Drowning of Marzanna The tradition of burning or drowning an effigy of Marzanna to celebrate the end of winter is a folk custom that survives in Poland. Typically taking place on the day of the the rite involves setting fire to a female straw effigy, drowning it in a river, or both. In Poland, this is often performed during a spring equinox trip by children in kindergartens and primary schools. The effigy can range in size from a puppet to a life-size dummy. This ritual represents the end of the dark days of winter, the victory over death, and the welcoming of the spring rebirth. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

Smigus Dingus Dyngus Day or Wet Monday ( Polish Śmigus-Dyngus or lany poniedziałek ) is the name for Easter Monday in Poland. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Orthodox cultures. In Poland traditionally, early in the morning boys awake girls by pouring a bucket of water on their heads. Dyngus Day or Wet Monday ( Polish Śmigus-Dyngus or lany poniedziałek ) is the name for Easter Monday in Poland. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Orthodox cultures. In Poland traditionally, early in the morning boys awake girls by pouring a bucket of water on their heads. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

Pisanki Pisanka is a common name for an egg ornamented using various techniques. Pisanki are now considered to symbolise the revival of nature and the hope that Christians gain from faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the past, only women decorated eggs. Men were not allowed to come inside the house during the process, as it was believed that could put a spell on the eggs, and cause bad luck. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

One of traditional Polish dance Krakowiak One of traditional Polish dance Krakowiak The Krakowiak, sometimes referred to as the Pecker Dance, is a fast, syncopated Polish dance in duple time from the region of Krakow. The first Krakowiak appeared in Franciszek Mirecki's album for the piano, "Krakowiaks Offered to the Women of Poland" (Warsaw, 1816). Frederic Chopin produced a bravura concert krakowiak in his Grand Rondeau de Concert Rondo á la Krakowiak in F major for piano and orchestra (op. 14, 1828). Created by Jakub Ilczuk

St. Andrew's Day In Poland superstitious people believe that the night before St. Andrew's Day is specially suitable for magic that reveals a young woman's future husband or that binds a future husband to her. In Poland in this day people usually pours hot wax from the candle through a key hole into cold water. Let me describe the rituals that I remember: preparing pieces of paper with male first names on the edges of the bowl - the bowl is filled with water with a candle floating in the middle of the bowl. The first burn paper piece indicates the name of the future husband. Another ritual - three cups flipped upside down to cover marriage ring, small cross and a piece of green plant - girls are choosing one cup and it indicate their future fate- the ring of course signify the marriage, cross - life as a nun in monastery and the green plant is predicting the unmarried life. Sometimes the small doll was placed under the cap - a symbol of the illegitimate child. And lot of tradition associated with this day. In Poland superstitious people believe that the night before St. Andrew's Day is specially suitable for magic that reveals a young woman's future husband or that binds a future husband to her. In Poland in this day people usually pours hot wax from the candle through a key hole into cold water. Let me describe the rituals that I remember: preparing pieces of paper with male first names on the edges of the bowl - the bowl is filled with water with a candle floating in the middle of the bowl. The first burn paper piece indicates the name of the future husband. Another ritual - three cups flipped upside down to cover marriage ring, small cross and a piece of green plant - girls are choosing one cup and it indicate their future fate- the ring of course signify the marriage, cross - life as a nun in monastery and the green plant is predicting the unmarried life. Sometimes the small doll was placed under the cap - a symbol of the illegitimate child. And lot of tradition associated with this day. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

Sobótka The name "Sobótka" originated from Saturday (Polish "sobota"). During an early summer, usually on Saturdays people gather at a fire, jump through the fire, sing songs, dance and have lots of fun. There was also some magic involved in these rituals. This was probably originally a feast celebrating a Sun as a source of light and warmth. This ceremony took place around the shortest night of the year. Sometimes girls sprout wreath to the water. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

This day has a rich tradition of Easter palm. In particular, this custom was preserved in some parts of Poland where annual competitions are held on the longest and most beautiful made ​​ palm. Palm trees reach the height of several meters and must stand alone. Made of wicker, may not contain any metal parts. They are decorated with flowers and paper. On Palm Sunday people go to churches with their palms and then they keep them in their homes. Niedziela Palmowa – Palm Sunday Created by Jakub Ilczuk

People in Poland are doing this soup with grated cucumber into pieces cooked by them a long time. At the end of the cooking into soup is added cream. Here it is. Polish soups Ogórkowa – Cucumber Soup Żurek – Sour Barley Soup Sour (sour, acidic soup Mealy) - a soup made ​​ with leaven of flour having a characteristic acidic taste. Specialty regional Polish cuisine. Sometimes whitened with milk or prepared in connection with a brew from the bones and vegetables, made ​​ with dried mushrooms. The best soups are cooked with sausage, smoked bacon, pork, ribs, pig tails, also on the rest of broth after cooking the ham, or white sausages. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

Main dishes Pierogi The word "pierogi" means a dish made ​​ of dough boiled, baked or fried in deep fat, rolled thin and filled with various fillings. In Poland, as the most common fillings: meat, sauerkraut and mushrooms, seasonal fruits (blueberries, strawberries, etc.), buckwheat, cream cheese - a sweet or with boiled potatoes and cottage cheese with fried onions. Bigos Bigos - a traditional Polish dish. There are many ways of preparing stew and its variants. All are based on these same basic ingredients, differing only in certain additives and their order of addition. The basic components of an old Polish stew is finely chopped sauerkraut, fresh cabbage (sometimes used only sauerkraut), various species of meat and meat products, dried mushrooms, prunes, onions and spices. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

Desserts Makowiec The poppy-seed cake or a poppyseed loaf – cake (most often yeast, more rarely brittle) wrapped up with mass from the poppy or with poppy mass on the sponge cake. The poppy to mass is being rinsed and he is stinging or he is wetting for the night, and then briefly he is cooking for a few minutes all the way to the softness. They had the cooked and drained poppy oneself (twice, not to say three times) in a meat mincer through the sieve about smallest okach or is grating in makutrze. Walnuts thickly chopped up are being added to poppy mass, almonds, (soaked, entire) raisins and the candied orange peel or other nuts and dried fruit as used in cooking and honey. The baked cake is pouring over itself with the icing and if necessary he is decorating with the poppyseed or little pieces of the fried orange peel. Created by Jakub Ilczuk