Polish only know one way to make and eat their sandwiches and that is open. Christmas day was the beginning of the twelve-day period from Christmas which was called Gody These twelve days were observed very carefully, for it was believed among the Polish people that Christmas Day and each of the following eleven days foretold the weather for the equivalent month of the year. 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. Another traditional pastime is for the girls to toss their shoes to the middle of the floor. 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. Candlemas in the term when we have Weles festival, Saint Johns festival on Kupaa, etc.). Skarbnik was wandering around the mines and observing, According to the legend, he is hidden but if one whistle, Skarbnik shows up and may punch one in the face. 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 nights were also part of the prognostication. Copyright Trafalgar Tours, all rights reserved. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The custom of caroling in Poland, or Chodzenie Po Koledzie, began on St. Stephans and lasted until the Feast of the Purification on February 2. One celebrates an Obiat (a feast) in memory of the deceased. Sw. Mikolaj does not live at the North Pole, but up in Heaven. It is, in fact, unique among Pagan paths. On Tuesday, the girls are supposed to reciprocate in kind. Here Is How You Say It. Leszek the Black started thinking about what is the right thing to do. 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). Adherents tend to use a reconstructionist methodology to rebuild their native faith, which has not spread through the English-speaking world as widely as some other European-based Heathen religions. Then they are taken home and placed by the holy picture of the Blessed Mother, and remain there until the next year. If you happen to visit Poland the day before Lent, take a gander at the snaking queues outside every bakery. And the more they are annoyed, the more we dump water on them calling, Dyngus Smigus! Leszek Czarny found the dream to be prophetic and decided to fight further his enemies. Photo Gallery and Description of Poland Culture Page 1 - TripSavvy First, invitations were issued to relatives or friends to act as groomsmen or bridesmaids. On both days, at twilight, the Poles make pilgrimages to their local cemeteries. In 1863, there was an uprising triggered by the forced enlistment of Polish men into the Russian Army. 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. migus-dyngus - Wikipedia Their particular repertoire was to walk throughout the village singing carols. 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. 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 Paganism - Polish Toledo - Archive of Okana - Poland When he came back to the village, no one recognized him and he went back to his castle. 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! He enjoyed his life as a rich man but soon became nostalgic and wished to go back to his home village. After everyone had an opportunity to share the wafer, the supper could begin. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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. A traditional meat-free Wigilia meal has 12 courses drawn from forest and ocean, field and orchard, representing the months of the year. January uprisingThe last explanation is more recent. People believed that the water female spirits actually missed the human world which they once knew so they wanted to share company with men by encountering them and asking bread, salt, or onions from them. In some parts of Poland, the bride and groom took bread with them which had been given them during blessings. 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. Mirrors were turned to the wall so that the soul would not be captured in the room. Written by Magda Marczewska on April 5, 2021 One of the craziest Polish traditions is Wet Monday - also known as migus Dyngus! Palm Sunday in Poland Janoshik was the staple character of many novels, films, and poems in modern times. 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. 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. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit. 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. The practice is symbolic for sending the winter away and preparing nature for spring and its rebirth. Polish traditions through the year are full of superstitions, rituals, and holiday celebrations. It was decorated with flowers, ribbons, hazelnuts, and the fruit of the mountain ash tree. This is consistent with my personal history. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. The men crept through a window or through a chimney. He gathers his mighty knights and takes off on a quest. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); From the PGST News Vol. The entire procession stopped at the gate leading to the manor house, its members continuing to sing until the owner emerged. Pisanki (Polish Easter Eggs) Wianki - ancient Polish tradition in modern times 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 . Also on Holy Saturday typically Polish ceremonies are performed in the church yard. We have been struggling for it for ages (our judiciary system is very slow and the case may even require the changing of the law).. 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. Taking the young girl in his arms, the lord of the manor started dancing. The Legend of Leszek the Blacks Dream, Slavic Mythology: Myths, Creatures and Stories, Top Prague Festivals for Each Month of the Year. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); In the middle of the table is a lamb holding a cross which is made of sugar. We are the most comprehensive English language resource dedicated to educating the world about ancient Slavs and modern Slavic nations alike. by Stanley Garczynski from PGS of Texas Polish Footprints Vol.XII No.4 Winter 1995. There will be less pop music and more real histry of ancient Slavic tribes. Polish law does not provide it. Koldowanie, as it is known in Polish, is actually a pagan tradition and is not limited to Poland. The pagan Poles bickered with nature Dingen by means of pouring water and switching with willows to make themselves pure and worthy of the coming year. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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 . Today, the bishops and their priests do this. while the city was named in recognition of Krakus II. Smigus Dyngus One celebrates an Obiat (a feast) in memory of the deceased. Fish was served in the families who could afford it. In some sections of Poland old custom forbade the exclusion of anyone in the village from being invited to the wedding. The shadow may also contain a clue to who the future husband might be (traits, interests, occupation). In Poland, no-one would dream of wishing their friend a good year on their birthday. Polish Mythology: Creatures and History - Meet the Slavs Polish Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations - TripSavvy In preparation of this most important meal of the year, the table was first covered with straw or hay, and then with a white tablecloth. 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. From the PGST News Vol. Before approaching the Wigilia table, the family knelt down on the floor and prayed together out loud, grateful for all the blessings of the past year. These bouquets are carried home and kept until the name day of the following year. Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click JOIN. My Belarussian grandfather married a Polish woman. The native religion of Poland could be a mixture of Catholicism with the old, Pagan customs and practices, including the magical ones, said Verm. Salt had equal footing with bread in all family customs from birth to death. The main event on the night of engagement was the tying together of the hands of the couple to be married. The Polish believe the girl who gets the most soaked in the celebration will be the first to marry. Top 10 Polish Wedding Traditions - Meet the Slavs So, share them in our comments below, Sign up to our newsletter and receive $250 of FREE Trafalgar travel credit.