polish pagan traditions
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. On both days, at twilight, the Poles make pilgrimages to their local cemeteries. He won and released the captives. Reportedly, in the early history of Poland, the banks of the river Vistula were lined with tiny wooden huts where farmers lived. One day, she decided to swim into the Vistula river from the Baltic Sea and as she was swimming upstream, she reached the area where Warsaw is today. The first shoe to go over the threshold is that of the girl who will marry the earliest. When there is sickness in the household, the herbs are brewed and used for medicinal purposes, not only for the people, but for the livestock as well. 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. The pagan Poles bickered with nature Dingen by means of pouring water and switching with willows to make themselves pure and worthy of the coming year. Read more about traditional Polish Easter recipes! The group was followed by all those involved in the harvest. The story begins with the attack of the area near the town of Lublin by the armies Lithuanians and Yotvingians. He was dressed in a long white robe, wearing a tall head piece much like a bishops mitre, a long white flowing beard, and in his hand he held the shepherds staff. What would be more surprising to see would be people dressed as goats, horses, roosters, a devil, and grim reaper. The girls are shrieking and hollering, but in their hearts they are glad because they know that she who isnt gotten wet will not be married that year. Latawiec was a personification of demons and evil creatures that were associated with sins and sinful thoughts and deeds.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',112,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-112{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:10px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Some are firmly rooted in the predominant religion of Poland, Roman Catholicism; others stem from pagan rites of the seasons. container.style.maxWidth = container.style.minWidth + 'px'; This day became known for generations to come as the holiday which strengthened family ties. After rewarding those that offered the wreath, the owner signaled to the musicians to start playing. Let flowers bloom, and fields turn green. POLAND This European Union member state is a bastion of Roman Catholicism, with as many as 37 million adherents (87.5% of the total population) today. The farm people bring to church great bouquets of herbs, vegetables, and corn, interwoven with a few flowers from the fields and gardens, which are blessed by the priest. These grains were considered the most important. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. I never got back to the business to get his contact information either. Polish mythology is mainly associated with distinctive and vivid demonology full of monstrous creatures, witches, evil spirits, and werewolves. It is a delightful tradition, Dyngus or Smigus as this custom is called. The people decorate the graves with chrysanthemums, asters, and autumn flowers ~ and place candles and votive lights. Continue to 4 of 11 below. The whole country follows an age-old tradition which resembles one big water fight. However humble or intricate, the portable crib always portrayed the mysteries of the birth of the Infant Jesus. The Myth of the Mermaid of Warsaw is one of the major myths in Polish history especially when it comes to the city of Krakow. People bless the eggs on Easter, they decorate the table with green, they have a Christmas tree, they eat the meals that are traditionally connected with Winter Solstice, they hang mistletoe, they celebrate Pagan Dziady (the festival connected to death) and they have to add some invented holidays (e.g. Parties begin mid-morning with a buffet of traditional cuisine and last until after daybreak on Tuesday. There is one day in the year when the consumption of water in Poland shoots up. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Generally, it was worn by a young girl involved in the harvesting, or someone who was considered a very good worker. According to this legend, the King and his knights were fighting a battle where Boleslaw lost his life. Eggs were once a part of Polish pagan tradition and still symbolize spring, renewal, fertility, and eternity. My mistake. On Holy Saturday afternoon, the mother of the family or an older child carries a basket filled with eggs, hams, sausage, pastries and Easter seasonings to be blessed by the parish priest. If staying dry is your preferred state of self, dont visit Poland on Wet Monday. And Polish Easter, besides the spiritual factor, is mostly that. 7. container.appendChild(ins); Warsaw, Garlands over the Vistula River 23, Krakw, Wianki - a Celebration of Music 23. Meet the Slavs covers topics related to the Slavic culture, history, mythology and more. It's definitely not a Wiccan path, and because of the structure within the spirituality, it's not even something where you can swap out gods of other pantheons and insert the Roman deities. Another belief was that whichever one of the bridesmaids touched the bride or her wreath first after the marriage would marry that year. On seeing a guest approaching they would begin to play, for which they were sometimes rewarded with a small tip. var alS = 2002 % 1000; Single girls pour hot, melted wax into a bowl of cold water, and the hardened wax is then held up to the light. The old Polish