polish heritage

 Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia!

It has come to PACT's attention that the International festival has been scrapped this year due to financial difficulties of the Civic Center.  We are not sure if this is true or not but will try to verify the information.  Go to their website below for more information and updates. 

The third annual Toledo Sister Cities International Festival will be held Saturday, March 24, 2012 in the Civic Center Promenade at the Erie Street Market. A full range of cultures and performances is planned from 12 noon until 8:00 pm. A Parade of Nations will open the event at noon.

The afternoon and early evening event will feature food, dancing, music and other performances by participants celebrating cultures from around the world. Toledo is privileged to have sister cities in Spain, China, Hungary, Poland, Japan, Tanzania, Germany, Lebanon, Pakistan, India and Egypt, and additional sister cities are in the works. The festival will also feature local community groups. Last year, some 24 groups performed. An expanded list of local ethnic restaurants will serve international fare. World beers will be available at a pavilion, and vendors will be on hand to offer crafts and other goods. Activities are planned for children to enjoy; children under 10 will be free. Come see, hear, or eat samplings from different cultures and join together with some 2,000 participants in this celebration of international diversity!

More details, including ticket prices and performance information will be forthcoming as members of Toledo Sister Cities partners work to bring this 3rd International Festival to life.

 Jackie Konwinski, President of the Toledo Genealogical Society, has graciously agreed to give a presentation on how to go about finding your family history. More information regarding this presentation will be available soon.  PACT has had to move Jackie's presentation to a later date.  Jackie will be giving her presentation in May.  The date of the presentation will be announced when we finalize the date.

 "Szopki"

                                 

 Ed Zawadzki is passionate about his Polish heritage and he's not afraid to tell everyone he meets.  Ed spoke of the many historical accomplishments of the Polish people in his recent visit to Toledo from the Hussars, the best cavalry unit in Europe, even the entire world to middleweight boxing champion, Tony Zale.  He spoke at the Toledo Polish Genealogy Society, and the Kielbasa Dinner and Heritage Presentation sponsored by the Polish American Community of Toledo. He also made a visit to Zavotski's Meats and Deli for a book signing. His love of his Polish ancestry was evident as he talked about his parents struggles in nazi work camps during World War II.  Everyone loved his presentation but were really enamored with Wanda Zawadzki, his 92 year old mother who accompanied him and was his inspiration for writing his book, "Poles in the New World". Ed's book highlights 50 famous, and some infamous, Polish immigrants who made their homes in North America.  If you didn't get to see Ed's presentation, do not despair; Ed is planning another visit to Toledo next summer.  To order his book, go to http://www.polesworld.com.

Czepek dance - Money dance

The money dance is also an original Polish custom. It takes place after the oczepiny ceremony. Guests pay money for the privilege of dancing with the bride. The maid of honor collects money for the couple to use as they set-up their household together. Today guests pay to dance with both the bride and the groom. At the end of this ceremony, the bride and the groom dance together while the money is counted to determine who has collected more. 
  
Wedding cake

The ceremonial wedding cake is believed to be derived from the Romans. This custom was continued throughout Europe for centuries. The first documented record of a special cake served at Polish weddings dates back to the thirteen century. This was a sweet bread in an oval shape called kolacz. Today the wedding cake has become a show piece, prepared by a professional baker complete with sculpted flowers and monograms. 
  
Poprawiny

In old days, the wedding ceremonies continued for several days. Now weddings last only for one or two days, mainly because the modern tempo forbids feasts that go on for several days.  The party on the second day is called poprawiny (do over again). Our poprawiny is after the Sunday mass between 12:00 and 2:00pm

 Description of Polish Wedding Customs

Wedding day

The wedding day is full of activities and emotions, alternating between sorrow and joy, solemnity and humor.

Early in the morning, the closest relatives begin to appear at the bride's home for breakfast and to help in preparations for the ceremony.  Next, there is a wedding ceremony at the local church, followed by the reception at the local community house (the bride's family cottage could hardly accommodate all the wedding guests including relatives, friends, and the entire village.)

