The resin in the wood keeps the fire aglow and people keep waving these wooden torches in the wind to keep the fire intact until they get home. The men crept through a window or through a chimney. This was a live production done by a group of individuals, usually older boys and young adults, about the last days of King Herod. Very often, those people have problems with finding or maintaining their jobs. Among the many demons in Polish folklore, there is a benevolent character called Skarbnik who is a friendly mythological figure. For example, drowning an effigy of Marzanna - to drive back winter and summon spring - dates back to Slavic faith, while Zaduszki, the Polish All Saints' Day, supplanted the older Slavic Forefathers' Eve. Ham and Polish sausage were very popular, since pork had always been eaten at special festivities. The custom of Turon is named after the wild ox or tur, the largest and foremost of the animals that were prolific at one time throughout Europe and caused great damage to the villages. I met a Rodzimowierstwo practitioner living in Portland, ME. The Polish believe the girl who gets the most soaked in the celebration will be the first to marry. He was attracted to it because of hisextensive historical knowledge of the Slavs. The candles were to symbolize the eternal light for which the soul yearns . Rogalinski downplays the official number of Rodzimowiercy (4-5,000 people); his own figure of up to 2,000 is based in part on activity, not just on self-identification. Dyngus Day is a Polish and Polish-American celebration on Easter Monday to mark the completion of Lent, and this year, it falls on April 10. Pisanki from different regions of Poland can be distinguished by the unique patters. Today, the bishops and their priests do this. he has come! St. Nicholas entered, filling the room with not only his presence, but with his smile, the twinkle in his eye and his teasing booming voice. The last rite included a funeral banquet. St. Nicholas was revered because of his compassion and love for orphans whom he often visited and comforted with little gifts. Thank You in Polish? Polish traditions of the celebration of the dead is on April 30th, the second being on October 31st. The Warsaw Mermaid was a character that served as an inspiration and a staple figure in many literary works as well as visual artworks. Leaving the church ceremony, the bride sometimes threw handfuls of straw on the young boys and girls who followed the wedding party. Rogaliskis number of 2,000 highly-committed regularly-active Rodzimowiercy is consistent with many other accounts. On Fat Thursday, people line up outside of bakeries to get enough freshly prepared donuts for the day. Christmas is, apart from Easter (see: Traces of Slavic Pagan Rites in the Polish Easter Tradition), the most celebrating feast in Poland (Lemnis, Vitry 1979:178).This Christian holiday, which is intimate, family, and usually spent with the dearest people, however, goes back to the traditions of pagan-Slavic times (Ibid. The host leaves an empty chair for the deceased and sweeps it away before everyone sits at the table to excuse the soul who isn't there. Nothing was eaten all day except a little bread and water. Cooking included only the heating of previously prepared food. Laszka shared a narrative that is common in other parts of the worldwhereChristian traditions draw upon Pagan practices. The most common decorating technique is so called wax-flowing or wax-melting. After getting the girls out of their beds, the boys will douse them with water. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Upon their return, they wrote the initials of the Three Kings on the door themselves, not to be disturbed until the following year. Some say it is a pagan tradition handed down from the earliest settlers in Poland. It was hung in a prominent place, such as in an entrance hall, above a chest of drawers, or above the door of the main living room as a symbol of prosperity. According to the legend, the poor boy Jacek was too clumsy to participate in these rituals so he sat sad and alone. It wasn't as bad as another kid in my elementary school classMichael . As you might suspect, Poland has a whole series of customs and traditions surrounding Easter, which range from pious to playful, to downright pagan. The entire family washed themselves in this water in order to assure plenty of money for the rest of their lives. Family picnic on St Johns Day, fireworks display and concerts. More about Warsaw Wianki 2018 here. The couple always sat at the table which was located along the wall containing holy pictures. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Harvest Holiday, August 15 (Dozynki) We are the most comprehensive English language resource dedicated to educating the world about ancient Slavs and modern Slavic nations alike. One method of accumulating their needed supply is to take a small spruce tree and decorate it attractively. var lo = new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent); The most popular Pagan path practiced in Poland is Rodzimowierstwo (native faith), an indigenous form of Slavic polytheism. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; When the groom arrived with his Starosta, groomsman and family members, the maid of honor began dressing the bride. Like in many other European countries, the arrival of summer is celebrated on St. John's Eve in Poland. St. Stephans Day marked the end of work contracts for the year; new bargains were struck for the upcoming year. All rights reserved. In every house, from the richest to the poorest, the table is spread with food that is blessed on Holy Saturday. The myth about the Polish Eagle is one of the most recognized in Poland since this bird is the symbol of the Polish Republic and it is also a focal element in the Polish crest and the Polish coat of arms. The legend describes Janosik as a man who robs the nobility and gives their valuables to the poor, just like Robin Hood did. As it isin other countries,thesebusinesses have the potential tobecome networking hubs as the Pagan population grows. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. St. Andrews Night, November 30th (Noc Sw. Andrzeja albo Andrzejki) The conclusion of the harvest and the making of the wreath generally fell around the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin August 15 so that it was taken to church to be blessed. According to the Polish folk myth from the pre-Christian Slavic tradition, the . After the wreath was blessed the entire procession made for the manor house, singing the songs that accompanied the event were usually those that were indigenous to the area, perhaps unknown in other villages. More info about Krakw Wianki 2018 here. So was the case with Polish mythology and folklore which stems from the folklore and beliefs rooted in Slavic religion also known as Slavic paganism which was observed by the Slavs before the introduction of Christianity in the period from the 9th to the 12th . The very word Wigilia, which in Poland was formerly known as the day before a feast day is now used only as the day before Christs birth. Leszek the Black started thinking about what is the right thing to do. Traditionally, this dance was literally the first. The church bells silenced on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, are now rung on Saturday at midnight in noisy celebration heralding the risen Lord. To clarify one of the statements in the article: The number of roughly 4,500 adherents was based on a census methodology that didnt ask every respondent the question, so its an extrapolation from a smaller number of people answering the question. I didnt have the time to talk to him about it because we were both working. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The legend has remained a mystery even today as it has been said that there are witnesses who have confirmed seeing an enormous snake coming out of the water and upsetting the boats on the river Obra. Wesele The Wedding I wish I had gotten his info. The oldest form of Christmas caroling in Poland was with the Turon. ins.style.display = 'block'; Terence P Ward is a moneyworker, journalist, Hellenic polytheist and convinced Friend who lives in the bucolic Hudson Valley with his wife, five cats, and multiple household shrines. var pid = 'ca-pub-6145023705656770'; (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Adherents tend to use a reconstructionist methodology to rebuild their native faith, which has not spread through the English-speaking world as widely as some other European-based Heathen religions. Gniazdo is a magazine created by the Rodzimowiercy, but there are other publications that, according to Rogalinksi, mix traditional and New Age beliefs without providing any context. (Dzien Wszystkich Swietych Dzien Zaduszny) As with Wicca, the resources for those interested in Rodzimowierstwo can be a mixed bag. Let flowers bloom, and fields turn green. Egg Battles In Poland, Sw. Mikolaj is not an oversized man with red pompom topped cap, red Jacket, and riding boots. On Good Friday, in some houses mirrors are covered with black cloth and parents wake their children with twigs, whispering the words of a Lent prayer The wounds of God. Another issue with the small number of Pagans is that they tend to know each other, like residents of a small town, which is fine, until it isnt. Continue to 4 of 11 below. With the appearance of the first star, the Wigilia meal would begin. Nowadays, Polish Easter traditions vary from household to household, just like they differ a bit when compared to different times in history. Many of the Pagans are solitary, making their numbers difficult to estimate, but they appear to be concentrated in the cities. The Easter table will be covered with a white tablecloth. Many of the traditions and beliefs are still here today in slightly adapted forms. window.StacklaGoConnectConfig.cdn : 'assetscdn.stackla.com'; As a deeply Catholic country, Polish Easter traditions (PL:Wielkanoc) are taken very seriously. Wrocaw decided to organise a family event with wreath-floating, starting from 3 pm and lasting almost until midnight. Then mashed poppy seeds, raisins and nuts were added. These smaller sandwiches, called tartinki, are quite possibly responsible for transforming parties in Poland from seated affairs into standing ones. Sheila said, Polish people (in general) are not very good in being understandable and tolerant. They visit from house to house singing songs, playing pranks, and merrymaking. To go caroling with Turon required that at least one of the participants be dressed in some type of animal costume and mask. It is believed that the brave kings life ended in the mountain Giewont which forms a great part of the Tatra mountains and that if one looks at it from far, they will see the head of the King and his knights. It was also the official day for caroling to begin. Most of us live in safe environment with loving families and thoughtful friends, being quite anonymous while living in the big cities, organizing largely through social media. There are two versions: one amiable and elegant when it is only a matter of a gentle sprinkling with water or scent, the other quite merciless when whole bucketfuls come into play. Siliniez - A wood god from Poland who moss was sacred; his altar fire was kept burning only with moss. December sixth, St. Nicholas day Dzien Swietego Mikolaja brought a slight reprieve to gray monotonous days, especially to children, who felt that the Christmas Gwiazdka (star) would never come. However, in the view of Nefrestim, who is a second-generation Wiccan, the current governments conservative bent does make practicing openly uncomfortable. It does not store any personal data. One of them carried a large homemade star on a long pole that was lit from within by a candle, so that it could be seen in the dark of night. When he came back to the village, no one recognized him and he went back to his castle. The Legend of King Boleslaw and his Knights, 3. Candlemas in the term when we have Weles festival, Saint Johns festival on Kupaa, etc.). Although the story of the Three Kings is taken from the apocryphal literature for which strict historical truth is not assured, the love and respect held for these three wise men was so strong, so universal, that the church also paid homage to them. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. On Tuesday, and every day thereafter until the time of the Green Holidays Pentecost the women doused the men.. The story goes that King Boleslaw and the knights sleep in a big, dark cavern, lying with their swords, bows, and lances. The Legend of Leszek the Blacks Dream is inspired by the folklore tale about the Polish prince Sen Leszka Czarnego who belonged to the Piast dynasty and ruled in the 13th century. All myths and mythical creatures primarily come from the need to explain reality. Every year around 21st and 22nd of June, when the nights were extra short and the June solstice arrived, pagan people celebrated fire, water, fertility, love and joy - quite a pagan alternative to modern-day Valentines! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lent ends Saturday noon, but fasting is observed until Resurrection Mass. The girls knock on the windows and sing songs in praise of their spruce tree. Sw. Mikolaj does not live at the North Pole, but up in Heaven. Wianki (literally wreaths in English) is an event that can however be traced back to the bygone days of paganism and has preserved some of its original character.