To go caroling with Turon required that at least one of the participants be dressed in some type of animal costume and mask. Then they kindle new fires in their home, to signify the renewal of faith and greeting of the spring. In ancient times, when death entered a peasants house, all doors and windows were opened at the moment of passing. Verm also is familiar with cases in which being public didnt serve the individual well, highlighting a difference between the urban and rural experience. The main event on the night of engagement was the tying together of the hands of the couple to be married. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Bride and Groom and Their First Dance The party officially starts when the couple comes back from the church and steps to the podium to take their first dance. Satanic Temple candidate loses primary bid, https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/. Smigus Dyngus During the church ceremony it was expected of the bride to cry. It wasn't as bad as another kid in my elementary school classMichael . Read more about traditional Polish Easter recipes! Photo 86715707 Wideonet | Dreamstime.com Ash Wednesday 7 unique Polish traditions to savour - Real Word (eiderdown)! It is a Polish tradition to offer the birthday boy or girl 100 years of good wishes, good health and long life. It is the universal custom, among the common masses as well as among the distinguished, for men to soak the women on Easter Monday. On Tuesday, and every day thereafter until the time of the Green Holidays Pentecost the women doused the men.. Because engagement was as binding as the marriage itself, it was always done in a public act in front of family and friends who acted as witnesses. 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). The trip to the church took place in various ways, with the bride and groom riding together or in separate wagons. Matins are observed in churches on Wednesday of the Holy Week. Since it followed the longest night and the shortest day it was considered the last day of the year and the mystical symbolism associated with it was closely tied to the solar system. Egg Battles As it isin other countries,thesebusinesses have the potential tobecome networking hubs as the Pagan population grows. In the scriptures, the Holy Family was en route to Nazareth when the Virgin Mary went into labour, forcing the family to find shelter. Make sure to check if similar events are in your city as well, if it is not included on our list above. According to Rogalinski, Rodzimowierstwo has three of these formally organized groups. Taking the young girl in his arms, the lord of the manor started dancing. by Stanley Garczynski from PGS of Texas Polish Footprints Vol.XII No.4 Winter 1995. The severe cold weather and deep snows made family hold their festivities near the hearth within family groups. (Dzien Wszystkich Swietych Dzien Zaduszny) (Maybe some of those dont formally identify themselves as Rodzimowiercy/Pagans, which is why the census numbers fall between those two endpoints.). Poprawiny means starting the wedding party all over again. More about Warsaw Wianki 2018 here. According to the legend, the father of the mermaid was King Baltic who was the ruler of the seas and the underwater world. Finding a Spiritual Home in the Weirdness of My Polish Heritage 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. Sounding distinctly like canap, the Polish version of the open sandwich, known as kanapki, only appeared at the end of the 19th century. Polish Easter customs have not changed much during the centuries. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; var container = document.getElementById(slotId); One of the young girls of the family went to the nearest stream and brought back pails of water. There are some clashes, but it is more connected to political rather than religious reasons. Polish Easter Tradations. Salt had equal footing with bread in all family customs from birth to death. Along with the practice of Wicca and Rodzimowierstwo, age-old folk magic traditions continue to be practiced in Poland. And join more than 6 thousand other people. At the time, hungry Polish would use a thick slice of bread as a plate and then eat it. To this day, eggs are a major item at Easter. There were numerous variations on this custom, but in whatever form it appeared, the central elements were an uncut loaf of bread and a white towel or scarf. He remembered that he mustnt share his fortune. 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. RELATED CONTENT: Poland travel guide everything you need to know. Dyngus began somewhat around five in the morning, and the custom demanded that the house where the women slept be secretly invaded. Everyone would gather at the home of the bride to accompany the bridal couple to the church, but also to witness the blessing and symbolic farewells of the bride with her parents, relatives, and friends. The Legend of the Dragon of Krakow (Wawel Dragon), 4. He enjoyed his life as a rich man but soon became nostalgic and wished to go back to his home village. It does not store any personal data. It is also said that if somebody is too loud, misbehaves, or curses, Skarbnik may hit one with a lamp. Nevertheless, Polish mythology is full of exciting stories and characters, so here is a list of 12 Polish legends and myths: In Polish mythology, Latawiec is a mythical creature that is presented as an evil serpent who lives in the deep forest and lurks over attractive young men and women. These bouquets are carried home and kept until the name day of the following year. All Saints Day, November 1st, traditionally has been associated in Polish legend with ghosts and wayward souls. In case of a serious threat or catastrophe in the mine, the Treasurer shows up to warn the miners by flickering a lamp, appearing in front of them, or hitting the ground strong enough so they could hear him. However, Polish heraldry was composed of local Slavic communities by mercenaries whose aim was to show who are they working for. As a deeply Catholic country, Polish Easter traditions (PL:Wielkanoc) are taken very seriously. 