Greeting with bread & salt

As the newly married couple returns from the church, they are greeted at the door of the reception hall by their parents with bread (chleb) and salt (sol). In some regions of Poland a glass of vodka is added. The groom sprinkles the bread with salt, the newlyweds both kiss the bread while the parents say "may you never lack it" (oby Wam go nigdy nie brakowalo). This ceremony is full of strong emotions. Often themorning, the closest relatives begin to appear at the bride's home for breakfast and to help in preparations for the ceremony.  Next, there is a wedding ceremony at the local church, followed by the reception at the local community house (the bride's family cottage could hardly accommodate all the wedding guests including relatives, friends, and the entire village.) newly-married couple, their parents, and guests cry during this ritual. In Poland, bread is considered a gift of God and must always be treated with deep respect. Salt which comes from the earth, is a basic necessity of life. Poles combine the "Gift of God", and the "basic necessity of life", and offer them on a tray on various occasions as a gesture of hospitality. 

  
Oczepiny - the unveiling and capping ceremony 

Oczepiny is one of the oldest and the most important of Polish wedding customs. In old days, it was so significant that only after oczepiny, and not the church ceremony, was the bride considered to be a married woman. Before oczepiny, the bride socializes and dances with her unmarried female friends. After oczepiny, she belongs to the married women's circle. The bride tries to delay the oczepiny ceremony, but it is up to the best man to decide when oczepiny will begin. On his command, the band performs the drum roll, and the bride is placed on dance floor, in a chair facing the guests. The maid of honor and the bride's mother-in-law stand at her side. All of the unmarried girls stand behind the bride. Married woman light candles, and surround the bride while singing. Next, the maiden of honor, removes the bride's veil. This is not an easy, as the bridesmaids have secured it with so many hairpins. Finally, the bride casts the veil behind her, and the girl who catches the veil is the next to marry.  Now the married women take over. In old days they would cut the braid off the bride's hair. Nowadays, the bride?s hair is covered with a marriage cap, a gift from the bride's godmother. The bride tries to delay this event as long as possible by throwing the cap off. Finally, she accepts the cap and at this moment, is officially a married woman. Still holding candles and singing, the married woman present the bride in her wedding cap to the wedding guests. From now on, the bride socializes only with the married women.

Music

Music is an important part of the wedding reception. The music must be lively and must continue with very few breaks. Guests typically pay the band for a specific dance. The success of the marriage is thought to depend on the amount of spontaneity and joy at the reception. A Polish proverb states "Jakie wesele takie pozycie" (like wedding, like life). 

Singing

During the reception, most of the singing is done in chorus - often in two choruses. The bridesmaids usually sing one verse, then the married women respond with their verse. There is singing also by the guests at the table, praising the food and thanking their hosts. 

Dancing

The dancing is done primarily for amusement, self-expression and happiness. It is a tradition that each man must dance with the bride, and with every woman and girl at the wedding. All guests at a Polish wedding must be prepared to dance, and dance, and dance. 

Table setting

The tables are arranged in a U-shape, with the bride and groom in the middle surrounded by their parents, the maid of honor(druchna), best man (druzba), and important guests. The bride?s extended family is seated on the right side, while the groom?s family is on the left.

Wedding Dinner

Traditionally, the first course for a wedding dinner is soup, usually chicken noodle soup. The second course is meat, chicken or pork. 
  
Photography

Taking pictures at the wedding is a very important tradition in Poland as is here in the US. Usually, the newlyweds, parents and druchna and druzba drive to the closest city for a sitting with a professional photographer. Alternatively, the photographer may come to the wedding to take pictures of the married couple with their wedding guests. Thus, we too will take pictures of the guests with the newlyweds.

Crossing the threshold 

The bride and groom compete to cross the threshold first when coming into the reception hall. This determines who will rule their household. The bride is earnest in her attempts, but the best man is watching and will quickly shout "Step back, please!" if he sees her winning. Nowadays, the groom usually takes the bride in his arms and they pass over the threshold together, demonstrating that she allows him to rule the house, and that he will take great care of her and her needs.

