sour rye soup with egg and sausage • Borscht or beet soup • Dumplings (kind of ravioli with meat and/or mushrooms) • Pork chop with mashed potatoes and fried cabbage • The famous Polish stuffed dumplings (sweet or savory) • Cabbage based stew with tomato sauce and various pork (sausage etc.)

• Herring in cream sauce

Food and drinks | 15

Above: At most weddings you can find a dedicated space for only homemade meat that most of the time an uncle from the countryside made just for this special day. If it’s not the uncle it’s the restaurant that provides homemade variety of meats.

16 | Food and drinks

Food and drinks | 17

“ For a standard wedding lasting about 12 hours, there are typically served between four and five hot entrées, along with appetizers, pastries, cake and fruit’. So if you finish your first meal and think it wasn’t too filling, just wait… there’s a lot more to come.”

- Agnieszka Tyryłło

18 | Food and drinks

Games

Oczepiny ‘Oczepiny’, traditionally represented the transitional moment for the bride as she moved from her single youth towards her married future. It is one of the oldest and the most important of Polish wedding customs. The games consist of activities depends what dance leader planned for an hour or two. The night carries on until 4am most of the time. During the ‘Oczepiny’ the most important game is the so-called “money dance”, when someone wants to dance with the bride or groom must donate cash to cans provided by the groom or the bride. Though this may be fun and ‘profitable’ for the young, often the bride is exhausted after the next polka with another drunk uncle, whom she has never seen in her life. However, most newly couple enjoy this dance because it’s fun and the newlyweds “make money” from having fun.

Below: The type of games vary that depends on the person who leads it. Not in every weeding the plunger is used as a part of the game.

Games | 19

Right: The person who is leading the games during the wedding can approach you anytime and you will get involved in the game right away!

Above: Even children get involved in games

20 | Games

After the party Poprawiny

Day after the wedding all the guests meet again in the same location where the wedding party happened and they celebrate the newlyweds again starting with right after the breakfast. However, some guests, skip that part because of painful hangover or they join a little bit later in the afternoon. This day does not have any games and it’s all about eating and drinking. The traditional chicken soup is great for hangovers and it’s always served at every Poprawiny.

After the party | 21

Chapter 3

HOLIDAYS

Poland celebrates 11 public holidays where people do not work and get paid. Christmas holidays last three days and Easter holiday last two days.

The Independence Day in Poland is November 11 and the National Flag Day is May 2nd.

INTERESTING FACT: One minute of silence- Warsaw Uprising is a very important moment in Poles everyday routine. It happens on August 1st where everyone stops for a minute. The whole city freeze and the alarm sounds across the city of Warsaw to honor the memory of the fallen men, women and children who died fighting the Nazis.

Marzenna Pac Dressmaker London, England

Right: The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw.

22 | Holidays

Holidays | 23

Christmas Eve Wigilia

Christmas in Poles homes is a very busy and time consuming period where the preparation for this season starts a month before Christmas on Advent, which marks the beginning of the liturgical year. During this time, people avoid excess in eating and entertainment and try to focus on the meaning of Christmas as it approaches. Special masses are held during this time to remember the announcement of the Virgin Birth to Mary. Houses are also cleaned to get ready for the coming day.

Christmas Eve Dinner is the most important day during the season.

Traditionally, Poles start dinner with sharing Oplatek- Christmas wafer that everyone goes around the room takes a piece and shares the wishes individually and shares the hope for a new year. The wafer has a picture of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and it shared until it’s all gone. There will be 12 dishes on the table,

24 | Christmas Eve

which is supposed to give good luck for the 12 months ahead, and you are expected to at least sample all 12. After the dinner it’s time to open the presents.

Poles open the presents on the 24th. At midnight Poles go to the church to attend Christmas mass. Christmas mass is a beautiful event because the church is nicely decorated and people sing carols most of the mass.

