Often, singing or the reciting of old verses accompany the procession: Marzanna, Marzanna, swim across the seas. var t = d.createElement('script'); Polish Traditions: Wet Monday (migus Dyngus) - WPNA Written by Magda Marczewska on April 5, 2021 One of the craziest Polish traditions is Wet Monday - also known as migus Dyngus! 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. Special kits for painting eggs with a funneled pen, color dyes and a wax can be purchased in Ukrainian or Polish gift shops. The citys name was, of course, Warsaw. It does not store any personal data. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. published: Ewelina Nurczyk At the time, hungry Polish would use a thick slice of bread as a plate and then eat it. 04 of 11 Easter in Poland | Polish Easter Traditions & Foods - In Your Pocket 2014 - 2023Grupa MBE sp. St. Stephans Day marked the end of work contracts for the year; new bargains were struck for the upcoming year. 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. First, the engagement period Zareczyny or Zrekowiny. Polish are very proud of the traditional hospitality they may extend to a stranger who turns up at their door on Christmas eve (unlikely to happen, but not impossible). Also on Holy Saturday typically Polish ceremonies are performed in the church yard. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. 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. Native Polish Church or The Native Church of Poland, Rodzimy Koci Polski (RKP) - a West Slavic pagan religious association that refers to ethnic, pre-Christian beliefs of the Slavic people.The religion has its seat in Warsaw.Temples gathering local believers are spread throughout the country, The RKP was registered with the Polish Ministry of the Interior's registry of denominations . 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! The Easter meal includes traditional Polish dishes including urek, biaa kiebasy, boiled eggs, and an assortment of other foods and desserts. Pisanki from different regions of Poland can be distinguished by the unique patters. Today, the bishops and their priests do this. Crafted from the most beautiful ears of grain, the Dozynki wreath was made in the shape of a dome-shaped crown. Pisanki (Polish Easter Eggs) 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. Every year around 21st and 22nd of June, when the nights were extra short and the June solstice arrived, pagan people celebrated fire, water, fertility, love and joy - quite a pagan alternative to modern-day Valentines! ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; 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. Here Is How You Say It. Pagan religion is the default operating system of the human soul, so much so that I believe the essence of it is hardwired in some way. The vigil lasted until the burial in order to protect the dead soul from evil spirits. The main obstacle is that there is no possibility to have a traditional burial. 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 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. "It's how it sounds," I'd say. Throughout the Holy Week until the blessing of the fires on Holy Saturday, the Poles are engaged in traditional Easter activities. In Poland, Sw. Mikolaj is not an oversized man with red pompom topped cap, red Jacket, and riding boots. If she didnt it was believed that she would cry throughout her married life. The girls knock on the windows and sing songs in praise of their spruce tree. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; 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. There, Lech spotted a beautiful white eagle that seemed fierce and protective towards its cubs. The Wigilia supper is so special there is no other like it throughout the year. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. More about Warsaw Wianki 2018 here. Dyngus began somewhat around five in the morning, and the custom demanded that the house where the women slept be secretly invaded. Suddenly, a fairy came up to him and told him to go to the forest and find the flower of the fern which blossomed only on that night. To make up for this, someone was always invited to make up the deficiency, be it honored guest or wandering beggar. He believes, this type of sacred place could bring Pagans together despite their low numbers. XI No.2 Summer 1994 by Stan Garczynski, All Saints All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd, Feast of Greenery, September 8th (Matki Boskiej Zielnej), Polish Easter Customs (Polskie Tradycje Wielkanocne), St. Andrews Night, November 30th (Noc Sw. Andrzeja albo Andrzejki), St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (Sw. Mikolaja albo Mikolajki). We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Easter in Poland is a beautiful Polish holiday that straddles Christian and pagan traditions. 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 Polish villages, people would scare youngsters with the story about Latawiec that would seduce and get them if they werent careful enough and finally eat them alive. This cap was always held as special and reserved for wear to church, for special folk festivals, and on her death, for burial. One of them carried a large homemade star on a long pole that was lit from within by a candle, so that it could be seen in the dark of night. Laszka shared a narrative that is common in other parts of the worldwhereChristian traditions draw upon Pagan practices. Top 10 Polish Wedding Traditions - Meet the Slavs The younger brother was killed by the older one, Lech, who lied that dragons devoured his brother. 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. 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. And join more than 6 thousand other people. In Poland, fortune telling sets the mood for this evening of merriment which might be the theme for an autumn social gathering. The part of the festivities that everyone had been waiting for, the dancing and refreshments, began in earnest. During the drinking, everyone wished one another good health and fortune, kissed one another and if moved, sang patriotic songs. Yet, even in Poland, one of the most Christianized European countries, Pagan religionsare growing within the shadow of the Church. (https://wildhunt.org/2016/07/paganism-in-poland.html). All Saints All Souls Day, November 1st and 2nd One day, she decided to swim into the Vistula river from the Baltic Sea and as she was swimming upstream, she reached the area where Warsaw is today. The blessing by the parents were seen as more important than the church ceremony itself. 