Before WWII, my uncle went to the university in Poland (Don't know which one yet) While there, he stayed with relatives. What has been described to me sounds more Medieval Russian than Polish: The women did not regularly join the men, they stayed in other areas of the house. At dinner (evening meal), the men ate first; the women served them. After the men were done, the women ate. Then the women would join the men for a short time for after dinner conversation. Can anyone shed some light on this type of culture? Was this a normal means of living for Polish back then? Was this type of living known in certain areas of Poland? I have only heard of anything similar from Russian upper class in medieval period.
I have personally not encoutnered anything like this in Poland. But in some rural churches, men sit on one side of the aisle and women on the other side.
The university bit is puzzling because I would assume he stayed in the city, however, if he had stayed in the country, it would be possible. Men worked hard in the fields, so when they came in for a meal they were served without delay. They didn't hand around long and they returned to work. Division of labour.
It is also possible they kept some aristocratic habits if they were not farmers. All this seems strange to us now, but they would find it strange to see the whole family eating and watching TV at the same time as it is common in many families now.
