while the city was named in recognition of Krakus II. Generally, it was worn by a young girl involved in the harvesting, or someone who was considered a very good worker. 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. Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click JOIN. The popular and colorful celebrations were held by the nobility and larger landowners those owning large tracts of land that required hiring farmers from all around the countryside who had to be rewarded for their hard labor. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. If a young lad would catch the wreath that was made by his beloved he could ask for her hand. Old fire in the house is put out, then a large bonfire is made in the churchyard. Whether he should pursue his opponents through the dark woods and steep mountains where they had gone or to return back and admit that he was defeated in great shame in front of his people. 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. In customs that can be documented back to the sixteenth century, the young couple was most often greeted at the entrance of the house with bread and salt. Many of the Pagans are solitary, making their numbers difficult to estimate, but they appear to be concentrated in the cities. Egg Battles Mirrors were turned to the wall so that the soul would not be captured in the room. According to the legend, the poor boy Jacek was too clumsy to participate in these rituals so he sat sad and alone. The citys name was, of course, Warsaw. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The marriage cap was usually a gift to the bride from her godmother. Wigilia Christmas Eve Dinner. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. One of the branches of Slavic mythology, which may be concluded as East Slavic, West Slavic, and South Slavic mythologies is the Polish mythology that belongs to the Western Slavic realm. The vigil lasted until the burial in order to protect the dead soul from evil spirits. The bride and groom then went to invite their godparents. The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content. If you happen to visit Poland the day before Lent, take a gander at the snaking queues outside every bakery. Boze Narodzenia, Christmas Day, was considered so important a holiday that menial work of any kind was not even thought of. The Bible Another explanation is rooted in the New Testament. She was often given a handsome reward consisting of either money or some gift. The part of the festivities that everyone had been waiting for, the dancing and refreshments, began in earnest. The trip to the church took place in various ways, with the bride and groom riding together or in separate wagons. Meet the Slavs covers topics related to the Slavic culture, history, mythology and more. Throughout the Holy Week until the blessing of the fires on Holy Saturday, the Poles are engaged in traditional Easter activities. 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. First to be placed on the tables were bottles of vodka and beer, and the wedding banquet began with Zapicie, i.e., to wash down or to drink. Its the best day of someones life, so why not celebrate twice? Pisanki (Polish Easter Eggs) The host leaves an empty chair for the deceased and sweeps it away before everyone sits at the table to excuse the soul who isn't there. X No.4 Winter 1993 by Stan Garczynski. Starting on Palm Sunday, the girls will begin gathering eggs, which will become pisanki. The group was followed by all those involved in the harvest. It is also said that if somebody is too loud, misbehaves, or curses, Skarbnik may hit one with a lamp. It was hung in a prominent place, such as in an entrance hall, above a chest of drawers, or above the door of the main living room as a symbol of prosperity. The Wild Hunt When the groom arrived with his Starosta, groomsman and family members, the maid of honor began dressing the bride. window.StacklaGoConnectConfig.cdn : 'assetscdn.stackla.com'; On the wedding day it was customary to have musicians playing as the wedding guest began arriving at the Dom Weselny (wedding home). An important part of the funeral ceremony were the feasts, called strawa in the old Polish tradition, and from the 16th century on, the Latin stypa. It is the universal custom, among the common masses as well as among the distinguished, for men to soak the women on Easter Monday. Warsaw, Garlands over the Vistula River 23, Krakw, Wianki - a Celebration of Music 23. container.style.maxHeight = container.style.minHeight + 'px'; 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. 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. In olden days, Polish kings performed this rite. It was decorated with flowers, ribbons, hazelnuts, and the fruit of the mountain ash tree. 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. Swieconka (Easter Blessing of Food) Today, All Saints All Souls Day is celebrated in a very solemn manner in Poland. The first shoe to go over the threshold is that of the girl who will marry the earliest. In ancient times, when death entered a peasants house, all doors and windows were opened at the moment of passing. It is said that if Poland ever needs them again, they will rise and serve their beloved country and nation. 