Traditions and everyday life in PolandFestivals, family customs, favourite places and everyday traditions, written by members of Global Penfriends who live in Poland. Each cultural keepsake is a short note about life where they are.
54 keepsakes from Poland · page 1 of 2
If you ever visit Wrocław, Poland, don't be surprised if you find yourself looking down rather than up while exploring the city! Hidden along the streets, sitting on windowsills, standing outside shops and peeking around corners…
Shared by Marion Pogo
The Warsaw Wianki, or "Wreaths," is a vibrant celebration held in early June, marking the beginning of summer and linked to the ancient Slavic festival of Kupala Night. This tradition dates back to when people would gather to…
Shared by GasparTheKacper
We celebrate Christmas on the 24 instead of 25. it's a special day when families gather for a formal dinner with traditionally twelve meatless dishes. Poles also share a wafer, known as "opłatek," before the meal, exchanging well…
Shared by yuliaa_
What or who is a bebok? Bebok is a creature that Silesian children hear about very often. It can be stated that bebok is a kind of aid in raising and disciplining the youngest Silesians. Parents wanting to frighten a child or…
Shared by Kanashii
There’s no other place like Cracow. It’s my beloved home city. One, I keep coming back to. I could flood you with the list of monuments and travel guide’s must-sees, like Old Town Square, Kanonicza street, chess tables near the…
Shared by Magnis
Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis began on the 1st of August 1944 and ended on the 2nd October 1944. The Uprising was fought for 63 days with little outside support. It was the single largest military effort taken by any European…
Shared by Drobna234
Prom in Poland is an event organised on last year of highschool around January/February to celebrate 100 days to high school leaving examination called matura. We learn to dance national dance called polonez and later on we have…
Shared by Blamszka
Zdzisław Beksiński was murdered in his apartment in Warsaw on the night of 21–22 February 2005, a few days before his 76th birthday. best known for his haunting, surreal and dystopian imagery. His works often depicted nightmarish…
Shared by rosemary04
There is a legend about the mermaid, which is the symbol of Warsaw. The mermaid decided to stay after stopping on a riverbank near the Old Town. Fishermen noticed something was creating waves, tangling nets, and releasing their…
Shared by Drobna234
August 15 is a public holiday each year. It celebrates two holidays: 1) Polish Army Day, which is on the anniversary od the victorious battle of 1920 against Russian army (we call it "cud nad Wisłą" which means "Miracle onthe…
Shared by Kinia8
Śmigus-dyngus, Lany Poniedziałek (Wet Monday), or Dyngus Day is a Polish holiday celebrated on Easter Monday. As the name may suggest, the main objective of the day is to pour a bunch of water on other people! Historically, it…
Shared by gszypek
monday after easter there's this day called (and here's a literal translation) - the wet monday (or the preferred name : smigus-dyngus) - its a tradition where boys splash water all over girls (they like - but thats not rlly…
Shared by nina6428
If You are a Lord of the rings fan and looking a place to escape from daily life...you may come here to the south/easter border of Poland. Small village Krzywcza and in the forest hill above You will find a place called…
Shared by AwariSakura
Me and my classmates prepared action supporting people of different orientation. We organized one school week during we dressed in rainbow colors. On Monday - red dress code, Tuesday - yellow dress code, Wednesday - green dress…
Shared by jacobsowinski
In Warsaw, one of the most beloved cultural traditions is visiting Łazienki Park, especially on Sundays in summer when free outdoor Chopin concerts are held by the famous monument. People sit on the grass, relax, and listen to…
Shared by Anna W
I come from a region in Poland with loads of coal mining. In the process of retrieving coal, Poles have thought that making mountains out of the rests would be a good idea. Those mountains keep burning for some years but…
Shared by GryfnoFrelka
"Topienie Marzanny" or "Drowning of Marzanna" is a Polish tradition accompanying the changing seasons of winter and spring. In order to really welcome spring, we prepare a doll called Marzanna. It can be made of straw, sticks…
Shared by Soffie
Stary Rynek - the main city square in Poznań, designated around 1253 as the central place of the incorporated city. It is a square with a side length of 141 meters, and three streets extend from each wall, two of which are at the…
Shared by ABK
One of my favourite things about Poland is the Pol'and'Rock Festival, often called the "Polish Woodstock" as it was inspired by the legendary 1969 event and shares its spirit of peace, freedom, and community. I absolutely love…
Shared by kasja00
Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of the Nazi ghettos during World War II. It was established in 1940. Approximately 460 000 were imprisoned there. They were deported from there to Nazi concentration camps. On April 19, 1943 there…
Shared by Drobna234
poland isnt really recognised for its folklore, but its so much fun to learn about. Our cultural outfits are extremely colourful and we have many holidays that celebrate our culture. Midsummer is the most popluar one, where girls…
Shared by k0rni
Tłusty Czwartek (Fat Thursday) is a special day in Poland when you can eat how many donuts you want without remorse. The celebration takes place on the last Thursday before Lent. Old polish superstition says if you eat a donut on…
Shared by zvmb11
All over Wrocław there are these silly little sculptures of various dwarves, sometimes they're symbolic like the latest one, who's meant to thank the citizens of the whole Lower Silesian region who helped during this year's…
Shared by kozavkx
There are 17 World Heritage Sites in Poland and 5 others on a tentative list which are waiting for being considered for nomination. The most famous are: Historic Centre of Kraków, Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau…
Shared by Mirka47
The Tatra Mountains are the highest mountain range in Poland. It's a popular holiday destination if you like to spend time actively in an impresive nature environment. Maybe it's not as high as the Himalayas (highiest peak, Rysy…
Shared by Krzysztof
In Poland there is a day called "Fat Thursday". During this day we eat a lot of donuts! People here are obssesed with it to the point where some book them in restaurants. Sometimes we do small competitions on who ate the most…
Shared by salaugustine
In Poland we have something called "greasy thursday", this is the thursday 52 days before easter. This day everybody has to eat at least one pączek, which is donut without the hole, or faworek, which is some kind of cookie you…
Shared by burgers123
Well... what you can expect from a country placed in the wrong spot, at the wrong time so many times? The people of idea, with strong feeling of justice and... humanity, in the core of this word. Also brave, sometimes bold and…
Shared by Rick Ventura
At this day, for many years, there has been organized the independence march. Thousand of peoples come to Warsaw, just to attend this event. Everything becomes red and white! This day is very, very beautiful and emotional day for…
Shared by lykosia
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