FUN FACT: People go to the church at midnight on December 24 to celebrate Pasterka. A close translation of the name would be the “Shepherds’ Mass”, in reference to the Biblical shepherds, who were visited by an angel and told of the birth of Christ. People sings carols and have a special mass dedicated to Christmas Eve.

Below: Christmas Eve dinner always starts with Borscht soup.

Christmas Eve | 25

Christmas food Potrawy

Christmas season in Polish homes is a very busy and time consuming season where the preparation starts a month before Christmas. It is an Advent period where people avoid eating too much and they do not party. They focus on the meaning of Christmas as it approaches. Special masses are held during this time to remember the announcement of the Virgin Birth to Mary. This season is all about spending time with a family preparing for Christmas, cleaning, cooking and decorating the house.

Below: Pirogies from scratch are time consuming dish to make but they taste so delicious and they can be made with cheese, potatoes, meat, cabbage or even fruits.

26 | Christmas food

St. Nicholas Mikołajki

On December 6th kids leave their clean shoes at the front door and Święty Mikołaj (St. Nicholas) comes with presents. Usually there are small presents that you can fit inside the shoes. Kids now they have to behave good in order to get the gifts and this usually happens in the morning when they are still asleep.

Of course parents are the ones putting the presents but children think that’s St. Nicholas who represents Christmas spirit to children. The actual St. Nicholas was revered because of his compassion and love for orphans whom he often comforted with little gifts.

Above: St. Nicholas mostly brings small presents and money that can fit in everyone shoes.

St. Nicholas | 27

Easter

Wielkanoc Easter in Poland is celebrated according to the Western Roman Catholic calendar. Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. It is usual for both modern and conservative families to partake in the celebrations, regardless of what their religious beliefs may be.

28 | Easter

“ Easter is a national public holiday and Poles are not working on that Sunday and Monday.

Easter is mostly about eating and spending time with the family and friends.”

- Marzenna Pac

Easter | 29

Easter basket Koszyczek

Easter Saturday Poles prepare basket full of goodies and take it to the church to have it blessed by a priest so they can eat it on Sunday morning. The basket goodies are: • Eggs- indicates new life and Christ’s Resurrection from the tomb • Smoked bacon- A symbol of the overabundance of God’s mercy and generosity • Salt- A necessary element in our physical life. Symbolic of prosperity and justice and to remind us that people are the flavor of the earth • Ham- Symbolic of great joy and abundance. Some prefer lamb or veal • The lamb reminds Christians that the Risen Christ is the “Lamb of God” • Easter bread (Babka)- A round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life • Horseradish - Symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds • Butter- This dairy product is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny) or a cross. This reminds us of the good will of Christ that we should have towards all things • Sausage- A sausage product, symbolic of God’s favor and generosity • Candle- Represents Christ as the Light of the World

30 | Easter basket

Above: Traditional Easter basket that Poles take to the church to be blessed on Easter morning.

Easter basket | 31

Wet Monday Śmigus-Dyngus

Śmigus-Dyngus also known as Lany Poniedzialek (Wet Monday) is a fun tradition that involves people throwing copious amounts of water at each other. The tradition most likely goes back to the 14th century, but it likely also has pre-Christian origins connected to the March equinox and the coming of spring – water being a symbol of life and renewal. Wet Monday takes place annually on Easter Monday. It is a fun tradition not only for kids but for adults as well. People do not work that day and they enjoy family and friends. It happens all of the country and the way to survive this day is just to enjoy it!

There are water competitions, water fights and everyone is at risk getting wet so make sure you do not carry electronic with you!

32 | Wet Monday

Above: For most kids Wet Monday is the favorite tradition because they are allowed to do water fights and no one can get mad for getting wet.

FUN FACT: Sometimes, the girls and their beds are dragged onto the streets and rivers to get soaked even further. In some instances, there is a bath tub already set up for this purpose!

