From Poland's Living Folk Culture. A richly illustrated book featuring many facets of Poland's folk culture. The book is divided into five sections,....
First printed in 1953, this book is a collection of 220 familiar Polish songs with a musical score for voice and piano accompaniment. Included in this book are folk songs for group singing; solos, and quartet...
Polish Art Collections in America - Kolekcje Sztuki Polskiej w Ameryce Pictures by Czesław Czapliński Editor: Aleksandra Rudalska, Jessica Taylor-Kucia Translator: Monika Myszkiewicz...
The holidays are approaching, yet you still don't know about Poland's holiday traditions? This handy introductory guide to Polish holidays provides just enough factual information to keep you informed, while presenting it all in an easy to digest packet. Contained within is information, pictures, recipes,...
"Pysanky in the 21st Century" is a unique book that puts a new spin on the traditional folk art of Ukrainian Pysanky (Easter Eggs). During each century, traditions evolve, change, and expand. While sticking to the foundation of the folk art, Helen Badulak...
As coloring books and the application of artistic media can assist to motivate children's understanding of concepts, this coloring book in the Polish Language, Wielkanocne Pisanki - Easter Eggs will help children become familiar with Easter traditions in Poland....
Description: Poland is a beautiful country, rich with history and culture. Don't be fooled by their notorious cold winters, it's only one part of Polish culture and lore. In fact, the people of Poland are warm and welcoming. This calendar features images of famous architectural points of interest, city scenes, a...
In Poland, Christmas Eve (Wigilia) is a day first of fasting, then of feasting. The feast begins with the appearance of the first star, and is followed by the exchange of gifts. The following day is often spent visiting friends. Poland is a land of intriguing traditions, superstitions, and legends. Its people have always combined religion and family closeness at Christmastime. Gift giving plays only a minor role in the rituals, emphasis being placed instead on making special foods and decorations.
Opłatek - Christmas Wafer on a basket. Image courtesy of Julo.
Christmas wafer (Polish: opłatek, plural opłatki; ) is an Eastern European Roman Catholic Christmas tradition celebrated in Polish, Slovak, Lithuanian and Italian families during Wigilia (Christmas Eve Vigil).
The unleavened wafers are baked from pure wheat flour and water, are usually rectangular in shape and very thin; they are identical in composition to the Host used during a Catholic mass. Wafers are embossed with Christmas related religious images, varying from the nativity scene, especially Virgin Mary with baby Jesus, to the Star of Bethlehem.
Family members and friends break off a small piece of the opłatek wafer and give it to one another along with a blessing. Breaking off and exchanging part of opłatek with someone is symbol of forgiveness between two people and is meant to remind participants of the importance of Christmas, God, and family.
A sample blessing can take the form of "I wish you much health, happiness and the Lord's bountiful blessings as well as the fulfilment of all your plans and everything you wish for yourself." or just wishing good grades to a child and good health to your parents. Despite its simplicity, the custom has made its way into countless households which find its rich symbolism an adaptable annual custom of profound meaning.
Szopka krakowska podczas konkursu na najpiękniejszą szopkę na rynku w Krakowie. Image courtesy of Cancre.
Traditionally, pure white opłatek wafers are broken and shared with family, while colored wafers are given to family animals. This symbolizes respect for animals' part in the witness of Christ's birth in Bethlehem (at the stable).
Christmas Carols Polish bear their own tradition and significant features. To collect more information on Christmas Carols Polish pay a visit to our site Christmas Carnivals.
Of Sinking Trees And Rolling Eggs: Christmas Eve Superstitions . Customs to ensure a betrothal or good harvest were a major part of rural Polish Christmas time traditions.
Polish Christmas carols are almost all anonymous, having been composed by the people. Their origins date from the fourteen century, many from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
Wigilia: Traditional and Simplified Eight 3-Course Wigilia Suppers Wigilia Treats A Wigilia Must: Pierogi Fruits and Desserts. All recipes by Polish American Journal’s Polish Chef ...
My Polish family started baking for Christmas around St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. The tasty treats we made were so full of butter and sugar, they theoretically could last until ...
For Poles, Christmas Eve is arguably the most important Roman Catholic holiday of the year and wigilia, or Star Supper, is the main focus. An odd number of courses is served ...
Here can be found: What to see in Poland; cultural events in Poland and abroad; Polish heritage, customs and cuisine; investments advice., Christmas celebrations at Polish schools ...
Christmas in Poland, presented by Polish World, includes links to information about Polish Christmas Carols, food, and more. Polish Christmas Customs from the Polish ...
Unique bilingual CDs of beautiful Polish Christmas Carols: Includes a text booklet with side-by-side Polish and English verses: The perfect gift for your Polish and English ...
Aside from the beautiful Wigilia, the Polish people have a number of other traditions that they practice throughout the Christmas season. Polish Christmas Carols or koledy are ...
Wigilia (Polish pronunciation: ) is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24. The term is also often extended to the whole day of the Christmas Eve ...