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. One of the traditional dishes was Kutia, which was served in both the homes of the nobility and the serfs. The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. Then they kindle new fires in their home, to signify the renewal of faith and greeting of the spring. Those caught rebelling were deported to Siberia. In some parts of Poland, the bride and groom took bread with them which had been given them during blessings. Still, this being one of the most important celebrations of Christianity as well as one of the most anticipated of Polish spring traditions, it is loved and celebrated both by . After obtaining permission to enter the house, the boys sang both religious and popular Christmas carols. Regardless of whether these historical events have influenced the generous hospitality of the Polish, their warm, welcoming nature is one of the most treasured of Polish traditions. The Easter meal includes traditional Polish dishes including urek, biaa kiebasy, boiled eggs, and an assortment of other foods and desserts. In the scriptures, the Holy Family was en route to Nazareth when the Virgin Mary went into labour, forcing the family to find shelter. Starosta (an intermediary) joined the right hands of the couple above the bread, tied them together with white cloth, and made the sign of the cross over their joined hands representing the joined endeavors of the man and woman to prepare the bread that they always have bread beneath their hands. By Michelle Tea. No one has ever been able to truly eradicate it, despite centuries of tremendous effort. Lent ends Saturday noon, but fasting is observed until Resurrection Mass. The first recorded Polish writing on Dyngus dates back to the Middle Ages. The first preparation for Christmas Eve began very early, right after midnight. As summer draws to an end, the Polish Feast of Greenery takes place on September 8th. St. Andrews Night, November 30th (Noc Sw. Andrzeja albo Andrzejki) When the newlyweds, followed by the wedding party and invited guests, finally arrived to the Dom Weselny (wedding home), they found the door closed to them. Polish Easter customs have not changed much during the centuries. I wish I had gotten his info. It was published in Czech by Grade Publications, a.s. http://www.grada.cz. 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. 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. However, in the view of Nefrestim, who is a second-generation Wiccan, the current governments conservative bent does make practicing openly uncomfortable. Wrocaw decided to organise a family event with wreath-floating, starting from 3 pm and lasting almost until midnight. The Myth of the Mermaid of Warsaw is one of the major myths in Polish history especially when it comes to the city of Krakow. The Legend of Janosik, the Polish Robin Hood, 8. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. On this day, locals create her likeness using straw, old clothing and even accessories like a headscarf. Leszek Czarny found the dream to be prophetic and decided to fight further his enemies. The girls knock on the windows and sing songs in praise of their spruce tree. Some say it is a pagan tradition handed down from the earliest settlers in Poland. St. Nicholas was revered because of his compassion and love for orphans whom he often visited and comforted with little gifts. The tensions between the pagans and Christians were boiling, escalating with the Pagan Reaction in 1030s uprisings which destabilized the new Polish kingdom. The old Polish literature testifies that Bigos, hunters stew, was often used as the principal dish on Christmas Day. Cooking included only the heating of previously prepared food. The church bells silenced on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, are now rung on Saturday at midnight in noisy celebration heralding the risen Lord. Photo 86715707 Wideonet | Dreamstime.com Ash Wednesday People bless the eggs on Easter, they decorate the table with green, they have a Christmas tree, they eat the meals that are traditionally connected with Winter Solstice, they hang mistletoe, they celebrate Pagan Dziady (the festival connected to death) and they have to add some invented holidays (e.g. The rest of the meal reflected the products of the familys labor, Barshch (Barszcz), a beet soup; dishes made from beets, cabbage, sauerkraut, beans, noodles, dumplings, potatoes, dried fruit, fresh apples, and nuts. The Legend of King Boleslaw and his Knights, 3. The custom was called Oczepiny. Starting on Good Friday and through Saturday, every one visits the various churches in town to view Christs sepulchers so beautifully and artistically arranged and bathed in flowers. 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. He was attracted to it because of hisextensive historical knowledge of the Slavs. Another issue with the small number of Pagans is that they tend to know each other, like residents of a small town, which is fine, until it isnt. One method of accumulating their needed supply is to take a small spruce tree and decorate it attractively. After the wreath was blessed the entire procession made for the manor house, singing the songs that accompanied the event were usually those that were indigenous to the area, perhaps unknown in other villages. Here Is How You Say It. A Polish historian wrote of what he called the Oblewania. Easter observances in Poland actually begin on Ash Wednesday, when kocanki or bazie are cut and placed in water. Single girls pour hot, melted wax into a bowl of cold water, and the hardened wax is then held up to the light. 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. During the drinking, everyone wished one another good health and fortune, kissed one another and if moved, sang patriotic songs. Imagine the shortest night in the year, mysterious fortune-telling, dramatic bonfires and flower wreaths being floated on water by young girls dressed in white This is what the midsummer looked like more than a thousand years ago in the area now referred to as Poland! Polish mythology is mainly associated with distinctive and vivid demonology full of monstrous creatures, witches, evil spirits, and werewolves. Polish Paganism - Polish Toledo - Archive of Okana - Poland The Polish Legend of St.Johns Night was born in early ancient Slavic times when a ritual of water and fire was performed to honor the shortest night of the year. The whole country follows an age-old tradition which resembles one big water fight. Next, the brothers entered a dispute about who deserves the honor of killing the dragon.