literature testifies that Bigos, hunters stew, was often used as the principal dish on Christmas Day. The belief was that those sitting down to eat must add up to an even number. ins.className = 'adsbygoogle ezasloaded'; The symbol of Dozynki was a Wieniec, [harvest wreath] which was presented to the landowner. They were able to suppress particular Pagan traditions, but the beliefs and practices simply lived on as folklore or embedded itself in the conquering faith or found a million other outlets through art and literature etc. People would look at it, then look at me, pleading, for help. It was believed that salt had the power to heal and cleanse, uncover thieves, protect houses against fire, dispel storms and hail, and drive away evil spirits. These unique representations of our world and humanity offer a multilayered world of imagination that opens up a whole new universe of perception and understanding of history, nature, culture, anthropology, etc. Usually several horse wagons with stately horses and guests dressed in their Sunday best with bouquets of flowers pinned to their heads, followed them. It was believed that water on this day had the power to heal and prevent illness. Lent ends Saturday noon, but fasting is observed until Resurrection Mass. 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. When the groom arrived with his Starosta, groomsman and family members, the maid of honor began dressing the bride. Today, All Saints All Souls Day is celebrated in a very solemn manner in Poland. I wish I had gotten his info. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; The minute the enforcers of orthodoxy begin to loosen their grip, or a country accepts a degree of pluralism, it all comes roaring back to life . He believes, this type of sacred place could bring Pagans together despite their low numbers. The other form of Christmas caroling was Herody. The part of the festivities that everyone had been waiting for, the dancing and refreshments, began in earnest. Siliniez - A wood god from Poland who moss was sacred; his altar fire was kept burning only with moss. The Legend of Sir Twardowski and the Devil, 11. This ceremony is a reminder of the humility with which Christ washed the feet of his disciples. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Among the many demons in Polish folklore, there is a benevolent character called Skarbnik who is a friendly mythological figure. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. They are symbols of hospitality and conjugal harmony. Reportedly, the pact contained a stipulation that said that the soul of Twardowski can be collected exclusively in Rome. The crowd ate, drank and danced. Polish Easter customs have not changed much during the centuries. Starosta (an intermediary) joined the right hands of the couple above the bread, tied them together with white cloth, and made the sign of the cross over their joined hands representing the joined endeavors of the man and woman to prepare the bread that they always have bread beneath their hands. According to Rogalinski, Rodzimowierstwo has three of these formally organized groups. It can be classified as polytheism, but instead of gods, there are Christian saints who had replaced gods and taken over their qualities. At the time, hungry Polish would use a thick slice of bread as a plate and then eat it. In some areas of Poland, a loaf of common, everyday bread was placed on top of it and topped with more Oplatek. My grandfather was a koldun or village healer in his native land and continued the practice when he came to the US in 1912. 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. Sorrowful God - The Sorrowful God is depicted in pre-history sculpture sitting with his head in his hand, peaceful and contemplative. These bouquets are carried home and kept until the name day of the following year. Family picnic on St Johns Day, fireworks display and concerts. Fascinating how this and other native Eastern European practices have persevered under both Christianity and Communism. Throughout the Holy Week until the blessing of the fires on Holy Saturday, the Poles are engaged in traditional Easter activities. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-3-0_1'; XI No.1 Spring 1994 by Stan Garczynski. 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. 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. In every house, from the richest to the poorest, the table is spread with food that is blessed on Holy Saturday. Throughout all of Poland, the time after supper was a time for the family to gather together to sing carols and exchange gifts which were deposited by Aniolek, (an angel), under the Christmas tree. The wedding is one of the most important family celebrations. Polish only know one way to make and eat their sandwiches and that is open. St. Andrews Night, November 30th (Noc Sw. Andrzeja albo Andrzejki) I enjoy articles such as this that show us Pagan, Heathen, and Polytheist paths and people in areas outside of North America. ins.style.width = '100%'; God and the heavenly creatures decided that they will leave the soul of Walenty in the mines but in the body of a majestic creature called Skarbnik (or Treasurer). Poprawiny means starting the wedding party all over again. The origin of this custom is unknown. 