Intresting Facts – PAC https://poloniacolumbus.org Fri, 03 May 2024 10:07:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://poloniacolumbus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logo-150x150.png Intresting Facts – PAC https://poloniacolumbus.org 32 32 May is a month full of holidays celebrated by Poles https://poloniacolumbus.org/may-is-a-month-full-of-holidays-celebrated-by-poles/ Fri, 03 May 2024 10:05:31 +0000 https://poloniacolumbus.org/?p=6231
May is a significant month for Poles, with several significant days to celebrate. The focus in Poland is mainly on a holiday called “majówka,” which is the name for the first days of May when two state holidays are celebrated. May 1 is Labor Day in Poland, celebrated as the International Day of Solidarity of Workers. Although the holiday originated in the USA and was first celebrated in Chicago in 1889 during a strike for an 8-hour working day, it was made an annual celebration in Poland by the Communists. Slogans like “Feast of the Working People” and “Long Live the Unity of the Nation” were the norm at rallies and May Day celebrations during the Communist period. The first celebrations in Poland occurred in 1890, and since 1950, May 1 has been a state holiday. Although older generations of Poles mainly remember it, it is still a public holiday and an excellent opportunity for an extended trip out of town.
Also, on May 1, the Catholic Church commemorates St. Joseph the Worker. Pope Pius XII gave the title of St. Joseph the patron of carpenters, builders, and all workers in 1955. The feast itself is an alternative to laic Labor Day.
 
May 2 is a day of great significance for Poles as it is celebrated as National Flag Day in the Republic of Poland. This Polish holiday, which falls between two State Holidays, May 1 (Labor Day) and May 3 (the National Holiday of May 3), has been celebrated since 2004. It was established to promote Polish identity and national culture. The day commemorates a significant event in 1944 when the First Polish Army, a part of the Russian forces, entered Berlin and proudly hoisted the Polish flag on the Berlin Victory Column. This event symbolizes the resilience and strength of the Polish people, evoking a strong sense of national pride.
 
The following day, May 3, is the National Day of the Third May. This State Holiday was established in 1919 and once again renewed in 1990 on the anniversary of adopting the Constitution of May 3 for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was adopted in 1791. This day holds a unique place in history as it is considered Europe’s first and the world’s second modern written national Constitution after the United States Constitution, which came into force in 1789. The day is not only a celebration of this significant historical event but also a time for reflection and appreciation of the values it represents.
 
May 3, a day of multiple celebrations, also holds significant religious importance. The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, is a church holiday established in 1920 and celebrated exclusively in the Polish Catholic Church. This day commemorates the momentous occasion when King Jan Kazimierz entrusted Poland to protect the Mother of God during the Swedish Deluge.
May 9th is Europe Day, celebrated in Poland since joining the European Union in 2004. On this day, cities across Poland organize events to celebrate European unity. The date marks the anniversary of the signing of the “Schuman Declaration” in Paris in 1950. The declaration proposed a new form of political cooperation in Europe aimed at preventing another war.
May 18 marks an extraordinary day for WWII history – Battle of Monte Cassino. On that day in 1944 – the Polish 2 Corps broke the German defensive lines and opened the road for the Allies to liberate Rome from German occupation.
 
This year, the celebration of “Zielone Swiatki” is on May 19th. Typically, it falls in May, but when Easter falls late, it can occur in June. Zielone Świątki, which translates to Green Feast, commences on Pentecost, which is 49 days after Easter Sunday. This holiday has become intertwined with old Slavic traditions that celebrate the arrival of summer. People decorate their homes, barns, and animals with flowers and tree branches. Previously celebrated for two days in Poland until 1951, it is now a national holiday during which shops are closed. In 2018, Pope Francis added the day after Pentecost, making it the Memorial Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.
 
In Poland, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 26th. This day has its roots in America and was first celebrated in Krakow in 1914, where a small picnic was organized to honor the mothers of a boy’s school. Due to its popularity, the celebration spread throughout Poland, and now the entire country celebrates it. Unlike other countries, Poland celebrates Mother’s Day on May 26th every year, regardless of the day of the week. However, most countries celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.
 
May is a month full of holidays celebrated by Poles. Wishing everyone a happy and sunny May!
]]> Unique new Polish movie https://poloniacolumbus.org/unique-new-polish-movie/ Sat, 16 Sep 2023 19:37:23 +0000 https://poloniacolumbus.org/?p=5607
Do you recall reading “The Peasant” (Chłopi) by Wladyslaw Reymont in school? This novel was written and published between 1904 and 1909, and Reymont was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1924. The book was subsequently translated into numerous European languages, and its theme was universal. The French translator of the novel referred to it as a “testimony to European peasants.”
“The Peasants” is a novel set in Lipce, a Polish village during the late 19th century. Although it is mainly based on an authentic village called Lipce Reymontowskie, the author chose to modify its topography and language to create a more ‘universal’ effect. The novel’s main characters are Maciej Boryna, a wealthy farmer and village leader, his rebellious son Antek, and Jagna – the femme fatale. This beautiful young woman marries the elder Boryna. Still, she falls in love with his son, leading to a tragic love triangle that results in growing hostility between Maciej and Antek while the village condemns Jagna. Critics and scholars have noted that the novel’s main structure resembles an ancient epic, with Jagna playing the role of Helen of Troy, the village beauty who lures men into tragic conflicts.
A movie adaptation of the novel has been made by filmmakers D.K. Welchman (formerly known as Dorota Kobiela) and Hugh Welchman, who previously directed “Loving Vincent.” The same painting technique used in “Loving Vincent” was utilized in this movie. The technique involves tracing real-life movements, similar to rotoscoping.
The artwork is based on the works of Poland painters, particularly Józef Chełmoński, Leon Wyczółkowski, and Ferdynand Ruszczyc. The actors played out the scenes before over 100 artists went through the performances frame by frame to manually repaint them. The main characters were portrayed by Kamila Urzędowska (Jagna), Robert Gulaczyk (Antek), Mirosław Bak (Boryna), and Sonia Mietelica (Hanka), with music composed by Łukasz L.U.C.
Smaller screenings of the film will start in Gdynia, Poland, on September 19, with the official national premiere set for October 13.
]]> Biskupin: The Polish Pompeii https://poloniacolumbus.org/biskupin-the-polish-pompeii/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 01:11:51 +0000 https://poloniacolumbus.org/?p=5570

Biskupin is an ancient archaeological site located in Poland that is often compared to the famous Pompeii in Italy. This Iron Age settlement offers a unique and well-preserved look into the daily life and culture of the prehistoric Lusatian people. The site dates back to approximately 750-600 BCE and features a reconstructed wooden village built on pilings over a lake. The village includes houses, fortifications, and various artifacts that provide valuable insights into the history and civilization of this ancient European culture. Biskupin is a significant attraction for historians, archaeologists, and tourists alike.

Learn more: Biskupin

]]> One of Poland’s most brilliant composers https://poloniacolumbus.org/one-of-polands-most-brilliant-composers/ Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:43:24 +0000 https://poloniacolumbus.org/?p=5553

Grażyna Bacewicz (1909–1969) was a prominent Polish composer, violinist, and pianist of the 20th century. She is known for her innovative and diverse compositions, which blend elements of traditional Polish music with modernist and neoclassical influences. Bacewicz was a pioneering figure, breaking through barriers in a male-dominated field to become one of the most respected composers of her time.

Learn More: bacewicz.polmic.pl

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