Traditions

December 4, 2018
Saint Nicholas, Święty Mikołaj or even Santa Claus – will he visit you on 6th?

When the cold wind bites and the rain patters on the window, listen carefully for a gentle knock on the door. If you open it even just a crack, the bajka...

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March 29, 2018
Święcone – What to put in your Polish Easter basket

It's time to hunt out the basket for the annual Święcone (Easter basket blessing). This tradition dates back many centuries when priests would visit homes blessing all the Easter food....

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March 9, 2018
How Polish Post just isn’t like Lent

My mother told me she was going to polish church this week to get a real feeing of Polish Lent, which made me think about how the whole period of...

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February 3, 2018
Will you be eating Pączki or Faworki for Polish Fat Thursday?

My English childminder carried out a vote amongst her children as to whether they’d like to celebrate Chinese New Year, Pancake Day or Fat Thursday and guess which one was...

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January 27, 2018
Is the obrus/tablecloth doomed?

Last year John Lewis declared that the tablecloth is on its “dying out” list. In store, many are permanently on offer. Clearly there are fewer families eating meals together at...

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December 27, 2017
Hej Kolęda, Kolęda!

Carollers (Kolędnicy) on the whole sing about the Nativity, but in Poland the tradition of Kolęda doesn't just focus on the birth of Jesus. From 26th December, St Szczepan's (St Stephen's)...

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December 14, 2017
Messages for your Christmas cards in Polish/English

Christmas Greeting Guide Stuck on those Polish Christmas cards greetings? Feel that there's nothing to add in English to the "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" already in that Christmas...

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December 9, 2017
Last minute Polish Christmas gift guide

Polish Christmas Gift Guide Still looking for the perfect present for someone of Polish heritage or just love all things Polish?  Read on for some late ideas for friends, children...

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November 29, 2017
Your future is revealed – Andrzejki or St Andrew’s Eve

This weekend I will be getting together with a group of young girls and amongst hoots of laughter and hysterics about whether they will get married, become spinsters or nuns,...

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October 28, 2017
Five reasons Polish Zaduszki win over Halloween

As I returned today from cleaning Polish graves at our local cemetery with the scouts, in time for Zaduszki (All Saints and All Souls Days) on 1 and 2 November,...

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