Polish pisanka (plural pisanki) is a common name for an egg (usually that of a chicken, although goose or duck eggs are also used) ornamented using various techniques. Originating as a pagan tradition, pisanki were absorbed by Christianity to become the traditional Easter egg. Pisanki now symbolise the revival of nature and the hope that Christians gain from faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
There are various types of pisanki, based on the technique and preparation used. The oldest known Polish pisanki date from the 10th century, although it is probable that eggs were decorated by Slavic peoples even earlier.
In the past, only women decorated eggs. Men were not allowed to come inside the house during the process, as it was believed that they could put a spell on the eggs, and cause bad luck.
Until the 12th century, the Catholic church forbade the consumption of eggs during Easter. The church wished to distance itself from the pagan roots of the tradition connected with the cult of the dead, in which the egg played an important role as a symbol of rebirth. This ban was lifted, but it was necessary to offer a special prayer before eating.
Easter basket according to Polish custom by Marcin Kacper
Today in Poland, eggs and pisanki are hallowed on Easter Saturday along with the traditional Easter basket. On Easter Sunday, before the ceremonial breakfast, these eggs are exchanged and shared among the family at the table. This is a symbol of friendship, similar to the sharing of the Opłatek (Christmas wafer) on Christmas Eve.
POLISH EASTER PAGEANT (widowisko wielkanocne): This presentati on should showcase various aspects of Polish Easter celebrations such as palm-making, Palm Sunday processions ...
Dyed and decorated Easter eggs are called pisanki in Poland. The tradition of egg decorating for Easter goes back centuries. Pisanki can vary by region, just as traditional Polish ...
The practice of coloring Easter eggs is very much alive in Poland today as well as enjoyed by Polish people all over the world. There are several techniques for making pisanki ...
The photographs to the right site show Ukrainian pisanki, the picture to the left shows Polish wydmuszki. If you are interested in purchasing these decorative eggs please e-mail ...
Memories of a Polish Easter. Poland. Polish cuisine. The Global Gourmet features international recipes, cookbook profiles, weekly updates, regular columnists, food news, cooking ...
Polish Easter Customs . Swieconka. Swieconka Scene at St. Stanislaus Church, South Philadelphia, PA. Brief History of St. Stanislaus Church, South Philadelphia, PA
Pisanki Pisanki * "Written" Eggs The name Pisanki comes form the Polish verb pisac, "to write." The eggs are decorated with many traditional Polish symbols ...
Polish Easter Traditions Zapraszamy... Welcome to the Polish Easter Homepage. This Virtual Ethnographic Museum presents the cultural and religious traditions ...
In Polish weddings the celebrations may continue for two or three days. In the past, the engagement ceremony was organized by the future groom as a formal family gathering, during which he asked his chosen lady to marry him. In the recent years this custom has changed and today an engagement is much more personal and intimate. An elegant dinner party afterwards is still a nice way to inform the closest family members about the couples' decision to get married.
In some regions of Poland the tradition to invite the wedding guests in person is still upheld. Many young couples, accompanied by the parents, visit their family and friends to hand them the wedding invitations personally.
According to the old tradition a groom arrives with his parents at the house of a bride just before the wedding ceremony. At that time both parents and parents-in-law give a young couple their blessing. The couple enter the church together and walks up to the altar followed by two witnesses and the parents. In Poland it is quite unusual for the bride to be walked down the aisle or to have bridesmaids and groomsmen in a wedding. The couple is assisted by two witnesses, a man (usually grooms' side) and a woman (usually brides' side) who are either family members or close friends.
The Polish bride traditionally wears a white dress and a veil. The groom, on the other hand usually wears a fitted suit with a bow tie and a boutonnière that matches the brides' bouquet. During the ceremony wedding rings are exchanged and both the husband and wife wear them on their right hand. When they leave the church the guests toss rice or coins at the married couple for good and prosperous future together. Right after the ceremony the closest family and all the guest form a line in the front of the church to congratulate the newlyweds and wish them love and happiness. As soon as the married couple leave the church they get showered with rice for luck or guests drop coins at their feet for them to pick up.
Once all the guests have showered the couple with kisses, hugs and flowers everyone heads to the reception. It is a custom in Poland to prepare "passing gates" on the way to the reception for the newlyweds, who in order to pass have to give the "gate keepers" some vodka. This is a misinterpretation of an earlier tradition, when the "passing gates" were built when the bride was an orphan and money collected by "gate keepers" from the guests was handed over to the bride as her dowry (being orphan implied usually poverty).
The married couple is welcomed at the reception place by the parents with bread and salt. The bread symbolizes the prosperity, salt stands for hardship of life, the parents wish the young couple that they never go hungry and learn how to deal with every day hardships together. The wedding party lasts (and the bride and groom remain) until the last guest leaves, usually until morning.
In Poland, movements like Human Liberties Crusade or Wedding of the Weddings promote non-alcoholic wedding celebrations.
