Polish Traditions, Holidays, Famous People & More

POLISH TRADITIONS, HOLIDAYS, FAMOUS PEOPLE & MORE

POLISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE

Polish people are known for their love of music, song and dance. Fryderyk Chopin, Ignancy Jan Paderewski, Stanislaw Moniuszko and Wojciech Kilar being just a few of their beloved composers/musicians. There are five national dances of Poland; i.e., Krakowiak, Polonaise, Mazur, Oberek and Kujawiak. The Krakowiak is the one most associated with the Polish heritage and people. Among Polish-Americans here in the U.S., the “polka” and “oberek” are the favorite music of the day. Here in the Detroit metropolitan area, we have many adult and children Polish folk dance groups as well as several choirs striving to preserve their beautiful Polish heritage through song and dance. The dolls presented here are representative of the folk attire from Krakow and Gorale’. Each region of Poland has its own unique music, dances and folk costumes.

LAJKONIK - The origin of the Lajkonik is uncertain, but there are some common stories associated with its popularity. Some think that it originated in pre-Christian times when it was believed that in the spring the horse brought good luck and high crop yields.

Stories are associated from the 13th century, when the city was attacked during the Tatar invasions of Europe. One story says that the people of Krakow successfully repelled the Tatar invasion. Because they killed one of the leaders, a Tatar Khan, the victorious defenders dressed up in the Khan’s clothing and triumphantly rode into the city. The Tatars returned to ravage southern Poland again in 1259 and 1287 and the threat they posed dominated central and east European political and religious life for the next 200 years or so... In regional folklore the Tatar assumed the position of bogeyman, as the Kraków Corpus Christi "Lajkonik" procession colorfully reminds one".

Whatever the origin, the city continues the tradition with a festival that has taken place every June for the past 700 years. The Lajkonik is a warrior from the east. He rides a prancing white hobbyhorse through the city streets from the Premonstratensian (Norbertine) Convent in Zwierzyniec to the Main Market Square. People in traditional folklore dress accompany him while others are adorned by oriental garments and hold horsetail insignia in their hands. The procession winds its way through the historic streets in the city, followed by musicians, children, and revelers. On his way the Lajkonik touches spectators with his golden mace and collects money for the traditional ransom. Being touched by Lajkonik's mace is claimed to bring good luck. At the Market Square, the mayor of the city awaits the Lajkonik with a pile of ransom money and a chalice with which they make a toast to the wellbeing of Kraków and its inhabitants. Music and dancing continues in front of the Old Tower Hall at the Main Square. Today the Lajkonik is a common sight in the city's Main Market Square as a tourist attraction.

FAMOUS POLISH PEOPLE IN POLITICS, RELIGION, MILITARY, SCIENCE:

Pope John Paul II, - Probably the most famous Pole ever, Pope John Paul II was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in the small town of Wadowice in Poland. By being elected pope by the Catholic Church in 1978, he became the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. This pope modernised the papacy and spread his reach internationally through massive gatherings of Catholics and frequent consultations with heads of state.

Maximilian Maria Kolbe, O.F.M. Conv. - A Saint & Martyr who was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi German concentration camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II.

Maria Konopnicka née Wasiłowska - Polish poet, novelist, writer for children and youth, a translator, journalist and critic, as well as an activist for women's rights and Polish independence.

Nicolaus Copernicus - Copernicus is said to be the founder of modern astronomy. Born on February 19, 1473, in Torun, Poland, Nicolaus Copernicus was destined to become, through the eventual publication of his heliocentric planetary theory 70 years later, one of the seminal figures in the history of scientific thought.

Marie Curie-Sklodowska - Through her discovery of radium, Marie Curie paved the way for nuclear physics and cancer therapy. Born of Polish parents, she was a woman of science and courage, compassionate yet stubbornly determined. Her research work was to cost her her own life.

Casimir Pulaski & Thaddeus Kosziusko – Military heros.

Henryk Sienkiewicz - Polish novelist, a storyteller, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1905.

Lech Walesa - This feisty, moustachioed electrician from Gdansk shaped the end of the 20th century as the leader of the Solidarity movement that led Poland out of communism.

Roman Polanski - One of the most famous Polish directors and an Oscar winner.

