The trip to the church took place in various ways, with the bride and groom riding together or in separate wagons. 04 of 11 The period approaching midnight was a magical time when animals talked and well water turned to wine and everyone readied themselves to attend the midnight Mass of the Shepherd or Pasterka. There are some clashes, but it is more connected to political rather than religious reasons. Tradition also states that the first Polish ruler Prince Mieszko The First (960-992), along with his court was baptized on Easter Monday in 966. The dish was set down in a place of honor on a bench near the Wigilia table and it was the first dish to be eaten. After getting the girls out of their beds, the boys will douse them with water. Most of us live in safe environment with loving families and thoughtful friends, being quite anonymous while living in the big cities, organizing largely through social media. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Desserts really steal the show on Easter and often consist of cakes such as babka, mazurek, sernik (cheesecake) and more! Traditions Only Poles Can Understand - Culture Trip In Poland, no-one would dream of wishing their friend a good year on their birthday. That very night, the archangel Michael appeared in front of him and told him not to doubt himself even for a minute. Furthermore, roughly 4,500 is the total for the category of Pagans, Neo-Pagans, and Rodzimowiercy, The author is correct that the census option did not separately name any other paths (Wicca, Druidry, Asatru, etc), but they were theoretically included in that number, even though they are probably quite a small percent of the total when compared with Rodzimowiercy. . Along with the practice of Wicca and Rodzimowierstwo, age-old folk magic traditions continue to be practiced in Poland. If there were many stars, they rejoiced, for as many stars as there were in the heavens, that many sheaves of grain would be harvested the next year. Behind him were a fiddler and double base player playing a merry tune. Easter in Poland - Wikipedia One result of Church domination is a form of syncretic polytheism. This day became known for generations to come as the holiday which strengthened family ties. ins.style.height = container.attributes.ezah.value + 'px'; The couple always sat at the table which was located along the wall containing holy pictures. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Obra Water Monster is a creature related to a folk tale similar to the one of the famous Loch Ness monster from Scotland. God and the heavenly creatures decided that they will leave the soul of Walenty in the mines but in the body of a majestic creature called Skarbnik (or Treasurer). Classics feature honey, nuts, beans, barley and beetroot, fruit, fungi and fish (fried herring or carp, or even stuffed pikeperch). X No.4 Winter 1993 by Stan Garczynski. There was screaming, shouting, and confusion. Leszek the Black started thinking about what is the right thing to do. It wasn't as bad as another kid in my elementary school classMichael . Religio Romana is a modern Pagan reconstructionist religion based upon the ancient faith of pre-Christian Rome. Wesele The Wedding Wedding traditions demanded that guests be invited in a certain obligatory manner. These willow twigs are used on Palm Sunday as palms to be blessed in the church. Walenty was a dedicated miner who was completely in love and obsessed with his work, so he made a plea to God to let him stay in the mines after he dies. The legend describes Janosik as a man who robs the nobility and gives their valuables to the poor, just like Robin Hood did. Some are firmly rooted in the predominant religion of Poland, Roman Catholicism; others stem from pagan rites of the seasons. The last rite included a funeral banquet. These celebrations, often extended to the following night - 23rd/24th of June, when they were called the Kupala Night or Sobtka instead, were common among all Slavic and Baltic nations, or even further in Europe, but their popularity decreased with the arrival of Christianity, which successfully introduced a substitute holiday - St Johns Eve. The blessing by the parents were seen as more important than the church ceremony itself. var ffid = 2; The Legend of the Dragon of Krakow tells us the story of one of the historically most significant cities and once the capital of Poland.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-box-4','ezslot_4',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-box-4','ezslot_5',113,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-113{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:10px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. So was the case with Polish mythology and folklore which stems from the folklore and beliefs rooted in Slavic religion also known as Slavic paganism which was observed by the Slavs before the introduction of Christianity in the period from the 9th to the 12th century.