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…
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Święto Pamięci Zmarłych – All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day
The celebration of All Saints, known and unknown, on November 1st was introduced into the Church Liturgy by Pope John XI in 835, while All Souls’ Day on November 2nd began more than 100 years later in 998, when the Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery at Cluny ordered the Benedictine congregations to say the mass and prayers in the intention of all the deceased. In Polish tradition (w polskiej tradycji), especially the folk one, both these holidays, All Saints’ Day in particular, are devoted to praying for the souls of the dead…
Read MoreOctober is Polish Heritage Month
October is Polish Heritage Month! Polish American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1981 in Pennsylvania. Originally, August was the month selected to focus in on the contributions of great Americans of Polish descent that were often not recognized. Michael Blichasz of Philadelphia, a fourth generation Polish American, started in an effort to bring to the forefront the strong pride he believed all Americans of Polish heritage should have in the successes that Polish Americans have made in America. Polish American Heritage Month became a great success in Pennsylvania and…
Read MoreNational Polish American 39th Induction Banquet
Last month, The National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame inducted four persons into is sports hall of fame. The induction banquet was held on Thursday, June 23 in Troy, Michigan. This year’s inductees were Tom D’Eath, Stan Javie, Art “Pinky” Deras and Bill Romanowski.
Read MoreAlexander Drabik Historical Marker Dedication
The dedication of the Ohio Historical Marker honoring Alexander Drabik took place on Saturday, May 28th at the site of his birthplace in Holland, Ohio. About 150 family and friends attended this dedication to honor the WWII hero. Sergeant Alexander Drabik, the first American soldier to cross the bridge at Remagen, Germany received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism on April 5, 1945. Along with many of his relatives (he was one of 14 children to John and Frances Drabik) and friends and those that just wanted to honor…
Read MoreDyngus Day Celebration
WHAT IS DYNGUS DAY? “DYNGUS DAY” is historically a Polish tradition which celebrates the end of the often restrictive observance of lent and the joy of Easter. A special celebration held the Monday after Easter, a day of feasting, drinking, playing pranks and merrymaking. The traditions of Dyngus Day predate Christianity, in Poland, by hundreds of years and are derived from pagan celebrations welcoming the spring. Young men would signal their amorous intentions to young women by dousing them with water. In one interpretation of this tradition, the young man…
Read MoreEaster Traditions with Rosemary Chorzempa
Rosemary Chorzempa sure knows her Polish traditions. Luckily she was kind enough to share her knowledge with an audience of eager learners on Tuesday, April 19th, at Ski’s Restaurant in Sylvania. Those who came to hear Mrs. Chorzempa explain some of the Polish traditions of Easter now know how to make a lamb out of butter for Easter dinner. They also know what type of steps go into making decorative Easter eggs (pisanki). Not only do you need to use beeswax and a tool called a kistka, you have to…
Read MoreDedication of the Alexander Drabik Ohio Historical Marker
Dedication of the Alexander Drabik Ohio Historical Marker The date for dedication of the Ohio Historical Marker honoring Alexander Drabik has been set for Saturday, May 28th at 2 PM. It will be held at 9336 Wolfinger Road off Bancroft Street near Crissy Road in Holland, Ohio. The Drabik family invites everyone to attend this dedication. Sergeant Alexander Drabik, the first American soldier to cross the bridge at Remagen, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism. April 5, 1945. U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph taken by J Malan Heslop.…
Read MoreThe Polish Easter Basket
Polish Easter Basket Maslo (Butter) – This dairy product is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny) or a cross. This reminds us of the good will of Christ that we should have towards all things. Babka (Easter Bread) – A round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. Chrzan (Horseradish) – Symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds. Jajka (Eggs) and Pisanki (decorated with symbols of Easter, of life, of prosperity) – Indicates new…
Read MoreSwieconka
The blessing of the Easter food, or the “Swieconka” is a tradition dear to the heart of every Pole. Being deeply religious, he is grateful to God for all His gifts of both nature and grace, and, as a token of this gratitude, has the food of his table sanctified with the hope that spring, the season of the Resurrection, will also be blessed by God’s goodness and mercy. Traditions vary from village to village and family to family. They have changed and evolved with each passing generation. Traditionally the…
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