Ryszard Kuklinski - He is considered to be one of the United States' top Cold War spies. POLISH FOLK ART There are many, many forms of interesting Polish folk are available, from Christmas ornaments, Easter decorations, intricate embroidered items, wood carvings & sculptures, literary works, religious items and unique decorations for the home; such as Polish crystal, jewelry and paintings. Many have wonderful symbolism attached to them and interesting folklore and legends. Displayed here are a few of the wood arts made by craftsmen in Poland. Visit the Polish Art Center in Hamtramck to learn more about the Polish heritage…

CHRISTMAS - WIGILIA WIGILIA is a meatless dinner served on Christmas Eve and is one of the most celebrated and revered tradition in the Polish home. The serving of “symbolic” foods, the table setting and traditions and folk lore presented remind us of the nativity and birth of Jesus. The meal always begins with prayer and sharing of the blessed “Oplatek” wafer, and concludes with the singing of “kolendy” (Christmas carols) and attending the “Shepard’s Mass” at midnight. OPŁATKI is known as the “Bread of Love”. It is made from unleavened wheat and is similar to the communion wafer received at mass. It is the main theme of the wigilia (Christmas Eve) meal. Before the meal begins, a prayer is said and then it is broken with members of the family, beginning with the eldest person present. Each person breaks a piece from the others and eats it while sharing wishes of love, happiness and other good wishes. In the sharing of the blessed opiate, it is a sign that all ill feelings from the year are “forgiven & forgotten” and is a symbol of our love for one another. STRAW is sprinkled on the table to remind us of Jesus’ first humble bed in the manger. The straw is covered with a PURE, WHITE LINEN TABLECLOTH symbolic of Mary’s veil in which she wrapped her newborn child. CANDLES are lit on the table to remind us that Jesus is the “light of the world” who came to save us from sin. An EXTRA PLACE SETTING AND CHAIR are placed at the table and left empty for any guests who may visit and in remembrance of family/friends that were unable to attend or have passed on. GWIAZDA is the Polish word for “star”. The wigilia begins with the announcement—usually by the young children—that the “first star” has been spotted in the Christmas Eve sky. It represents the sighting of the “Star of Bethlehem” that led the sheperds and kings to the manger to see the Christ Child. SZOPKA is the Polish version of the Christmas crèche or manger. Szopka is made using rigid paper to form the cathedral looking structure, which is then elaborately decorated from foil papers. They range in size from miniature to the height of a man. A contest is held in the City of Krakow each year where people bring their handmade szopka to display, be judged and sometimes sold. EASTER Easter is the second most revered and celebrated holiday among the Polish people, which begins with the season of Lent. PISANKI is one of the best known folk arts associated with the celebration of Easter. Using clean, raw eggs to create geometric and floral designs with a kistka, candle, beeswax and batik dyes. Pisanki comes from the word “pisac”, which means “to write”. Each design and color has a symbolic meaning or wish. When making pisanki, one “writes” their Easter wish to a person using various designs and colors. WYCINANKI is a folk art using colored papers cut in various intricate designs to resemble roosters, people, nature, flowers, etc. These designs were cut using sheep shears. They were hung on the walls of the Polish cottages as decorations; especially, during Easter and Christmas. Some were also made into ornaments to be hung on the Christmas tree or display stands. BLESSING OF THE BASKETS held on Easter Saturday. Symbolic Easter foods that are served for the “swiecone” meal on Easter morning are placed in the decorated baskets and taken to church Holy Saturday for the priest to bless. The lamb, colored eggs, salt, horseradish, bread, wine, vinegar and pork meats are the most “symbolic” of the Easter foods served in the Polish home. PALM WEAVING is another folk art performed with blessed palms that remind us of the crucifixion of Jesus. Blessed palms received from church on Palm Sunday are often woven into various shapes such as crosses, grape clusters, wreaths, etc. and left to dry. They are hung throughout the year in the home with one’s cross or religious items and pictures. On Ash Wednesday, the palm is burned to be replaced with new ones on Palm Sunday. There are many more customs and folk lore associated with the “wigilia” meal. Articles can be found on the internet, in various Polish books and during the holidays printed in Polish newspapers such as the Polish Weekly and Polish Times.