POLISH CUSTOMS

NAME DAY

A name day is one of the traditional celebration in Poland. The origin of this feast can be traced back to the Middle Ages when Catholic names of saints have been in the list of holidays celebrated in commemoration of saints’ lives and martyrs of the church. The church promoted celebration of saints feast day ( nowadays called" name day") over birthdays, as the birthday was seen as a pagan tradition.

Poland has its own list containing the current assignations of names to days. Names appear in almost every Polish calendar.

Name day is a special time for the family and close friends to gather together. Family and friends send special cards, e mails or text messages to the person celebrating their day simply to wish "All the best" and " A hundred years". People who come to the party give flowers and presents.

There are special names which are celebrated by everyone. For instance Saint Andrew. On the day of St. Andrew everyone celebrates this day in a restaurant or they have parties at home. People pour wax and try to guess the future from its shape.

BIRTHDAY

A birthday is the day of a particular month and day on which a person was born. Poles celebrate the first name day after their birthday. Birthday party looks similar to a name day party. Family and friends also send special cards, send messages and e mails. Others come to the party and give the person who is celebrating birthday flowers and presents.

In Poland we specially celebrate first birthday of a child. Baby chooses one thing from a group: money, glass, book, church's book. Chosen gift determines the child’s character. We can guess if he or she will be rich, intelligent or religious in a future.

My mother’s ninetieth birthday Recently my mother celebrated her ninetieth birthday. She has a very big family and we prepared a great surprise for her. Her three daughters, including me, were hosting the birthday reception. We prepared a birthday layer-cake with an inscription: MOTHER – 90 YEARS

We also put a single red rose in a vase on the table as a symbol of love. Four grandchildren have made coloured money-box for small coins for the symbolic sake of peace. Nine great grandchildren had an unusual idea for the birthday gift. They made originally framed photographs: the ones with pink frames from the girls and the blue-framed ones from the boys.

My mother received Holy Communnion and blessing from the priest. At the end of reception she recited Maria Konopnicka’s poem “Christ and children”. This moment was particularly touching for the whole family, as she has known this text all her life!

POLTERABEND Polish wedding custom

Polterabend is one of the wedding customs which is commonly celebrated in the western and northern parts of Poland, especially in Silesia, Wielkopolska and Kaszuby.

The word Polterabend comes from a connection of two German words: verb “poltern” (to make a racket) and noun “Abend” (evening).

Polterabend is mostly celebrated on the evening before the church wedding. It usually takes place in front of the bride’s house. The young couple generally announces the occasion, but does not specifically send out individual invitations. Many couples treat this evening as an opportunity to reward people whom they are unable to invite to the wedding.

The guests should bring glass, porcelain, stoneware or ceramics with themselves. The actual high point of the custom is throwing the objects they have brought onto the ground. It is believed, that broken glass brings luck and happiness to the young couple and the noise chases the bad ghosts away.

The couple must treat their guests to alcohol and something to eat.

They also have to clean up the pile of shards. This is supposed to make the couple aware that they will have to face difficult conditions and situations in life together !!!

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