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',120,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-120{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;}. Wherever the initials K M B for Kaspar, Melchior and Baltazer, with a cross between them, were seen written in chalk at the top of entrance doors, it was evident to a wayfarer that a Catholic family lived there. Usually several horse wagons with stately horses and guests dressed in their Sunday best with bouquets of flowers pinned to their heads, followed them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Manage Settings Also on Holy Saturday typically Polish ceremonies are performed in the church yard. 2. Top 10 Polish Wedding Traditions - Meet the Slavs In old Poland, it was so significant that only after the Oczepiny, and not the church ceremony, that the man exercised his marriage privileges towards his new wife. December sixth, St. Nicholas day Dzien Swietego Mikolaja brought a slight reprieve to gray monotonous days, especially to children, who felt that the Christmas Gwiazdka (star) would never come. 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. 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. 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. Easter in Poland - Wikipedia The native religion of Poland could be a mixture of Catholicism with the old, Pagan customs and practices, including the magical ones, said Verm. The flower had magical powers that made dream come true as long as he didnt share his good fortune. First, the engagement period Zareczyny or Zrekowiny. Satanic Temple candidate loses primary bid, https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/. Read more about traditional Polish Easter recipes! Get 1-2 emails a month with the latest articles on Slavic culture, mythology and history. Like in many other European countries, the arrival of summer is celebrated on St. John's Eve in Poland. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; The legend has remained a mystery even today as it has been said that there are witnesses who have confirmed seeing an enormous snake coming out of the water and upsetting the boats on the river Obra. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. All myths and mythical creatures primarily come from the need to explain reality. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); The wedding is one of the most important family celebrations. 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. However, Polish heraldry was composed of local Slavic communities by mercenaries whose aim was to show who are they working for. 7 unique Polish traditions to savour - Real Word Feast of Greenery, September 8th (Matki Boskiej Zielnej) The belief was that those sitting down to eat must add up to an even number. I enjoy articles such as this that show us Pagan, Heathen, and Polytheist paths and people in areas outside of North America. Then there were Oprosiny or Zaprosiny (the invitations). DYNGUS DAY - April 10, 2023 - National Today (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Polish have a deep respect for their past and a pragmatic outlook on their future, which youll discover in great depth during your next visit to Poland. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. 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. These smaller sandwiches, called tartinki, are quite possibly responsible for transforming parties in Poland from seated affairs into standing ones. Drawning Marzanna in the village Jeziorzany in 2014 [Photo Credit: Jacek wierczyski]. When there is sickness in the household, the herbs are brewed and used for medicinal purposes, not only for the people, but for the livestock as well. Polish and Slavic Paganism - Sanctuary of the Phoenix In some areas of Poland, a loaf of common, everyday bread was placed on top of it and topped with more Oplatek. The wedding feast also followed established traditions. Fascinating how this and other native Eastern European practices have persevered under both Christianity and Communism. Polish traditions of the celebration of the dead is on April 30th, the second being on October 31st. Everyone sang the bridesmaids, the groomsman, the musicians and the wagon driver. And join more than 6 thousand other people. 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. The Legend of Leszek the Blacks Dream, Slavic Mythology: Myths, Creatures and Stories, Top Prague Festivals for Each Month of the Year. [Photo credit: Laszka]. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In the middle of the table is a lamb holding a cross which is made of sugar. On the last night of the wedding, the most important wedding custom of all took place. In Poland, no-one would dream of wishing their friend a good year on their birthday. The main obstacle is that there is no possibility to have a traditional burial. By Stanley Garczynski from PGS of Texas Polish Footprints Vol.XII No.4 Winter 1995. Skarbnik, or Treasurer in English, is a coal-mining creature with a human form which, according to the story, was a former miner who was called Walenty. Jacek found the flower and made a wish to become rich. The top of the spruce or pine was hung from a beam in the ceiling, with the tip facing down over the table where the Wigilia was to be held. 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. He enjoyed his life as a rich man but soon became nostalgic and wished to go back to his home village. The symbol of Dozynki was a Wieniec, [harvest wreath] which was presented to the landowner. Taking the young girl in his arms, the lord of the manor started dancing. However humble or intricate, the portable crib always portrayed the mysteries of the birth of the Infant Jesus. Native Polish Church - Wikipedia The entire procession stopped at the gate leading to the manor house, its members continuing to sing until the owner emerged. The Warsaw Mermaid is also a renowned symbol of Warsaw and her figure is part of the Polish capitals coat of arms. The candles were to symbolize the eternal light for which the soul yearns . Cyrillic Script: What Is It & Who Uses It? Jacke became thin as a twig out of sorrow and suffered all the time, learning that no happiness is possible without sharing. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The younger brother was killed by the older one, Lech, who lied that dragons devoured his brother. To clarify one of the statements in the article: The number of roughly 4,500 adherents was based on a census methodology that didnt ask every respondent the question, so its an extrapolation from a smaller number of people answering the question. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Traditions Only Poles Can Understand - Culture Trip According to a completely different version or interpretation of this legend, the Treasurer is a humanized creature with a white beard and a lamp who is forever stuck in the coal mines because he is punished for the murder of his daughter. From Slavic Rites to Old Polish and Modern Polish Christmas "It's how it sounds," I'd say. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In remembrance of the star of Bethlehem that hung over the manger the night of the birth of Christ and led the Three Kings to the newborn King, young boys dressed as the Three Kings in long, white pants with chasubles of black paper and paper crowns on their heads. The schedules also includes making flower wreaths and then floating the crowns on the Oder river, so make sure to attend if you want to feel like a real Slav! :178).Particularly important is the Christmas Eve supper, probably the only . 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. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); The legend describes Janosik as a man who robs the nobility and gives their valuables to the poor, just like Robin Hood did. 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. In every house, from the richest to the poorest, the table is spread with food that is blessed on Holy Saturday. On their way to the Mass, they carefully observed the heavens. April 9, 2019. For whatever its worth, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying has been published in Poland, so someone must be reading about eclectic American Paganism. According to this legend, the King and his knights were fighting a battle where Boleslaw lost his life. The one selected to represent St. Nicholas was usually driven in a sleigh to the homes in a Polish village. var ffid = 2; 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. In Poland, it took root in the 13th-15th centuries, and the tradition was to go door to door between 26 December (the second day of . Although Poles have some very ancient traditions reaching back to their pre-Christian roots, not many of them have survived up to these times. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-3-0_1'; Wedding traditions demanded that guests be invited in a certain obligatory manner. First, invitations were issued to relatives or friends to act as groomsmen or bridesmaids. It wasn't as bad as another kid in my elementary school classMichael . // embed.js CDN On that day in Poland, the youngsters are visited by Sw. Mikolaj. Szopka was a portable crib or manger scene carried by young boys from house to house. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; 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. Tradition dictates that this be a meatless dinner, that there should be an uneven number of dishes served. I didnt have the time to talk to him about it because we were both working. Tomasz Rogalinski calls Rodzimowiercy to ritual. Dyngus began somewhat around five in the morning, and the custom demanded that the house where the women slept be secretly invaded. Nothing was eaten all day except a little bread and water. What do Polish cities have in store this year? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. They visit from house to house singing songs, playing pranks, and merrymaking. 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. Near this settlement was the castle Wawel Hill where King Krakus ruled. This large wreath was made of a mixture of wheat and rye, sometimes one or the other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Eggs are blessed. The people decorate the graves with chrysanthemums, asters, and autumn flowers ~ and place candles and votive lights. The Obra Water Monster is a creature related to a folk tale similar to the one of the famous Loch Ness monster from Scotland. It's definitely not a Wiccan path, and because of the structure within the spirituality, it's not even something where you can swap out gods of other pantheons and insert the Roman deities. There was screaming, shouting, and confusion. 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. It was so essential and played such a vital roll in wedding activities that where other customs have disappeared altogether, the Oczepiny has survived to this day. The Wigilia supper is so special there is no other like it throughout the year. As a deeply Catholic country, Polish Easter traditions (PL:Wielkanoc) are taken very seriously. Palm Sunday, Easter palms. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; Kolda: An (Old) New Year Tradition in Poland He remembered that he mustnt share his fortune. So, share them in our comments below, Sign up to our newsletter and receive $250 of FREE Trafalgar travel credit. Slavic paganism - Wikipedia It is a Polish tradition to offer the birthday boy or girl 100 years of good wishes, good health and long life. Wigilia or Wilia, from the Latin word vigilare to watch, Czuwac in Polish, is reverently close to the heart of a Pole. He was dressed in a long white robe, wearing a tall head piece much like a bishops mitre, a long white flowing beard, and in his hand he held the shepherds staff. Today,that population isstill dwarfed by its Catholic counterpart, but its loyal practitionerscontinue tocultivate a Pagan thriving subculture. In fact, Easter in Poland is arguably the most import (Dzien Wszystkich Swietych Dzien Zaduszny) There must always be a roasted pigs head decked with flowers, ham, veal and the famous Polish sausage strongly flavored with garlic. 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. The story begins with the attack of the area near the town of Lublin by the armies Lithuanians and Yotvingians.
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