Cookery, songs, dances, handcrafts throughout Europe.: Poland

Showing posts with label Poland. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Just before the Christmas break all the teachers, pupils and their parents gathered at our school to celebrate this special occasion and wish each other a Very Merry Christmas!
A group of the students prepared a Nativity play and our school choir sang the most beautiful Christmas carols. After the performance we exchanged greetings by sharing a Christmas wafer. Than we sat together at a big table to taste some traditional dishes like cabbage and mushroom dumplings, fish or beetroot soup. We enjoyed our company but then it was time to go home…we knew we would meet again not earlier than next year…

Monday, December 21, 2009

The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, usually on the 6th of December, is a festival for children in many countries in Europe, including Poland. It is related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. In Poland, on Saint Nicholas Day (‘Mikołaj’) brings gifts to children. If he doesn't come in person, treats
( candies and small gifts ) are put under sleeping children's pillows or left in freshly cleaned and polished shoes left out for the saint the morning of the 6th of December.
Every year Saint Nicolas is a guest at our school. Also this year he visited our pupils, commended them for their good behaviour over the past year and exhorted them to continue in the same manner in the year to come. If they fail to do so they will receive a gift which is called ‘rózga’ - a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them.
The meeting was a great opportunity for all of us not only to see Saint Nicolas alive but also to sing some traditional Christmas carols and songs ( also in English!).

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

In Poland, we like to celebrate the Woman’s and the Man’s Days. In September we organized a big barbecue ( or a camp fire if you like ) for our ‘little men’. We had nice sausages, baked potatoes, songs and dances. All the boys got small presents from their female friends and we played some nice games on the school playground. It was a great day for all of us.

Here are some photographs of our students and teachers taken on one of the most celebrated nameday in Poland, St. Andrew’s Day. We call it ‘Andrzejki’, which can be translated as ‘little Andrews’. It is a special occasion that takes place on the 30th of November all over our country. During this feast lots of people get together for parties. In Poland, it is a great tradition to prepare many different games that are to help us to predict the future This year we met to play some games, sing, dance and, most importantly, to tell fortunes and generally have fun.