Wet Monday | 33

Chapter 4

RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS

Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe and there are many religious traditions Poles like to follow. There is no official religion in Poland and the freedom of religion are guaranteed by the Constitution.

However, 92% population in Poland are Catholics.

Justyna Midas Internal Audit Manager Leesburg, USA

Right: Poles light up the candles on the graveyard to remember their loved ones.

At night time it looks beautiful when all the candles are lighting up.

34 | Religious customs

All Saint’s Day Zaduszki

November 1st is a day when Poland go to cemeteries and remember these that passed away. Throughout Poland, cemeteries glow with lights. It is a very important holiday and people from all over Poland travel to their homes to be with their families and gather together at the graveyards. The priest goes around the cemeteries and everyone pries together for their loved ones. During that day people do not work and there is usually heavy traffic everywhere because Poles try to get to their families to be together that day.

Inside the big cities, like Warsaw or Krakow, it might be possible that the public transportation might change due to the amount of people that is visiting the cemeteries. All Saints’ Day might be seen as a sad day but foreigners when you compare to Halloween in USA. However, it is a beautiful day because families get together and have stories about these that passed away remembering them.

However, it’s always sad to see the memorial that has no visitors and no candles so many Poles just put a candle in that places and have a prayer for these people that passed away. Everyone deserves a prayer and a candle especially on day like Zaduszki.

Religious customs | 35

St. Andrew’s Day Andrzejki

Andrzejki is a celebration like any other where there is a lot of food and drinking. It is a last day before lent (Christmas lent, not the Easter one), therefore people eat and drink as much as they can. Also, it is a last weekend where Poles can party so most of the clubs offer special Andrzejki party where you not only dance but have your future foretold. Predicting future during Andrzejki is a must! You can do that not only at the club but many Poles do house party and they predict the future by heating wax and then dropping it into cold water – preferably through the hole of an old skeleton key. The resulting lumps are then held up into the light, producing a shadow that demands careful examination. Here, only the imagination sets the boundaries, and all kinds of predictions for the future can be made.

36 | St. Andrew’s Day

St. Andrew’s Day | 37

Three Kings Day Trzech Króli

It’s always on January 6th marks the end of the Christmas season. Three Kings honors Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, the three wise men who visited Jesus at his birth. There is always a parade where people are dressed up as three kings and they carol and have some goodies like candies and pastries. Children are dressed in colors signifying Asia, Africa and Europe (the respective homelands of the wise men). Poles write on their doors “K + M + B” and the priest come to their house to bless their place and protect the family from sickness and misfortune foe that year.

FUN FACT: Some Poles avoid Priest coming to their house knowing what they he could come by so they go out on purpose leaving the house empty.

38 | Three Kings Day

“In the procession Poles walk through the streets of towns and villages behind the Star of Bethlehem. Participants get a booklet of Christmas carols and paper crowns and they sing carols as they walk. This is a beautiful custom because Poles gather together and the Christmas season last longer.”

- Justyna Midas

Three Kings Day | 39

Chapter 5

UNIQUE CUSTOMS

Poland is a country with a thousand year history and rich traditions.

Despite being at the heart of much destruction during World War II, it has kept much of its cultural heritage remarkably intact. Poles like to keep the traditions and customs even living abroad.

FUN FACT: The Polish alphabet has 32 letters, nine of which are unique. The additional letters are: Ą, Ć, Ę, Ł, Ń, Ó, Ś, Ź, Ż. Polish also features a few curiosities, like its digraphs CH, CZ, DZ, DŹ, DŻ, RZ, SZ, and even one trigraph: DZI. This adds up to a total of 17 letters and letter combinations unknown to English speakers. How fun is that?!

Ewa Maryniak Vet Leesburg, USA

40 | Unique customs

100 Years 100 lat

Polish Happy Birthday song is not only sang at birthday parties but also weddings and anniversaries.

Birthday song lyrics: 100 years! 100 years!

They live among us!