Almost everything on Polish wedding, Polish bride, customs, and wedding traditions and engagement ceremony in Poland. About Polish wedding customs and traditions and Polish brides.
Polish Wedding - Polish Traditions / Customs ... Wedding (Wesele). Polish customs have not changed much during the centuries, but due to the rich variety of many regional ...
Polish Wedding Customs. Marriage in old Poland was at a young age, and it was shameful when a person was of marriageable age and was not spoken for by the time Gromniczna (February ...
POLISH WEDDING CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS By Loretta Sawyer Chicago has the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw, Poland itself. The wedding is one of the most important ...
Polish Weddings: Customs & Traditions. Polish Weddings: Customs & Traditions by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab Polish Weddings: Customs & Traditions contains a wealth of information ...
“Oczepiny” The unveiling of the bride: The unveiling of the bride is one of the oldest and the most important of Polish wedding customs. This tradition is still the mainstay of ...
Sequel to Lulajze Jezuniu and Other Gems of Polish Carols Traditional Polish Christmas Carols performed in Polish and in English. Booklet of bilingual song lyrics included. Charming musical arrangements accompany the vocal performance.
Tracks: 1. Let's All Go to the Stable (Pojdzmy wszyscy do stajenki) 2. In the Night Stillness (Wsrod Nocnej Ciszy) 3. They Came Running to Bethlehem (Przybeizali do Betlejem) 4. Hey Shepherds! Go to Shed (Do szopy, hej pasterze) ....
The most popular Polish carols and pastorals from Poland sung by soloists of the National Opera(Teatr Wielki)from Warsaw, Poland. Archival Recordings (1967)
Performed in the Polish Language: This 5 CD Set is a compilation of 90 Christmas Carols in Polish with a total of more than 260 minutes of recordings performed by Harfa Choir, Hanna Banaszak, Michal Bajor, Boguslaw Mec,...
Paper cutout. Wycinanki (pronounced Vee-chee-non-key) / Polish folk art paper cutouts are known through out the world as a beautiful craft. They have a distinctive look, and ...
Polish Folk Art - Lowicz folk art: paper cut-outs, embroidery, dolls, sculptures, gifts, handicraft, decoration, folk music, decorative art, ethnic art.
The two major styles of wycinanki: Gallery of Lowicz designs; Gallery of Kurpie designs. Wycinanki Paper Cutting (Vee-chin-non-key) Folk paper cutouts called wycinanki originated in the ...
New! Polish Christmas Word Search Puzzle
Print and solve the new Polish Christmas Word search puzzle. Search for words vertically, diagonally, horizontally and backwards. Click here to open a new browser window - use the browser's Print option to print puzzle.
Święto 'Śląska' organizowane przez Zespół Pieśni i Tańca Śląsk. Image courtesy of Tomasz Zakrzewski. Permission by Adam Pastuch - manager of Zespół 'Śląsk'
I’ve told this story many times, how I grew up in a Polish community in the U.S., but was not interested in my heritage, until I saw a performance by the Mazowsze Polish Folk ...
History of Polish Oberek Dancing. Part of the series: Polish Oberek Dance Steps. Oberek dancing is one of the five national Polish dances. Learn more about the history of oberek ...
Aims to sponsor North American Polish folk dance festivals and serve as a central source for folklore information. Includes newsletter, resources, bye laws, and contact details.
A San Francisco Dance Ensemble The Mission of Łowiczanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble is to preserve and present traditional music, song and dance from Poland through the creation ...
Top tracks from Mazowsze: Cyt, cyt, Dwa serduszka & more. The Mazowsze is a traditional Polish folk choir backed by a full orchestra. Mazowsze is internationally recognized as ...
Dolina Polish Folk Dancers is a non profit performing group dedicated to promoting Polish culture through song and dance. Established in 1949, Dolina has been thrilling ...
Oberek Dancing Footwork. Part of the series: Polish Oberek Dance Steps. Footwork is essential in all types of dancing, so learn Polish oberek dance footwork with expert tips in ...
With a repertoire of over 23 different folk dance suites and over 3,000 costumes, the Polish American Folk Dance Company has been preserving Polish dance culture since 1938.
The mazur and mazurek (i.e. small mazur), or in English mazurka, are general terms for a series of Polish folk dances in triple meter, which originated in ...
Since 1985 promoting Polish music worldwide. Library and publishing center devoted to Polish music, with information about Polish composers, competitions, festivals and ...
Kujawiak is a Polish national folk dance that had its origin in the region of Kujawy. Its present name Kujawiak appeared in 19th century. From the very beginning Kujawiak was a ...
Polish Folk Costumes - See examples online ... Polish Costumes. Polish folk costume has been widely recognized as an important part of the heritage of traditional peasant culture.
There are roughly 60 unique costumes attributed to the different areas in Poland, these are just a few. Mountain Region Traditional Costumes are still sometimes worn for Weddings ...
