Polish Polish national national symbolsymbolss

AnthemAnthemMazurek Dąbrowskiego Mazurek Dąbrowskiego ("Dąbrowski's Mazurek" ) is the ("Dąbrowski's Mazurek" ) is the national anthem of Poland. It is national anthem of Poland. It is also known by its original title, also known by its original title, Pieśń Legionów Polskich we Pieśń Legionów Polskich we Włoszech Włoszech

(„The Song of the Polish Legions („The Song of the Polish Legions in Italy” )in Italy” )

Flag of Flag of PolandPolandThe flag of Poland consists of two horizontal The flag of Poland consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width, the upper one white stripes of equal width, the upper one white and the lower one red. The two colors are and the lower one red. The two colors are defined in the Polish constitution as the defined in the Polish constitution as the national colors. A variant of the flag with the national colors. A variant of the flag with the national national national symbols national symbols in the middle of the in the middle of the white stripe is legally reserved for official use white stripe is legally reserved for official use abroad and at sea. abroad and at sea.

The The Polish Polish EmbleEmblemm

It presents a It presents a white eagle white eagle with a golden with a golden beak and beak and claws, claws, wearing a wearing a golden crown. golden crown. The eagle is The eagle is on a red on a red shield.shield.

Public Holiday Public Holiday 3 May 3 May

3 May is 3 May is Constitution Day Constitution Day

in Poland and in Poland and marks the signing marks the signing

of the Polish of the Polish Constitution on Constitution on

this date in 1791.this date in 1791.

National National Independence Independence

DayDay Polish Independence Polish Independence Day, celebrated on Day, celebrated on November the 11th, November the 11th, marks the restoration marks the restoration of Poland's of Poland's independence in 1918. independence in 1918. After 123 years of After 123 years of partitions Poland partitions Poland reappeared on the reappeared on the map of Europe as a map of Europe as a sovereign democratic sovereign democratic state.state.

EasterEaster EasterEaster is the most important annual religious feast in the is the most important annual religious feast in the

Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected after the death on the third day since Jesus was resurrected after the death on the third day since his crucifixionhis crucifixion. . Christians celebrate this resurrection on Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter DayEaster Day or or Easter SundayEaster Sunday (also (also Resurrection DayResurrection Day or or Resurrection SundayResurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday and ), two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday. Easter also refers to the three days after Maundy Thursday. Easter also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension Day but now officially days from Easter Day until Ascension Day but now officially lasts for the fifty days until Pentecost. The first week of the lasts for the fifty days until Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of Easter. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance.fasting, prayer, and penance.

EasterEaster

The oldest and the most important The oldest and the most important Christian holiday commemorating Christian holiday commemorating rising after the death of Jesus Christ.rising after the death of Jesus Christ.

Easter CustomsEaster Customs „„Blessing Basket„Blessing Basket„

The "blessing basket" is one of the unique Easter traditions in Poland. The blessing basket is The "blessing basket" is one of the unique Easter traditions in Poland. The blessing basket is prepared prepared onon Saturday before Easter Sunday. The basket, stashed with colo Saturday before Easter Sunday. The basket, stashed with colouured eggs, bread, red eggs, bread, cake, saltcake, salt, ham , ham and white colored sausages, is taken to the church to and white colored sausages, is taken to the church to bebe blessed blessed by the priest by the priest..

Easter SundayEaster SundayThe family breakfast on Easter Sunday morning is an important part of Polish Easter The family breakfast on Easter Sunday morning is an important part of Polish Easter celebration. celebration. People share food from the „blessing basket” but before eating it People share food from the „blessing basket” but before eating it each of the each of the participants wishes the others of the family good luck and happiness. The table is decorated participants wishes the others of the family good luck and happiness. The table is decorated with green leaves and a sugar lamb may be placed as a centre-piece. with green leaves and a sugar lamb may be placed as a centre-piece.