100 years! 100 years!

They live among us!

Again, again! They live among us!

Live among us!

That for him the star of happiness never goes out, never goes out!

And those who do not drink with us, as lightning strikes!

And those who do not drink with us, as lightning strikes!

100 years, 100 years, 100 years, 100 years live among us!

100 years, 100 years, 100 years, 100 years live among us!

Live among us! Live among us!

In health, happiness, and the happiness he lives among us.

Poles like to celebrate their birthdays by having fire pit in the country side and drink mostly beer. Drinking age in Poland is 18 years old but most teenagers start partying and drinking at age of 14 years old. However, they are always save and never drive and drink. In Poland you are not allowed to have even sip of alcohol and drive a car. Poles are very particular and safe when they drink and never drive.

Unique customs | 41

Ice sailing Giżycko

The Great Masurian Lakes are attractive not only in summer. In winter it’s one of the coldest regions in Poland. The lakes are very often frozen from December to the end of April. This provides excellent conditions for ice-sailing which has a long tradition in Masuria. Many world-famous ice-sailors started here their career. The lakes surrounding Gizycko are place, where ice-boat championship are organized almost every weekend. It’s here where Poland’s Ice-boat Championships take place every year since 1951. Local travel agencies offer a variety of courses for those interested in ice-boating.

Moreover, the frozen lakes are a real paradise for all those, who are fond of fishing under ice. Also picturesque winter landscapes deserve to be highly recommended. This is a great opportunity to cross-country skiing and enjoying the close contact to the heart of the Mother Nature. An unforgettable experience would be also to take a part in sleigh ride that usually finish with picnics. We also propose amateurs of underwater adventures diving under ice, providing unusual impressions. In winter the water is incredibly clear, the visibility is coming up even to 20 meters (7 inches).

Below: Skate blades are made of iron or steel with sharpened edges, which hold onto the ice, preventing slippage sideways from the lateral force of the wind.

42 | Ice sailing

“Ice sailing is an experience that you will never forget! It’s something unique that if you are in northern Poland at winter time you must try it.

There are not many places that offer this sport and even if this is your first time you can always hire a professional to sail with you.”

- Ewa Maryniak

Ice sailing | 43

Above: The ice thickness is about 7 inches (20 cm) that is safe to sail and drive an ATV vehicle.

44 | Ice sailing

Ice sailing | 45

Ice swimming Morsy

Cold water helps to boost the white blood cell count because the body is forced to react to changing conditions. Over time, your body becomes better at activating its defenses. Cold water swimming activates endorphins. This chemical is what the brain produces to make us feel good during activities.

These are the main reasons Poles dare to jump in the frozen lake. It’s exiting and fun but it takes practice and preparation to stay in the water even for few minutes. Every year more Poles decides to jump in the frozen lake and every year this becomes more as a “tradition” and a festival where afterwords there is a fire pit and winter celebration.

46 | Ice swimming

Above: Specially cut whole in the lake for Poles to jump in and enjoy the cold water.

FUN FACT: It’s important not to get the hands wet because automatically the whole body gets even colder and it’s hard to last even a minute.

Ice swimming | 47

Sleight ride Kulig

A horse drawn sleigh ride, is an old Polish tradition, dating back to the times of nobility (szlachta). It involves riding the sleigh, which is pulled by a pair of horses through the snow. There are still places where people get pulled by the horse (as a tourist attraction) by Poles in the country side use tractor to do that.

After the sleight ride there is usually a fire fit with sausages and just enjoying the family and friends.

48 | Sleight ride

Above: Sleds dragged by the tractor is a common winter fun in the country side.

Above: After the sleigh ride Poles like to have a fire pit and sausages is a must dish to have.