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-3-0'); When historians and folklorists examine the folklore of each of the Slavic- speaking regions, and later established countries, they conclude that all of them have a mutual folklore history which is full of tales, epic storylines, and creatures such as monsters, demons, devils, princesses, kings, and werewolves. Perun lived in the highest branches, so that he could see all that happened. window.StacklaGoConnectConfig.cdn : 'assetscdn.stackla.com'; Lacking reliable resources for many Pagan paths on paper or online, the alternative seeking a teacher in person can also be difficult, due to the low density of Pagans overall. Slavic Magic: Rituals, Spells, and Herbs - Meet the Slavs On both days, at twilight, the Poles make pilgrimages to their local cemeteries. Drawning Marzanna in the village Jeziorzany in 2014 [Photo Credit: Jacek wierczyski]. migus-dyngus (Polish pronunciation: [migus dnus]) is a formerly pagan and now a Roman Catholic celebration held on Easter Monday across Central Europe, and in small parts of Eastern and Southern Europe.The tradition is widely associated with Poland and is observed by Polish Diaspora communities, particularly among Polish Americans who call it Dyngus Day. The Warsaw Mermaid was a character that served as an inspiration and a staple figure in many literary works as well as visual artworks. Palm Sunday, Easter palms. Another belief was that whichever one of the bridesmaids touched the bride or her wreath first after the marriage would marry that year. Unfortunately my die-hard rabid Catholic Polish grandmother put a stop to it calling it blasphemous, so, unfortunately, I didnt learn anything, which I regret to this day. One method of accumulating their needed supply is to take a small spruce tree and decorate it attractively. If a young lad would catch the wreath that was made by his beloved he could ask for her hand. Every able-bodied individual trudged through freezing weather in the dark of the night, or rode in sleighs to local churches by way of town streets or country roads. According to the pact, the nobleman had to give his soul to the devil in exchange for wisdom and supernatural powers. Siliniez - A wood god from Poland who moss was sacred; his altar fire was kept burning only with moss. Verm, one of our interviewees, was taught folk Witchcraft by agrandmother and an aunt. As you might suspect, Poland has a whole series of customs and traditions surrounding Easter, which range from pious to playful, to downright pagan. In olden days, Polish kings performed this rite. The myth about the Polish Eagle is one of the most recognized in Poland since this bird is the symbol of the Polish Republic and it is also a focal element in the Polish crest and the Polish coat of arms. He enjoyed his life as a rich man but soon became nostalgic and wished to go back to his home village. Easter in Poland: Traditions Through the Ages - The Northern Vox The Legend of King Boleslaw and his Knights, 3. var ffid = 2; Wigilia or Wilia, from the Latin word vigilare to watch, Czuwac in Polish, is reverently close to the heart of a Pole. After each psalm is sung, a candle light is extinguished to signify the sorrow over the torture of Christ. Gniazdo is a magazine created by the Rodzimowiercy, but there are other publications that, according to Rogalinksi, mix traditional and New Age beliefs without providing any context. According to the legend, the brothers Lech, Czech, and Rus were hunting together when each of them headed to a different direction where they would later settle and establish their tribe. Next, Sir Twardowski had to face the devil and his inevitable tragic fate. This is consistent with my personal history. The girls are shrieking and hollering, but in their hearts they are glad because they know that she who isnt gotten wet will not be married that year. My Belarussian grandfather married a Polish woman. he has come! St. Nicholas entered, filling the room with not only his presence, but with his smile, the twinkle in his eye and his teasing booming voice. In case St. Nicholas could not make the visit personally, his gifts were placed under the pillow during the night, which made children and parents sleepy the next day from waiting and watching to be sure that the children were sound asleep when St. Nicholas arrived! However, Polish heraldry was composed of local Slavic communities by mercenaries whose aim was to show who are they working for. Large or small, the Polish open sandwich will include pretty much whatever you have lying in your fridge cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, egg, dill, whatever. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. On the same Saturday, in another Vistula-based city, the celebrations focus on music, with multiple stages and artists presenting different music genres. The white tablecloth is indicative of the white swaddling cloth with which Our Lord was wrapped when he was placed in the Holy Sepulcher. They visit from house to house singing songs, playing pranks, and merrymaking. The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. Because the majority of Poland's population identifies as Catholic, it follows the Western church calendar in its celebrations, and Christian symbolism is strong in the observance of this holiday. This monster lives in the river Obra which is an offshoot of the River Warta in Poland.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meettheslavs_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-leader-1-0'); According to the folklore records, a giant fish or fish- serpent lives in the northern part of this river and sometimes attacks ducks, swans, and small animals that it drags underwater like a real mighty predator. The wedding feast also followed established traditions. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Today, Leszek Czarny is one of Lublins most popular heroic legends and an ever-inspiration for poets and artists. The people decorate the graves with chrysanthemums, asters, and autumn flowers ~ and place candles and votive lights. All Saints Day, November 1st, traditionally has been associated in Polish legend with ghosts and wayward souls. When the groom arrived with his Starosta, groomsman and family members, the maid of honor began dressing the bride. Fish was served in the families who could afford it. Behind the wagon, on horseback, rode the master of ceremonies, the Starosta and the best man with a bottle of vodka who alternately offered it to the wagon driver. Generally, it was worn by a young girl involved in the harvesting, or someone who was considered a very good worker. The tensions between the pagans and Christians were boiling, escalating with the Pagan Reaction in 1030s uprisings which destabilized the new Polish kingdom. My grandfather was a koldun or village healer in his native land and continued the practice when he came to the US in 1912. According to folklorists' research and findings, Slavic folklore contains a great number of spells, charms., incantations, practical rituals for love, relationships, work, fertility, protection, healing, divination, communicating with old spirits and ancestors, averting the evil eye and many others. However, in the view of Nefrestim, who is a second-generation Wiccan, the current governments conservative bent does make practicing openly uncomfortable. Dozynki, harvest holiday, was traditionally celebrated at the end of the summer. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Due to the tradition of eating fatty or sweet foods before the start of Lent, which calls for fasting, Poles have adopted the custom of eating paczki, or Polish donuts. Reportedly, in the early history of Poland, the banks of the river Vistula were lined with tiny wooden huts where farmers lived. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Quite often forgotten and preserved only in some rural areas, the celebrations surface now in the 21st century as another idea for a fun summer activity. Although Poles have some very ancient traditions reaching back to their pre-Christian roots, not many of them have survived up to these times. The belief was that those sitting down to eat must add up to an even number. On the Polish Easter table there is also a great number of cakes made in special shapes tall iced babki, flat and thin kolacze, and the most delicious mazurki flavored with lemon and dried fruit. The Easter table will be covered with a white tablecloth. The first recorded Polish writing on Dyngus dates back to the Middle Ages. The nobleman was forcibly stranded on the moon forever. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. If staying dry is your preferred state of self, dont visit Poland on Wet Monday. Also on Holy Saturday typically Polish ceremonies are performed in the church yard. Among the many demons in Polish folklore, there is a benevolent character called Skarbnik who is a friendly mythological figure. Religious freedom is a right in Poland, and a group of 100 people can form a church, carrying with it lower taxes and the ability to teach thereligion in a school setting. In 1954, the Polish writer Ewa Szelburg Zarembina composed a fairy tale inspired by the folklore motifs of the Warsaw Mermaid Story. All told, while laws and aspects of the culture present very real obstacles for Polish Pagans, the small community does enjoy the freedom to practice and continues to eagerly expand despite the very large shadow of the countrys dominant religion. Polish traditions of the celebration of the dead is on April 30th, the second being on October 31st. Religion is not the subject of discussion; it is not discussed because of its personal character.. All Saints All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd Polish Easter Tradations. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. This cap was always held as special and reserved for wear to church, for special folk festivals, and on her death, for burial. 9 Polish Easter Traditions | Key To Poland I know the case of a girl who was diagnosed as mentally ill by a Catholic psychiatrist, because she wasnt Catholic and believed in polytheism., I dont see persecutions preserved in the peoples minds, observed Laszka. Starting on Palm Sunday, the girls will begin gathering eggs, which will become pisanki. Binding all the traditions together are the beliefs in native Slavic gods, theofferings of mead and food (traditionally groats, white cheese, and bread), a code based on principles of honor, responsibility, and courage, and thecircles of responsibility, which centers on family and widensto include community. The whole country follows an age-old tradition which resembles one big water fight. Their particular repertoire was to walk throughout the village singing carols. The Wild Hunt XI No.1 Spring 1994 by Stan Garczynski. Janoshik was the staple character of many novels, films, and poems in modern times. Several centuries on, they endure as a favourite Polish culinary custom. One of the traditional dishes was Kutia, which was served in both the homes of the nobility and the serfs. The interest in such practices is marginal, but is becoming bigger.. If the day was fair but it rained or snowed during the night, then it foretold that the first half of the month would be fair but the second half would be damp. The Legend of the Dragon of Krakow (Wawel Dragon), 4. In the more well-to-do-homes this was 11 or 13, with 13 being the preferred number as it represented the number that sat down at the Last Supper. All the events above are free of charge. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Do you know the name of the publisher of the Polish edition? The practice is symbolic for sending the winter away and preparing nature for spring and its rebirth. A traditional meat-free Wigilia meal has 12 courses drawn from forest and ocean, field and orchard, representing the months of the year. Single girls pour hot, melted wax into a bowl of cold water, and the hardened wax is then held up to the light. After obtaining permission to enter the house, the boys sang both religious and popular Christmas carols. The wedding is one of the most important family celebrations. Christmas is, apart from Easter (see: Traces of Slavic Pagan Rites in the Polish Easter Tradition), the most celebrating feast in Poland (Lemnis, Vitry 1979:178).This Christian holiday, which is intimate, family, and usually spent with the dearest people, however, goes back to the traditions of pagan-Slavic times (Ibid. On the wedding day it was customary to have musicians playing as the wedding guest began arriving at the Dom Weselny (wedding home). A relic of the pagan Dziady ceremony is the Rkawka holiday, which derives its name from a man-made mound which eggs were rolled up, as a symbol of resurrection. Polish Traditions (Tradycje Polskie) All Saints All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd (Dzien Wszystkich Swietych Dzien Zaduszny) Christmas Day (Boze Narodzenia) Harvest Holiday, August 15 (Dozynki) Feast of Greenery, September 8th (Matki Boskiej Zielnej) Feast Of the Three Kings (Trzech Kroli) Palm Sunday in Poland Pisanki (Polish Easter Eggs) Polish only know one way to make and eat their sandwiches and that is open. Some Polish Easter traditions reach back to earlier, pagan beliefs; some are fusions of pagan and adopted, Christian traditions. Easter observances in Poland actually begin on Ash Wednesday, when kocanki or bazie are cut and placed in water. Old fire in the house is put out, then a large bonfire is made in the churchyard. The happy tradition includes many festivities including parades. Copyright Trafalgar Tours, all rights reserved. In modern Poland, wianki is an event most commonly organised by city councils in major Polish agglomerations. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; The shadow it casts on the wall is said to reveal the girls marriage prospects: if its shape resembles something used by a man, she will marry within a year. After rewarding those that offered the wreath, the owner signaled to the musicians to start playing. container.appendChild(ins); These initials written with blessed chalk, along with the palms from Palm Sunday and blessed candles from Candlemas Day, were together to be a force to avert disaster. On Thursday of the Holy Week, there is a ceremonial washing of the feet of twelve impoverished old men at the church, in memory of the Last Supper. Rogalinski downplays the official number of Rodzimowiercy (4-5,000 people); his own figure of up to 2,000 is based in part on activity, not just on self-identification. Meet the Slavs is your most comprehensive online resource about Slavic people, their cuisine, culture, history, mythology, and more. They just needed something to be at the same time of the year, because of the fact that Pagan festivals and traditions were preserved even despite the Christianisation. Latawiec was a personification of demons and evil creatures that were associated with sins and sinful thoughts and deeds.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',112,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-112{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:10px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. The very word Wigilia, which in Poland was formerly known as the day before a feast day is now used only as the day before Christs birth. Up with the Piwezyny! The girl wearing the wreath approached, removed it from her head, and either handed it over to the owner or placed it on his head. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-3-0_1'; And join more than 6 thousand other people. If you are based in this city, you can join the festivities at Centrum Kultury Zamek. Nowadays, Polish Easter traditions vary from household to household, just like they differ a bit when compared to different times in history. On Tuesday, the girls are supposed to reciprocate in kind. Sw. Mikolaj does not live at the North Pole, but up in Heaven. The severe cold weather and deep snows made family hold their festivities near the hearth within family groups. Harvest Holiday, August 15 (Dozynki) Popular sweet treats, especially loved on this day, are Pczki, Polish-style doughnuts, and Faworki, otherwise known as angel wings, which are crispy pieces of pastry dipped in sugar. They include the Polish Easter basket ( wiconka ), prepared on Holy Saturday, and Easter eggs ( pisanki ). However, the devil was even more than Sir Twardowski so, one day, he tricked him and made him visit an inn that was named Rome. Sometimes the male head of the house himself, in collusion with the perpetrators, let the men into the house himself to have his women folk abruptly awakened and doused liberally with water. cultural traditions (first of all, the works of Vechaslav Ivanov and Vladimir Toporov are distinguished). Everything was to be made as comfortable as possible for them and that this last day of the year would prophesize everything that was to happen in the coming year. I enjoy articles such as this that show us Pagan, Heathen, and Polytheist paths and people in areas outside of North America. (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(t);