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. Wianki - ancient Polish tradition in modern times Single girls pour hot, melted wax into a bowl of cold water, and the hardened wax is then held up to the light. According to this legend, the King and his knights were fighting a battle where Boleslaw lost his life. It was believed that salt had the power to heal and cleanse, uncover thieves, protect houses against fire, dispel storms and hail, and drive away evil spirits. People would look at it, then look at me, pleading, for help. They are not always accompanied by wreath-floating over the water (although you may spot many Polish girls sporting flower crowns with pride), but have gained the character of a family picnic and a night out full of free concerts. Some are firmly rooted in the predominant religion of Poland, Roman Catholicism; others stem from pagan rites of the seasons. for fair and mild spring. Nothing was eaten all day except a little bread and water. The part of the festivities that everyone had been waiting for, the dancing and refreshments, began in earnest. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. They stopped before a window and sang a carol. This day was spent in comparative quiet surroundings within the intimate family group. All myths and mythical creatures primarily come from the need to explain reality. As the day began to darken and family members began to ready themselves for the evening meal, a child was sent out to look for the first star in the sky. I wish I had gotten his info. On that day in Poland, the youngsters are visited by Sw. Mikolaj. The chosen girl went to church in great pomp and ceremony, wearing the wreath on her head while sitting in a wagon pulled by four horses decorated in greenery and surrounded by other young maidens wearing flowers in their hair. Traditionally, this dance was literally the first. The Polish believe the girl who gets the most soaked in the celebration will be the first to marry. According to the Polish folk myth from the pre-Christian Slavic tradition, the waters were inhabited with water spirits of western Poland that were called Rusalka and it was said that they were the spirits of dead young women which continued to wander around on Earth, seeking a way to draw life energy from people and other earthly living beings. The dragon visited the King and required offerings of cattle in order not to devour the humans of the city. Their particular repertoire was to walk throughout the village singing carols. Drawning Marzanna in the village Jeziorzany in 2014 [Photo Credit: Jacek wierczyski]. The Rusalkas would come out from the water at a certain time in the year and hid in birch or willow trees where they would lurk over young, attractive men.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1'); .large-leaderboard-2-multi-115{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 tensions between the pagans and Christians were boiling, escalating with the Pagan Reaction in 1030s uprisings which destabilized the new Polish kingdom. However, in the view of Nefrestim, who is a second-generation Wiccan, the current governments conservative bent does make practicing openly uncomfortable. Jacke became thin as a twig out of sorrow and suffered all the time, learning that no happiness is possible without sharing. Yet, even in Poland, one of the most Christianized European countries, Pagan religionsare growing within the shadow of the Church. Candlemas in the term when we have Weles festival, Saint Johns festival on Kupaa, etc.). var ffid = 2; St. Andrews Night, November 30th (Noc Sw. Andrzeja albo Andrzejki) 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. Did we miss any of your favourite Polish traditions? This large wreath was made of a mixture of wheat and rye, sometimes one or the other. . Another belief was that whichever one of the bridesmaids touched the bride or her wreath first after the marriage would marry that year. The Easter table will be covered with a white tablecloth. Roots Revival: How Slavic Faith Returned to Poland Written by Magda Marczewska on April 5, 2021 One of the craziest Polish traditions is Wet Monday - also known as migus Dyngus! The second day of the Christmas season (December 26) was St. Stephans Day, the traditional day of visiting and wishing everyone the joy of the holiday season, a direct contrast to Christmas Day. Religion is not the subject of discussion; it is not discussed because of its personal character.. They stuffed a calfskin with smoldering sulfur and gave it to the dragon to eat it, causing a horrible death. In areas like the mountainous regions where the priest was not able to travel, people brought chalk to church on this day to be blessed. Verm, one of our interviewees, was taught folk Witchcraft by agrandmother and an aunt. ins.style.display = 'block'; Warsaw, Garlands over the Vistula River 23, Krakw, Wianki - a Celebration of Music 23. The first preparation for Christmas Eve began very early, right after midnight. It was published in Czech by Grade Publications, a.s. http://www.grada.cz. The people decorate the graves with chrysanthemums, asters, and autumn flowers ~ and place candles and votive lights. var alS = 2002 % 1000; Easter observances in Poland actually begin on Ash Wednesday, when kocanki or bazie are cut and placed in water. lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId + '-asloaded'), { attributes: true });var cid = '6354310426'; Many of the Pagans are solitary, making their numbers difficult to