Sleight ride | 49

Fat Thursday Tłusty Czwartek

Thursday, February 24th is a day where you will smell doughnuts everywhere you go in Poland because Poles like to make it from scratch. Fat Thursday is a day linked to the church calendar because February 24th is a last day where Poles can eat lots of fatty, sugary food and drink alcohol before Lent. However, not all Poles are follow the six- week Lent period and they still eat meat and drink alcohol.

Below: Most donuts are with jam or jelly that is made from fruits.

50 | Fat Thursday

Sandwiches Kanapki

When you think about a sandwich you image two slices of bread with something between, right? In Poland a sandwich is made with one slice of bread and it’s open. Always just one slice! Polish people like to eat kanapki for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

FUN FACT: Ketchup is Poles favorite sauce. They put it on sandwiches, pizza and dip the sausages in it!

Above: The topics on the bread vary from people’s taste buds.

Sandwiches | 51

Name Day Imieniny

Poles celebrate name day just like they celebrate birthdays. For example, on May 15th, every girls with the name Anna celebrates her name day. They usually throw a small party or just have a cake with family and of course there are presents just like any other birthday.

FUN FACT: You can find announcement who’s name day at the metro station or bus stop and every calendar has it too.

52 | Name Day

Above: An example of a greeting card. It says “Best wishes on your name day”. You can find greeting cards like that in every store.

Name Day | 53

Student Festival Juwenalia

Students in every Polish academic city celebrate Juwenalia each May before the exam session. The city turns into a big party where Poles dance on the streets because there are concerts and parades where students wear their college colors. The tradition goes back to the 15th century! Poles celebrate by having games, beer-drinking competitions and dancing.

FUN FACT: Every year there is a different costume theme (military, animals, pirates, Disney and so on) and students like to dress up to be a part of the competition. If they do not dress up they just wear their university colors.

54 | Student Festival

Student Festival | 55

Harvest Festival Dożynki

It is an important annual festival for Poles living on the country side. The reward for hard labor days after the crops had been harvested is a day full of celebration involving eating, drinking and dancing. It starts with Mass, followed by a harvest procession to the Manor House. Poles are wearing traditional costumes of the region and the priest of the local church blesses the food to be consumed. There are performances such as dancing and singing by the local folk dance groups. Dożynki reminds Poles that there is connection to the land to nature itself. Dożynki festival vary from region to region throughout the whole country.

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Above: During Dożynki you will see many interesting “sculptures” made from the straw.

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Polish costume Strój ludowy

Polish traditional costumes are full of colors and hand made patters. The dominant color is red as a color of the flag. The costumes’ pattern can vary depends on the region. However, most of them have long shirts, beads and girls wear wreath and boys wear a hat. Most clothes are made by local artist that pay attention to every detail when working on costumes. Clothes are not worn in every day activities but only on special occasions like a folk festival to promote Polish traditional culture.

Nowadays, many fashion designers mixes folk pattern with modern clothes. For example, an every day skirt can have a traditional pattern that can be worn on 58 | Polish costumes

Above: The Polish Folk group from Baltimore that comes every June to Washington DC and gives an excellent performance celebrating beginning of spring. There are kids involved in the traditional Polish dance as well as adults.

every occasion. This is mostly popular abroad where Poles miss their roots and want to connect with Poland by wearing something that reminds them home.

FUN FACT: Women’s costume can cost between $800 and $1,000. The price is high because they are handmade by local artists.

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THE POLISH WAY GUIDE TO POLISH CULTURE

Poland may not be the most obvious choice for travel, but there are so many reasons to explore this incredible country and learn about the culture. You may already know a lot about Poland or you may know nothing at all, but either way, this book is to help you find out how fun and interesting this place is and encourage you to visit.

Adriana Blindu offers a rare glimpse into Polish culture thought her own experience.

Born and raised in Poland she moved to United States after graduating from high school to start her new life in America.

She is a Graphic Designer and UX/UI Designer who strives to build experiences that add value to users’ lives. She wrote this book to show the readers how beautiful and fun Poland is and she hopes you will enjoy the stories she has to offer.