   October is Polish Heritage Month!

Pride in Our Heritage

The Polish American Journal proudly joins Polish American organizations, schools, churches, libraries, and cultural groups throughout the United States in celebrating Polish American Heritage Month. As Polish Americans, we have so many outstanding accomplishments of which we can be proud. The most influential religious leader on Earth, Pope John Paul II, shares our heritage. Throughout the 1970's and 80's Poles stood alone in their struggle for freedom against communist tyranny; they became the beacon of hope for all other Eastern bloc countries and proved it was possible for small countries to receive their national identity and break away from the U.S.S.R. The contributions which Poles have made to science, technology, music, art and literature are outstanding. Yes, indeed we can be proud of our Polish American heritage.

The concept of designating a special month in which to celebrate our heritage was begun in Pennsylvania in 1981 at the suggestion of Michael Blichasz, a Polish American activist in Philadelphia. At that time, August was designated Polish American Heritage Month and it was only celbrated in Pennsylvania. However, in 1986, Blichasz, president of the Eastern Pennsylvania District of the Polish American Congress and of the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia, made a proposal at a national PAC meeting that Heritage Month be celebrated nation wide. His proposal was adopted, however, the month was changed to October, which coincides with the death of General Casimir Pulaski. The celebration in October is also more practical because it allows school children to participate in activities which would not be possible during the summer month of August. Today, all Polish American communities celebrate Heritage Month.

Because of active participation by Polish Americans across the country, more and more children are learning about the contributions of Poles and Polish Americans. These take the form of guest speakers at schools, exhibits within schools, ceremonies at town and city halls and memorials, exhibits and displays in shopping malls, and social events such as dances and food festivals. Do you volunteer at any such event? If not, you should. You will be doing your part to help spread the good word about Poles, and help to preserve our heritage here in the United States. It is up to us as parents, aunts, uncles, and gramdparents to instill Polish pride in the younger generation. If we don't do it, no one else will, and that would be a tragedy and the end of a lineage strong in faith, family and community. One of the greatest benefits of Polish American Heritage Month is that is causes us to take time from our daily routine to pay special attention to our heritage.

Regardless of what we do to celebrate this month, make a promise to yourself to do something special because you are special, you are a Polish American!

This article first appeared in the Polish American Journal - October, 2002

Proclamation 5720 -- Polish American Heritage Month, 1987

October 5, 1987

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During October the people of the United States recognize and rejoice in the many accomplishments of generations of Polish Americans. From the founding of our Republic to the present day, Poles have enriched, strengthened, and defended our Nation. Millions of Polish Americans have attained great success in the arts, sciences, scholarship, and every other field of endeavor, but perhaps their most special gifts to America have been the faith and love of liberty Poles have cherished through the centuries.

That Polish love of liberty manifested itself in the hard, early days of the American Revolution when Polish freedom fighters such as Kosciuszko and Pulaski stood with us for independence. They knew the profound truth that freedom's cause is universal, that in struggling for our freedom they were working for Poland's freedom and for all mankind's. They knew that once America had fired ``the shot heard 'round the world'' no tyrant could ever again rest easy.

Today, as always, Americans stand in solidarity with the continuing Polish struggle for political, religious, and economic liberty. By advocating these precious freedoms so eloquently and forthrightly, His Holiness John Paul II and Lech Walesa have come to symbolize hope, justice, and human dignity to all Americans and to countless millions around the world. Their idealism, self-sacrifice, and devotion inspire us as we express our thanks to Polish Americans and our pride in our country's Polish heritage.

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 135, has designated the month of October 1987 as ``Polish American Heritage Month'' and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this event.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 1987 as Polish American Heritage Month. I urge all Americans to join their fellow citizens of Polish descent in observance of this month.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America and two hundred and twelfth.

Ronald Reagan