Smingus DyngusSmingus DyngusAAnother traditional ritual is Dyngus or Smingus Dyngus, celebrated on the first Monday after nother traditional ritual is Dyngus or Smingus Dyngus, celebrated on the first Monday after Easter. On this day boys roam around the neighborhood to sprinkle girls with water. This Easter. On this day boys roam around the neighborhood to sprinkle girls with water. This custom of watering has its roots in pagan traditions since the pouring of water is an ancient custom of watering has its roots in pagan traditions since the pouring of water is an ancient spring symbol of cleansing and purification. Easter Monday has also been celebrated as spring symbol of cleansing and purification. Easter Monday has also been celebrated as "Switching Day" because on this day boys switch girls with a small willow branch. So, apart "Switching Day" because on this day boys switch girls with a small willow branch. So, apart from the regular Easter norms, the special rituals of Easter make it unique in Poland.from the regular Easter norms, the special rituals of Easter make it unique in Poland.

ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmas also referred to as also referred to as Christmas DayChristmas Day, is , is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazarethcommemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth

Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, Church celebrations, and the display of various Church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. Santa Claus is mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. Santa Claus is a popular a popular mythological figure often mythological figure often associated with associated with bringing gifts atbringing gifts at Christmas for children. Christmas for children.

SymbolsSymbolsIn the Christian tradition it is a holiday In the Christian tradition it is a holiday commemorating the birth of the Jesus commemorating the birth of the Jesus

Christ.Christ.

They are typical attributes :

Wafer Christmas tree

Presents

Christmas EveChristmas EveIn Poland the traditional Christmas In Poland the traditional Christmas suppersupper is known as is known as WigiliaWigilia

and being invited to attend and being invited to attend this special supperthis special supper with a with a family is considered a high honour. Before eating everyone family is considered a high honour. Before eating everyone exchanges Christmas greetings with each other by giving a exchanges Christmas greetings with each other by giving a piece of Christmas wafer (piece of Christmas wafer (OpłatOpłatekek), usually stamped with a ), usually stamped with a religious image, such as the Nativity scene. There is a religious image, such as the Nativity scene. There is a tradition of having 12 tradition of having 12 LLenten (meatless) dishes. One has to enten (meatless) dishes. One has to try every single dish to avoid bad luck next year. Dishes try every single dish to avoid bad luck next year. Dishes are usually fish based, with carp being very important in are usually fish based, with carp being very important in Poland.Poland. People also eat red borsch or mushroom soup, People also eat red borsch or mushroom soup, cabbage with peas, poppy-seed cake and many other cabbage with peas, poppy-seed cake and many other dishes.dishes. After the dinner children unpack presents from After the dinner children unpack presents from under the Christmas Tree. Later people attend Midnight under the Christmas Tree. Later people attend Midnight Mass to solemnly celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.Mass to solemnly celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

CarnivalCarnival From 1 January in From 1 January in

Poland starts Poland starts Carnival. In Carnival. In thisthis time time people have fun, people have fun, dance and dance and organizeorganize parties, very often parties, very often fancy-dress parties.fancy-dress parties.

WeddingWedding

Celebration in PolandCelebration in Poland TThe celebrations he celebrations ofof Polish weddings may Polish weddings may lastlast

for two or three days. In the past, the for two or three days. In the past, the engagement ceremony was organized by the engagement ceremony was organized by the future groom as a formal family gathering, future groom as a formal family gathering, during which he asked his chosen lady to marry during which he asked his chosen lady to marry him. In the recent years this custom has him. In the recent years this custom has changed and today an engagement is much changed and today an engagement is much more personal and intimate. An elegant dinner more personal and intimate. An elegant dinner party afterwards is still a nice way to inform the party afterwards is still a nice way to inform the closest family members about the couples' closest family members about the couples' decision to get married.decision to get married.