estimate, but they appear to be concentrated in the cities. All rights reserved. He travels the countryside on foot, occasionally astride a white horse, blessing the children, and distributing goodies to well behaved children and swishes (rozgi) to the naughty. Thank You in Polish? Instead, he is a saintly, more dignified figure, dressed in the regal purple and gold robe, wearing a cape and bishops hat, and carrying a crosier (a crooked staff, the symbol of his bishop station). Nowadays, Polish Easter traditions vary from household to household, just like they differ a bit when compared to different times in history. Today,that population isstill dwarfed by its Catholic counterpart, but its loyal practitionerscontinue tocultivate a Pagan thriving subculture. Starting on Palm Sunday, the girls will begin gathering eggs, which will become pisanki. This tradition is rooted in the pre-Christian sacrificial rites of Slavic Pagans. In some sections of Poland old custom forbade the exclusion of anyone in the village from being invited to the wedding. Sleepy husbands and wives arise and give them a gift of eggs. Laszka shared a narrative that is common in other parts of the worldwhereChristian traditions draw upon Pagan practices. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (Sw. Mikolaja albo Mikolajki) t.src = 'https://' + cdn + '/media/js/common/plugin_goconnect_embed.js'; Rogalinski laments that the only agreed-upon sites of worship tend to be cultural or archaeological monuments that cant be used. Polish mythology is mainly associated with distinctive and vivid demonology full of monstrous creatures, witches, evil spirits, and werewolves. The host leaves an empty chair for the deceased and sweeps it away before everyone sits at the table to excuse the soul who isnt there. The wedding is one of the most important family celebrations. However humble or intricate, the portable crib always portrayed the mysteries of the birth of the Infant Jesus. Polish only know one way to make and eat their sandwiches and that is open. It is a delightful tradition, Dyngus or Smigus as this custom is called. If you happen to visit Poland the day before Lent, take a gander at the snaking queues outside every bakery. Janoshik was the staple character of many novels, films, and poems in modern times. 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. After obtaining permission to enter the house, the boys sang both religious and popular Christmas carols. 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. 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! Every year on the night of 2nd November, the Polish people pay their respects to their late friends and relatives by lighting candles in cemeteries across Poland. :178).Particularly important is the Christmas Eve supper, probably the only . On this special day, young men leaped over bonfires while ladies made wreaths of herbs and cast them to float down the river. The Legend about Sir Twardowski and the Devil is, understandably, a devilish story about one of the most popular devils in Polish folklore that signed a pact with the nobleman Sir Twardowski in the 16th century. The bride and groom then went to invite their godparents. Fortune telling, singing, and general merriment might round out this thoroughly enjoyable evening. And the more they are annoyed, the more we dump water on them calling, Dyngus Smigus! From the PGST News Vol. Wianki (literally wreaths in English) is an event that can however be traced back to the bygone days of paganism and has preserved some of its original character. The Legend of Leszek the Blacks Dream, Slavic Mythology: Myths, Creatures and Stories, Top Prague Festivals for Each Month of the Year. According to the pact, the nobleman had to give his soul to the devil in exchange for wisdom and supernatural powers. z o.o. The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); 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. Terence P Ward is a moneyworker, journalist, Hellenic polytheist and convinced Friend who lives in the bucolic Hudson Valley with his wife, five cats, and multiple household shrines. It is greeted with such mystical symbolism, that it is considered by many to be a greater holiday than Christmas itself. The nights were also part of the prognostication. The blessings were so important that, if a mother or father had died, the wedding party would stop at the cemetery where the groom or bride asked for a blessing from the deceased parent. The usual practice of creating and defining heraldry in western Europe put the heads of the state and knights as decision-makers. More info about Krakw Wianki 2018 here. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Tomasz Rogalinski is one such practitioner. In some parts of Poland, the bride and groom took bread with them which had been given them during blessings. The custom was called Oczepiny. 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. 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. It does not mean that there is no possibility of conducting ones life according to the rules taken from the other faiths (unless theyre contradictory to Rodzimowierstwo), fascination by the other culture or having friends, family or know the people who have the other dominant faith.. 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. The white tablecloth is indicative of the white swaddling cloth with which Our Lord was wrapped when he was placed in the Holy Sepulcher. On both days, at twilight, the Poles make pilgrimages to their local cemeteries. 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. X No.4 Winter 1993 by Stan Garczynski. Everyone sang the bridesmaids, the groomsman, the musicians and the wagon driver. 