What are some culture traits of Poland?

Answer 1

Polish Wedding Traditions In Polish weddings the celebrations may continue for two or three days. In the past, the engagement ceremony was organized by the future groom as a formal family gathering, during which he asked his chosen lady to marry him. In the recent years this custom has changed and today an engagement is much more personal and intimate. An elegant dinner party afterwards is still a nice way to inform the closest family members about the couples' decision to get married. In some regions of Poland the tradition to invite the wedding guests in person is still upheld. Many young couples, accompanied by the parents, visit their family and friends to hand them the wedding invitations personally. According to the old tradition a groom arrives with his parents at the house of a bride just before the wedding ceremony. At that time both parents and parents-in-law give a young couple their blessing. The couple enter the church together and walks up to the altar followed by two witnesses and the parents. In Poland it is quite unusual for the bride to be walked down the aisle or to have bridesmaids and groomsmen in a wedding. The couple is assisted by two witnesses, a man (usually grooms' side) and a woman (usually brides' side) who are either family members or close friends. The Polish bride traditionally wears a white dress and a veil. The groom, on the other hand usually wears a fitted suit with a bow tie and a boutonniere that matches the brides' bouquet. During the ceremony wedding rings are exchanged and both the husband and wife wear them on their right hand. When they leave the church the guests toss rice or coins at the married couple for good and prosperous future together. Right after the ceremony the closest family and all the guest form a line in the front of the church to congratulate the newlyweds and wish them love and happiness. As soon as the married couple leave the church they get showered with rice for luck or guests drop coins at their feet for them to pick up. Once all the guests have showered the couple with kisses, hugs and flowers everyone heads to the reception. It is a custom in Poland to prepare "passing gates" on the way to the reception for the newlyweds, who in order to pass have to give the "gate keepers" some vodka. This is a misinterpretation of an earlier tradition, when the "passing gates" were built when the bride was an orphan and money collected by "gate keepers" from the guests was handed over to the bride as her dowry (being orphan implied usually poverty). The married couple is welcomed at the reception place by the parents with bread and salt. The bread symbolizes the prosperity, salt stands for hardship of life, the parents wish the young couple that they never go hungry and learn how to deal with every day hardships together. The wedding party lasts (and the bride and groom remain) until the last guest leaves, usually until morning.

Answer 2

Poland is a land of intriguing traditions traditions and legends. So important is the first star of the night that Christmas Eve has been given the affectionate name of "little star" or "Gwiazdka," in remembrance of the star of Bethlehem. On that night, all watch the sky anxiously, hoping to be the first to cry out, "The star!' The moment the star appears, everyone exchanges greetings and good wishes. Families unite for the most carefully planned meal of the year, "Wigilia," Christmas supper. According to tradition, bits of hay have been spread beneath the table cloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger. An even number of people must be seated around the table or tradition states someone might die in the coming year.

Although "Wigilia" is a family feast, it's considered back luck to entertain a guest on this sacred night. In some places an empty place setting is left at the table in case a stranger should happen arrive.

Traditionally, there is no meat served during "Wigilia." Still, the meal is plentiful and luxurious. It begins with the breaking of the "Oplatek," a semi-transparent wafer of unleavened dough, stamped with scenes of the nativity. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ. Custom prescribes that the number of dishes in the meal be odd, 9 or 11. An even number would eliminate any hope of an increase in wealth, children or anything desirable.

Though the dishes vary between regions, certain items are found almost everywhere. Poppy seed cake, beet soup, prune dumplings and noodles with poppy seed are universally Polish.

After supper, family and guests stay at the table until, at a signal from the host, they all rise in unison and leave. This is the result of an old belief that the first to rise will die before the next Christmas Eve. In some villages the peasants save the crumbs from this festive meal so they can sow them in the Spring. They are said to give medicinal power to the grasses upon which they are sprinkled.

The remainder of the evening is given to stories and songs around the Christmas tree. It is decorated with nuts, apples and ornaments made from eggshells, colored paper, straw, and painted. Christmas gifts are tucked below the tree. In some places, children are taught that "The Little Star" brings the gifts. As presents are wrapped, a rollers may float from house to house, receiving treats from tree and table. At midnight, the little ones are put to bed and the elders attend "Pasterka," or Shepherd's Mass.

Something that I discovered recently, is that Polish people often decorate at Christmas with Spiders and their webs. Spiders are considered good luck, apparently because it is believed that spiders wove a blanket for the baby Jesus, isn't that lovely

Answer 3

Fat thursday

Answer 4

what are the traditions of poland