Typical Polish Wedding Typical Polish Wedding Typical Polish wedding is on Saturday and for her it starts much Typical Polish wedding is on Saturday and for her it starts much earlier than for him. The gates of her yard are dressed in flowers, earlier than for him. The gates of her yard are dressed in flowers, ribbons, blotting paper so the fiancé and guests could find where ribbons, blotting paper so the fiancé and guests could find where the fiancée lives. There is also tradition, that members of her the fiancée lives. There is also tradition, that members of her family build the closure on the road so the fiancé could not  easily family build the closure on the road so the fiancé could not  easily get to this house. In such cases, he has somehow to pay for get to this house. In such cases, he has somehow to pay for unblocking the crossing. Typical  „coin” is the bottle of vodka. unblocking the crossing. Typical  „coin” is the bottle of vodka. Parents give their blessing for the Parents give their blessing for the young coupleyoung couple and they all go to and they all go to church. The ceremony takes 0,5-1 hour, than congratulations and church. The ceremony takes 0,5-1 hour, than congratulations and guests throw riguests throw ricce or coins on bride and bridegroom. Lately pictures e or coins on bride and bridegroom. Lately pictures of newly-married couple of newly-married couple in parks, gardens, forests in parks, gardens, forests have have becbecoome me very popular. Now "the fresh husband" (newly married husband) very popular. Now "the fresh husband" (newly married husband) takes his wife on takes his wife on hishis hands and carry hands and carry her her to the chamber where the to the chamber where the party can be started. The party takes usually more less 10 hours party can be started. The party takes usually more less 10 hours and there are around 100 guests. There is a lot of food (warm and and there are around 100 guests. There is a lot of food (warm and cold), cakes, fruits and alcohol on the tables. The chamber is cold), cakes, fruits and alcohol on the tables. The chamber is beautifully decorated. And the most important thing is the music. beautifully decorated. And the most important thing is the music. On the typical polish wedding party the group of around 4 people On the typical polish wedding party the group of around 4 people plays and sings many kinds of songs in different languages and plays and sings many kinds of songs in different languages and tempo, so each guest could find something for himself.tempo, so each guest could find something for himself.

OczepinyOczepiny One of the characteristic One of the characteristic customscustoms isis „oczepiny”. „oczepiny”. ItIt take takess

place at midnight. The place at midnight. The young coupleyoung couple sits down at the sits down at the centre of the chamber, and the music group is singing centre of the chamber, and the music group is singing the funny song about losing freedom and virginity, the funny song about losing freedom and virginity, losing the children by the parents, future house works losing the children by the parents, future house works and kids, etc. As they sing that the bridal pair is no and kids, etc. As they sing that the bridal pair is no longer free the bridesmaid takes off the bride’s veil and longer free the bridesmaid takes off the bride’s veil and the the best man takes off the best man takes off the bridegroom’s tie. Then all bridegroom’s tie. Then all unmarried girls are gathering around the bride, she unmarried girls are gathering around the bride, she closes her eyes and throwcloses her eyes and throwss the veil. The girl who the veil. The girl who catches it, will get married soon. The bridegroom does catches it, will get married soon. The bridegroom does the same with his tie and the unmarried boys. Ththe same with his tie and the unmarried boys. Theen the n the new pair is dressed in new pair is dressed in thethe things things they caught they caught till the till the end of the wedding party and has to dance together or end of the wedding party and has to dance together or do some funny thingsdo some funny things..

Typical Typical Polish Polish DishesDishes

BigosBigos

Bigos is a typical polish meal, Bigos is a typical polish meal, made of made of different kinds of meat different kinds of meat (po(porrk, sausage, bacon)k, sausage, bacon). . It's very It's very easy to prepare it because you easy to prepare it because you only put all ingredients to one only put all ingredients to one pot and you simmer thempot and you simmer them for a for a few hoursfew hours..

PierogiPierogi

Pierogi are boiled dumplings made of unleavened dough stuffed with various ingredients (for example minced meat, cabbage, mushrooms, cottage cheese or fruit). They are usually semicircular. They are very delicious and a lot of people eat it quite frequently.

Kotlet Kotlet schabowyschabowy

Kotlet schabowy is a popular and Kotlet schabowy is a popular and traditional meat meal in Poland. traditional meat meal in Poland. It is made of pork meat, eggs It is made of pork meat, eggs and crumbs and crumbs and it is usually friedand it is usually fried on oil and served with potatoes on oil and served with potatoes and salad. It's very tasty and and salad. It's very tasty and nutritious.nutritious.

Polish Noble PrizewinnersPolish Noble Prizewinners

Maria Skłodowska CurieWisława Szymborska

Czesław MiłoszHenryk Sienkiewicz

Lech Wałęsa

Władysław Reymont