13 Super-Polish Superstitions | Article | Culture.pl This was done with one glass which traveled from hand to hand. Although sad, it is a remarkable sight to see and experience. The practice is symbolic for sending the winter away and preparing nature for spring and its rebirth. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; In olden days, Polish kings performed this rite. The candles were to symbolize the eternal light for which the soul yearns . What do Polish cities have in store this year? Moreover, Wet Monday celebrates the arrival of spring and the future of a relationship. ins.style.display = 'block'; Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They are symbols of hospitality and conjugal harmony. Easter in Poland is a beautiful Polish holiday that straddles Christian and pagan traditions. Meet the Slavs is your most comprehensive online resource about Slavic people, their cuisine, culture, history, mythology, and more. Why? Jaselka is the general name given to the two forms of Christmas caroling called Szopka and Herody. 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 . The farm people bring to church great bouquets of herbs, vegetables, and corn, interwoven with a few flowers from the fields and gardens, which are blessed by the priest. var pid = 'ca-pub-6145023705656770'; Behind this wondrous bird that spread its wings, appeared the red- golden sun and Lech thought that this is a sign to stay at this place which he named Gniezno. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; Leszek Czarny found the dream to be prophetic and decided to fight further his enemies. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The conclusion of the harvest and the making of the wreath generally fell around the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin August 15 so that it was taken to church to be blessed. Wrocaw decided to organise a family event with wreath-floating, starting from 3 pm and lasting almost until midnight. Another traditional pastime is for the girls to toss their shoes to the middle of the floor. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In 1863, there was an uprising triggered by the forced enlistment of Polish men into the Russian Army. The Mermaid of Warsaw tried to seduce the Prince by showing him a beautiful place that he was so marveled by that he decided to build a city upon it. 04 of 11 var t = d.createElement('script'); 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. In every house, from the richest to the poorest, the table is spread with food that is blessed on Holy Saturday. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The Legend of Leszek the Blacks Dream is inspired by the folklore tale about the Polish prince Sen Leszka Czarnego who belonged to the Piast dynasty and ruled in the 13th century. window.StacklaGoConnectConfig.cdn : 'assetscdn.stackla.com'; However, if a man believed their stories and was seduced by them, his life would soon tragically come to an end. The Legend of Sir Twardowski and the Devil, 11. After each psalm is sung, a candle light is extinguished to signify the sorrow over the torture of Christ. Slavic mythology has different versions of this story and some of them describe the Rusalkas as spirits of dead brides who died of unfortunate events or young womens souls who suffered a violent death, so now they revenge on men that they encounter near the lake where they live. 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. var alS = 2002 % 1000; On Holy Saturday afternoon, the mother of the family or an older child carries a basket filled with eggs, hams, sausage, pastries and Easter seasonings to be blessed by the parish priest. I know some cases when people following other than Catholic paths are discriminated, especially in smaller places and in the villages where people point the finger at those who do not attend mass. 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. 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. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; On the same Saturday, in another Vistula-based city, the celebrations focus on music, with multiple stages and artists presenting different music genres. By Stanley Garczynski from PGS of Texas Polish Footprints Vol.XII No.4 Winter 1995. The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content. They were able to suppress particular Pagan traditions, but the beliefs and practices simply lived on as folklore or embedded itself in the conquering faith or found a million other outlets through art and literature etc. 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. Krakus called his sons Lech and Krakus II and tried to kill the dragon with them but they couldnt defeat it so they had to plot a different way to get rid of it. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; After the receiving of the blessing, everyone stood in a circle around the couple and the mother blessed them with holy water. Boys usually traveled with Szopka, staying within the confines of their neighborhood, but sometimes moving outside into other sections of town or even different villages. The shadow may also contain a clue to who the future husband might be (traits, interests, occupation). (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(t); Palm Sunday, Easter palms. There are two versions: one amiable and elegant when it is only a matter of a gentle sprinkling with water or scent, the other quite merciless when whole bucketfuls come into play. I didnt have the time to talk to him about it because we were both working. When their buds open in a few days, this is regarded as a good omen The smoke from the candles on the tree, lit by the Gospodarz, (head of the family) foretold the future. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. One of the carolers played a musical instrument to accompany their songs. Wearing the wreath was considered an honor. container.appendChild(ins);