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. From drowning winter to getting hitched twice, Polish traditions and customs often border on the bizarre but are certainly a highlight to discover. The resin in the wood keeps the fire aglow and people keep waving these wooden torches in the wind to keep the fire intact until they get home. He further explained that the tenets of Rodzimowierstwo exclude creating religious mix or joining different faiths (in a way of joining patheons or following many paths). See you on a hopefully warm Saturday in the Podzamcze area, right next to the Multimedia Fountain Park and the Vistula! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2. pulling a wagon on which stood the driver, cracking his whip for everyone to get out of his way. As summer draws to an end, the Polish Feast of Greenery takes place on September 8th. 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. 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 . The entire family washed themselves in this water in order to assure plenty of money for the rest of their lives. migus-dyngus - Wikipedia One of the carolers played a musical instrument to accompany their songs. var lo = new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent); ins.style.display = 'block'; Dyngus Day is a Polish and Polish-American celebration on Easter Monday to mark the completion of Lent, and this year, it falls on April 10. All rights reserved. Traditionally, this dance was literally the first. The belief was that those sitting down to eat must add up to an even number. An odd number foretold that someone would not live to the next Christmas Eve supper. Read more about traditional Polish Easter recipes! It was believed that water on this day had the power to heal and prevent illness. 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 Legend of Janosik, the Polish Robin Hood, 8. The first recorded Polish writing on Dyngus dates back to the Middle Ages. Often rooted in religion, Polish traditions and customs remain as strong today as they did centuries ago. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. ins.className = 'adsbygoogle ezasloaded'; The white tablecloth is indicative of the white swaddling cloth with which Our Lord was wrapped when he was placed in the Holy Sepulcher. A traditional meat-free Wigilia meal has 12 courses drawn from forest and ocean, field and orchard, representing the months of the year. Slavic Magic: Rituals, Spells, and Herbs - Meet the Slavs 7. 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. This is consistent with my personal history. In olden days, Polish kings performed this rite. Easter observances in Poland actually begin on Ash Wednesday, when kocanki or bazie are cut and placed in water. The most common decorating technique is so called wax-flowing or wax-melting. 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. The Polish leave the chair open in the hope that these brave men would return. Religio Romana is a modern Pagan reconstructionist religion based upon the ancient faith of pre-Christian Rome. There are some clashes, but it is more connected to political rather than religious reasons. All Saints Day, November 1st, traditionally has been associated in Polish legend with ghosts and wayward souls. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); 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. The custom of Turon is named after the wild ox or tur, the largest and foremost of the animals that were prolific at one time throughout Europe and caused great damage to the villages. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-3-0_1'; In 1954, the Polish writer Ewa Szelburg Zarembina composed a fairy tale inspired by the folklore motifs of the Warsaw Mermaid Story. . 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. When the graves are decorated and countless flickering frame cast their haunting shadows amid the dusk, the mood is set for an outdoor service and prayers for departed souls. I enjoy articles such as this that show us Pagan, Heathen, and Polytheist paths and people in areas outside of North America. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); The entire procession stopped at the gate leading to the manor house, its members continuing to sing until the owner emerged. It is, in fact, unique among Pagan paths. 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. 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 . Slavic paganism - Wikipedia 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. The tensions between the pagans and Christians were boiling, escalating with the Pagan Reaction in 1030s uprisings which destabilized the new Polish kingdom. XI No.1 Spring 1994 by Stan Garczynski. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. After obtaining permission to enter the house, the boys sang both religious and popular Christmas carols. He was supposed to pass down what he learned to the eldest in the next generation: my mother. Rogalinski explained more of the tenets of this native religion, which varies depending upon the source material. Along with the practice of Wicca and Rodzimowierstwo, age-old folk magic traditions continue to be practiced in Poland. It was published in Czech by Grade Publications, a.s. http://www.grada.cz. 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. However, in the view of Nefrestim, who is a second-generation Wiccan, the current governments conservative bent does make practicing openly uncomfortable. If you require more information please view our. The couple always sat at the table which was located along the wall containing holy pictures. Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click JOIN. