Drowning of Marzanna

1. Drowning ofMarzanna The tradition of burning or drowning an effigy of Marzanna to celebrate the end of winter is a folk custom that survives in Poland. Typically taking place on the day of the the rite involves setting fire to a female straw effigy, drowning it in a river, or both. In Poland, this is often performed during a spring equinox trip by children in kindergartens and primary schools. The effigy can range in size from a puppet to a life-size dummy. This ritual represents the end of the dark days of winter, the victory over death, and the welcoming of the spring rebirth. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

2. SmigusDingus Dyngus Day or Wet Monday ( Polish Śmigus-Dyngus or lany poniedziałek ) is the name for EasterMonday in Poland. EasterMondayis the dayafterEasterSunday and iscelebrated as a holiday in some Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Orthodoxcultures. In Poland traditionally, early in the morningboysawake girls by pouring a bucket of water on theirheads. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

3. Pisanki Pisanka is a commonname for aneggornamentedusingvarioustechniques. Pisanki arenowconsidered to symbolise the revival of nature and the hopethatChristiansgain from faith in the resurrection of JesusChrist. In the past, onlywomendecoratedeggs. Men were not allowed to comeinside the houseduring the process, as it was believedthatcouldput a spell on the eggs, and causebadluck. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

4. One of traditionalPolish dance Krakowiak The Krakowiak, sometimesreferred to as the Pecker Dance, is a fast, syncopatedPolish dance in dupletime from the region of Krakow. The first Krakowiak appeared in Franciszek Mirecki's album for the piano, "KrakowiaksOffered to the Women of Poland" (Warsaw, 1816). Frederic Chopin produced a bravuraconcert krakowiak in his Grand Rondeau de Concert Rondo á la Krakowiak in F major for piano and orchestra (op. 14, 1828). Created by Jakub Ilczuk

5. St. Andrew's Day In Poland superstitiouspeoplebelievethat the nightbefore St. Andrew's Day isspeciallysuitable for magicthatreveals a youngwoman'sfuturehusbandorthatbinds a futurehusband to her. In Poland in thisdaypeopleusuallypours hot wax from the candlethrough a key hole intocoldwater. Let me describe the rituals that I remember: preparing pieces of paper with male first names on the edges of the bowl - the bowl is filled with water with a candle floating in the middle of the bowl. The first burn paper piece indicates the name of the future husband. Another ritual - three cups flipped upside down to cover marriage ring, small cross and a piece of green plant - girls are choosing one cup and it indicate their future fate- the ring of course signify the marriage, cross - life as a nun in monastery and the green plant is predicting the unmarried life. Sometimes the small doll was placed under the cap - a symbol of the illegitimate child. And lot of tradition associated with this day. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

6. Sobótka The name "Sobótka" originated from Saturday (Polish "sobota"). During an early summer, usually on Saturdays people gather at a fire, jump through the fire, sing songs, dance and have lots of fun. There was also some magic involved in these rituals. This was probably originally a feast celebrating a Sun as a source of light and warmth. This ceremony took place around the shortest night of the year. Sometimes girls sprout wreath to the water. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

7. Niedziela Palmowa – Palm Sunday Thisdayhas a richtradition of Easter palm. In particular, thiscustom was preserved in someparts of Poland whereannualcompetitionsareheld on the longest and most beautifulmade ​​palm. Palm treesreach the height of severalmeters and must stand alone. Made of wicker, may not containany metal parts. Theyaredecorated with flowers and paper. On Palm Sundaypeople go to churches with theirpalms and thentheykeepthem in their homes. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

8. Polishsoups Ogórkowa – Cucumber Soup People in Poland aredoingthis soup with gratedcucumberintopiecescooked by them a longtime. At the end of the cookinginto soup isaddedcream. Here itis. Żurek – SourBarley Soup Sour (sour, acidic soup Mealy) - a soup made ​​with leaven of flourhaving a characteristicacidictaste. Specialty regionalPolishcuisine. Sometimeswhitened with milkorprepared in connection with a brew from the bones and vegetables, made ​​with driedmushrooms. The bestsoupsarecooked with sausage, smokedbacon, pork, ribs, pigtails, also on the rest of brothaftercooking the ham, orwhitesausages. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

9. Maindishes Pierogi The word "pierogi" means a dishmade ​​of doughboiled, bakedorfried in deepfat, rolledthin and filled with variousfillings. In Poland, as the most commonfillings: meat, sauerkraut and mushrooms, seasonalfruits (blueberries, strawberries, etc.), buckwheat, creamcheese - a sweetor with boiledpotatoes and cottage cheese with friedonions. Bigos Bigos - a traditionalPolishdish. Therearemanyways of preparing stew and itsvariants. Allarebased on these same basicingredients, differingonly in certainadditives and their order of addition. The basiccomponents of anoldPolish stew isfinelychoppedsauerkraut, freshcabbage (sometimesusedonlysauerkraut), variousspecies of meat and meat products, driedmushrooms, prunes, onions and spices. Created by Jakub Ilczuk

10. Desserts Makowiec The poppy-seedcakeor a poppyseedloaf – cake (most oftenyeast, morerarelybrittle) wrappedup with mass from the poppyor with poppy mass on the spongecake. The poppy to mass isbeingrinsed and he isstingingor he iswetting for the night, and thenbriefly he iscooking for a fewminutesall the way to the softness. Theyhad the cooked and drainedpoppyoneself (twice, not to saythreetimes) in a meatmincerthrough the sieveaboutsmallest okach orisgrating in makutrze. Walnutsthicklychoppeduparebeingadded to poppy mass, almonds, (soaked, entire) raisins and the candiedorangepeelorothernuts and driedfruit as used in cooking and honey. The bakedcakeispouringoveritself with the icing and ifnecessary he isdecorating with the poppyseedorlittlepieces of the friedorangepeel. Created by Jakub Ilczuk