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. It was published in Czech by Grade Publications, a.s. http://www.grada.cz. According to the Polish folk myth from the pre-Christian Slavic tradition, the waters were inhabited with water spirits of western Poland that were called Rusalka and it was said that they were the spirits of dead young women which continued to wander around on Earth, seeking a way to draw life energy from people and other earthly living beings. One celebrates an Obiat (a feast) in memory of the deceased. Today, Leszek Czarny is one of Lublins most popular heroic legends and an ever-inspiration for poets and artists. Rogalinski laments that the only agreed-upon sites of worship tend to be cultural or archaeological monuments that cant be used. Despite their religious beliefs, several Polish traditions are rooted in Pagan rites. (Dzien Wszystkich Swietych Dzien Zaduszny) It was also the official day for caroling to begin. Eggs are blessed. The nobleman was forcibly stranded on the moon forever. Candlemas in the term when we have Weles festival, Saint Johns festival on Kupaa, etc.). They then literally throw winter into a lake or a river to drown. He enjoyed his life as a rich man but soon became nostalgic and wished to go back to his home village. The vigil lasted until the burial in order to protect the dead soul from evil spirits. On this day, boys try to catch girls by surprise by splashing them with water. The top of the spruce or pine was hung from a beam in the ceiling, with the tip facing down over the table where the Wigilia was to be held. Cyrillic Script: What Is It & Who Uses It? There must always be a roasted pigs head decked with flowers, ham, veal and the famous Polish sausage strongly flavored with garlic. Today,that population isstill dwarfed by its Catholic counterpart, but its loyal practitionerscontinue tocultivate a Pagan thriving subculture. If you happen to visit Poland the day before Lent, take a gander at the snaking queues outside every bakery. It is said that if Poland ever needs them again, they will rise and serve their beloved country and nation. No one has ever been able to truly eradicate it, despite centuries of tremendous effort. :178).Particularly important is the Christmas Eve supper, probably the only . Whether he should pursue his opponents through the dark woods and steep mountains where they had gone or to return back and admit that he was defeated in great shame in front of his people. 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! Palm Sunday, Easter palms. Why? By Michelle Tea. The oldest form of Christmas caroling in Poland was with the Turon. by Stanley Garczynski from PGS of Texas Polish Footprints Vol.XII No.3 Fall 1995. Jacek found the flower and made a wish to become rich. According to the pact, the nobleman had to give his soul to the devil in exchange for wisdom and supernatural powers. More info about Krakw Wianki 2018 here. My Belarussian grandfather married a Polish woman. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; for fair and mild spring. 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. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The smoke from the candles on the tree, lit by the Gospodarz, (head of the family) foretold the future. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; Pagan religion is the default operating system of the human soul, so much so that I believe the essence of it is hardwired in some way. This cap was always held as special and reserved for wear to church, for special folk festivals, and on her death, for burial. They visit the boys and sprinkle them with water. In remembrance of the star of Bethlehem that hung over the manger the night of the birth of Christ and led the Three Kings to the newborn King, young boys dressed as the Three Kings in long, white pants with chasubles of black paper and paper crowns on their heads. It does not mean that there is no possibility of conducting ones life according to the rules taken from the other faiths (unless theyre contradictory to Rodzimowierstwo), fascination by the other culture or having friends, family or know the people who have the other dominant faith.. Some customs varied at different sections of Poland, but the importance of the holiday was general in the whole country. They stopped before a window and sang a carol. In Poland, it took root in the 13th-15th centuries, and the tradition was to go door to door between 26 December (the second day of . container.appendChild(ins); Wigilia Christmas Eve Dinner. Leszek Czarny found the dream to be prophetic and decided to fight further his enemies. Because one year is not nearly enough. St. Nicholas was revered because of his compassion and love for orphans whom he often visited and comforted with little gifts. April 9, 2019. The usual practice of creating and defining heraldry in western Europe put the heads of the state and knights as decision-makers. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); As the day began to darken and family members began to ready themselves for the evening meal, a child was sent out to look for the first star in the sky. Often rooted in religion, Polish traditions and customs remain as strong today as they did centuries ago. Although Poles have some very ancient traditions reaching back to their pre-Christian roots, not many of them have survived up to these times. The custom of pouring water is an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility. Although Poles have some very ancient traditions reaching back to their pre-Christian roots, not many of them have survived up to these times. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-box-3-0'; 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. One celebrates an Obiat (a feast) in memory of the deceased. From drowning winter to getting hitched twice, Polish traditions and customs often border on the bizarre but are certainly a highlight to discover. This legend was very popular in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and in the 19th century, a number of writers and activists used the character of Janoshek as a symbol of resistance to many kinds of oppression and this practice was extended even during the Second World War when anti-Nazis partisan groups praised or bore his name. St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (Sw. Mikolaja albo Mikolajki) Satanic Temple candidate loses primary bid, https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/. The Bible Another explanation is rooted in the New Testament. Krakus called his sons Lech and Krakus II and tried to kill the dragon with them but they couldnt defeat it so they had to plot a different way to get rid of it. The marriage cap was usually a gift to the bride from her godmother. When the graves are decorated and countless flickering frame cast their haunting shadows amid the dusk, the mood is set for an outdoor service and prayers for departed souls. In fact, Easter in Poland is arguably the most import Mythologies have fascinated humanity and civilizations for centuries. There was screaming, shouting, and confusion. It gets especially serious when it comes to food-related events. When he came back to the village, no one recognized him and he went back to his castle. pulling a wagon on which stood the driver, cracking his whip for everyone to get out of his way. Get 1-2 emails a month with the latest articles on Slavic culture, mythology and history. The Polish have a deep respect for their past and a pragmatic outlook on their future, which youll discover in great depth during your next visit to Poland. As it isin other countries,thesebusinesses have the potential tobecome networking hubs as the Pagan population grows. Fortune telling, singing, and general merriment might round out this thoroughly enjoyable evening. Palm Sunday in Poland There will be less pop music and more real histry of ancient Slavic tribes. They usually began at the manor house or church rectory and made stops at various homes. The first recorded Polish writing on Dyngus dates back to the Middle Ages. These initials written with blessed chalk, along with the palms from Palm Sunday and blessed candles from Candlemas Day, were together to be a force to avert disaster. This is Easter Monday, and it is due to an ancient custom which is still observed both in villages and cities. There were numerous variations on this custom, but in whatever form it appeared, the central elements were an uncut loaf of bread and a white towel or scarf. As with Wicca, the resources for those interested in Rodzimowierstwo can be a mixed bag. The Easter season in Poland ends on Monday when the traditional dyngussmigus custom is observed. 2014 - 2023Grupa MBE sp. Because of its origin, many over the years have tried to put an end to this tradition, unsuccessfully. "Swan-kow-ski.". The Legend of Leszek the Blacks Dream, Slavic Mythology: Myths, Creatures and Stories, Top Prague Festivals for Each Month of the Year. The sound of snow bells and horses hoofs could be heard on the cobblestone pavement, while eager young faces with their noses pressed to the window panes shouted, he has come! var pid = 'ca-pub-6145023705656770'; The most popular Pagan path practiced in Poland is Rodzimowierstwo (native faith), an indigenous form of Slavic polytheism. Here Is How You Say It. I met a Rodzimowierstwo practitioner living in Portland, ME. On Thursday of the Holy Week, there is a ceremonial washing of the feet of twelve impoverished old men at the church, in memory of the Last Supper. The Polish also make a different version of these open sandwiches, however. According to Nefrestim, the city of Pozna hosts two esoteric shops. It is greeted with such mystical symbolism, that it is considered by many to be a greater holiday than Christmas itself. At this place, she met the Mazovian Prince who was wandering around. The Polish leave the chair open in the hope that these brave men would return. The main event on the night of engagement was the tying together of the hands of the couple to be married. The happy tradition includes many festivities including parades. They are not always accompanied by wreath-floating over the water (although you may spot many Polish girls sporting flower crowns with pride), but have gained the character of a family picnic and a night out full of free concerts. The citys name was, of course, Warsaw. . The church bells silenced on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, are now rung on Saturday at midnight in noisy celebration heralding the risen Lord. During the church ceremony it was expected of the bride to cry. Later, these pagan customs were Christianized and people were encouraged to pray and light candles instead of conjuring up spirits. According to the legend, the poor boy Jacek was too clumsy to participate in these rituals so he sat sad and alone. From the PGST News Vol. The most popular Pagan path practiced in Poland is Rodzimowierstwo ("native faith"), an indigenous form of Slavic polytheism. The shadow it casts on the wall is said to reveal the girls marriage prospects: if its shape resembles something used by a man, she will marry within a year.
polish pagan traditions