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Polish Easter Customs (Polskie Tradycje Wielkanocne) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The humble open sandwich was created as far back as medieval times. for fair and mild spring. It gets especially serious when it comes to food-related events. Leaving the church ceremony, the bride sometimes threw handfuls of straw on the young boys and girls who followed the wedding party. When their buds open in a few days, this is regarded as a good omen If you happen to visit Poland the day before Lent, take a gander at the snaking queues outside every bakery. In fact, Easter in Poland is arguably the most import Wesele The Wedding One result of Church domination is a form of syncretic polytheism. Polish mythology is mainly associated with distinctive and vivid demonology full of monstrous creatures, witches, evil spirits, and werewolves. He first encountered the tradition in 1978, before it had acquired the standardized name. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. Leszek the Black started thinking about what is the right thing to do. (eiderdown)! Those caught rebelling were deported to Siberia. They then literally throw winter into a lake or a river to drown. 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. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-3-0'; Mythologies have fascinated humanity and civilizations for centuries. Polish Paganism Today - Meet the Slavs The legend of Janosik who is considered the Polish Robin Hoon, tells the story of Juraj Janosik who was a Slovak highwayman. Sounding distinctly like canap, the Polish version of the open sandwich, known as kanapki, only appeared at the end of the 19th century. From the PGST News Vol. (function (d) { 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 origin of this custom is unknown. On the wedding day it was customary to have musicians playing as the wedding guest began arriving at the Dom Weselny (wedding home). Eggs were once a part of Polish pagan tradition and still symbolize spring, renewal, fertility, and eternity. Meet the Slavs is your most comprehensive online resource about Slavic people, their cuisine, culture, history, mythology, and more. Although sad, it is a remarkable sight to see and experience. These willow twigs are used on Palm Sunday as palms to be blessed in the church. The Easter season in Poland ends on Monday when the traditional dyngussmigus custom is observed. Native Polish Church - Wikipedia Polish and Slavic Paganism - Sanctuary of the Phoenix It is greeted with such mystical symbolism, that it is considered by many to be a greater holiday than Christmas itself. Today, All Saints All Souls Day is celebrated in a very solemn manner in Poland. The Legend of King Boleslaw, the Brave, and his Knights is about a mighty and courageous ruler who has united Poland and exalted her state power. There must always be a roasted pigs head decked with flowers, ham, veal and the famous Polish sausage strongly flavored with garlic. var lo = new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent); The circles are a challenge [to be] understood in a positive way, not a negative one, Rogalinski acknowledged. The first shoe to go over the threshold is that of the girl who will marry the earliest. Thank You in Polish? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The first preparation for Christmas Eve began very early, right after midnight. Going back to the earliest, notable stages of history, we may conclude that many phenomena were hard to be comprehended and one of the ways to tackle this was to create a belief system that will put the existence of supernatural powers and creatures forward. Desserts really steal the show on Easter and often consist of cakes such as babka, mazurek, sernik (cheesecake) and more! Polish Legends, Traditions and Holidays - Polish Genealogical Society Jacek found the flower and made a wish to become rich. Parties begin mid-morning with a buffet of traditional cuisine and last until after daybreak on Tuesday. Copyright Trafalgar Tours, all rights reserved. Manage Settings In some sections of Poland old custom forbade the exclusion of anyone in the village from being invited to the wedding. Single girls pour hot, melted wax into a bowl of cold water, and the hardened wax is then held up to the light. We use cookies to analyze our traffic, enhance our websites functionality and performance, and a better experience for our users. var pid = 'ca-pub-6145023705656770'; Polish only know one way to make and eat their sandwiches and that is open. Siliniez - A wood god from Poland who moss was sacred; his altar fire was kept burning only with moss. The church bells silenced on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, are now rung on Saturday at midnight in noisy celebration heralding the risen Lord. 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. The native religion of Poland could be a mixture of Catholicism with the old, Pagan customs and practices, including the magical ones, said Verm. When he came back to the village, no one recognized him and he went back to his castle. 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). container.appendChild(ins); St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (Sw. Mikolaja albo Mikolajki) Slavic Rodzimowiercy groups registered with the Polish authorities in 1995 are the Native Polish Church (Rodzimy Koci Polski), which represents a pagan tradition which goes back to pre-Christian faiths and continues Wadysaw Koodziej's 1921 Holy Circle of Worshipper of wiatowid (wite Koo Czcicieli wiatowida), and the Polish . The most popular Pagan path practiced in Poland is Rodzimowierstwo (native faith), an indigenous form of Slavic polytheism. Still, the client base has not grown large enough to support many such businesses yet; online shops fill that gap, especially for Pagans who dont live in the larger cities. Verm said that long-standing disputes can make it difficult for Pagans to cooperate at times. My grandfather was a koldun or village healer in his native land and continued the practice when he came to the US in 1912. Oops! 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. You can also see what it looked like last year! Tomasz Rogalinski is one such practitioner. Up with the Piwezyny! 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. According to folklorists, the reason why these creatures are presented in the common nature surroundings of people is that in the past conditions in nature were so harsh that people focused stores on the hardships that they had to face and overcome. After getting the girls out of their beds, the boys will douse them with water.
