1. We would like to introduce you to the most popular Polish Traditions and Customs. You will be have a chance to learn something about us and our lifestyle. 2015-11-061

3. This day has a rich tradition of Easter palm. In particular, the custom was preserved in some parts of Poland where annual competitions for the longest and most beautiful palm are held. Palms reach the height of several meters and must stand alone. Made of wicker, they cannot 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.

4. The celebration of Easter is preceded by Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday. During the Great Fast it is customary to participate in special religious observances such as Stations of the Cross, Bitter Lamentations, and an annual three-day retreat which closes with the reception of the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. Good Friday, marks the start of the vigil at symbolic tombs of Christ, which lasts until Holy Saturday. Visits are made to the tombs of Christ. On the next day, Holy Saturday, services accompanied by processions are held to commemorate the Resurrection.

5. Food Blessing is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions. On Saturday people take to churches decorated baskets containing a sampling of traditional food to be blessed: hard-boiled shelled eggs, ham, sausage, salt, horseradish, fruit, bread and cake. Prominently displayed among these is the Easter lamb, usually molded from butter or sugar and colorful Easter eggs. The food has a symbolic meaning: eggs – symbolize life and Christ's resurrection, lamb represents Christ, salt represents purification, horseradish is a symbol of bitter sacrifice of Christ, ham symbolizes great joy and abundance.

7. Pisanka is a common name for an egg ornamented using various techniques. Pisanki are now considered to symbolize the revival of nature and the hope that Christians will gain faith from 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 it could put a spell on the eggs, and cause bad luck.

8. On Easter morning, a special Resurrection Mass is celebrated in every church in Poland. At this Mass, a procession of priests, altar boys and the people circles the church three times while the church bells peal and the organ is played for the first time since they had been silenced on Good Friday. Following the Mass, people return home to eat the food blessed the day before.

9. It will be covered with a white tablecloth. The white tablecloth is indicative of the white swaddling cloth with which Our Lord was wrapped when he was placed in the Holy Sepulcher. In the middle of the table in most homes a housewife will put Easter eggs, cold meats, coils of sausagaes, ham, yeast cakes, pound cakes, poppy-seed cakes, and a lamb made of sugar. Polish Easter Soup called Zurek or White Barszcz is often served at the Easter meal, garnished with the hard-boiled eggs and sausage. There is also tradition to share blessed eggs with the members of the family and wish each other good health, happiness for the rest of the year.

11. Dyngus Day or Wet Monday (Polish Śmigus-Dyngus) 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) 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.

12. The name ‘Sobótka’ originated from the Polish sobota (Saturday). In the early summer, usually on Saturdays, people gather at a fire, jump through it, sing songs, dance and have lots of fun. There was also some magic involved in these rituals. This was probably originally a feast celebrating the Sun as a source of light and warmth. This ceremony took place on the shortest night of the year. Sometimes girls sprout wreaths on the water.

13. In Poland superstitious people believe that the night before St. Andrew's Day is magic and it might reveal a young woman's future husband. Nowadays people usually pour hot wax from the candle through a key hole into cold water. The most popular rituals are: placing pieces of paper with male first names on the edges of the bowl - the bowl is filled with water and a candle is floating in the middle it. The first burnt piece of paper indicates the name of the future husband. Another ritual involves three cups flipped upside down to cover marriage ring, a small cross and a piece of green plant. Girls choose one cup and it indicates their future fate - the ring of course signifies a marriage, the cross - life as a nun in a monastery and a green plant implies unmarried life.

14. There are several beliefs regarding Christmas in Poland that might seem very different for foreigners. On Christmas Eve for dinner (known as Wigilia) traditional foods are ready and brought to the table, everyone anxiously awaits the moment when the first star, known as the star appears in the eastern sky. For that is when the feast to commemorate the birth of the Christ Child begins. Typical dishes include barszcz wigilijny z uszkami (Christmas Eve borscht with mushroom dumplings), carp in aspic, herring (śledzie), meatless cabbage rolls (gołąbki), and noodles with poppy seed. Desserts might include nuts, tangerines, chocolates, makowiec (poppy seed roll), mazurek (a jam-filled flat pastry), piernik (honey-spice cake), pierniczki (gingerbread cookies), kompot (fruit compote), kutia, a kind of gruel with cracked wheat and honey, is also eaten in some parts of Poland on Christmas Eve.

16. Now everybody breaks the traditional wafer and exchanges good wishes for health, wealth and happiness in the New Year. This is such a deeply moving moment that often tears of love and joy are evoked among family members. At midnight on Christmas Eve animals are believed to speak with a human voice. Many people believe that an additional plate on the table is a way to reunite with those who we cannot be with during Christmas dinner. It can be for deceased relatives or friends who supposedly come during Christmas Eve to eat the food with us. On the other hand this symbolic additional seat represents Polish hospitality. No one should be left alone at Christmas, so strangers and also the homeless are welcome to join in the holy meal. This belief derives from the times when Mary and Joseph were looking for shelter.

17. THE END IF YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY YOU MUST COME FOR A VISIT Thank you for your attention