I have to give a cultural diversity speech next week and since my family is entirely Polish, I choose to speak about Polish culture. However, I know very little about the culture, I'm from Michigan and I've never been to Poland. I know a few Polish phrases that I plan on using during my speech but other than that I know nothing :( So, I was wondering if someone could give me a few ideas as to what to talk about and explain to me some of the traditional Polish cultures!!
Spalko, just search this website "polish culture", "Polish Christmas", "Polish Easter"...etc. You'll find lots of information when you read the topics. Yes, you'll need some time to do that, but it should be worth the time. Don't forget the "polish swear words"! Hehehe.
Is that a good idea , seeing as you don,t know anything about it...you might get some smart ass in the audience who knows lots about it...get yourself over to Polska to do some study , you will love it....
I guess I shouldn't say that I don't know anything, I know what my family does for holidays but I don't know how traditional those customs are compared to those in Poland. I did read through some of the posts but I found that a lot of posts contradict each other... just thought I'd ask though.
Yep , you can,t beat seeing the situation for yourself....I heard all kinds of stuff about Poland before i came here , most of which was utter rubbish....Untill you have sat around a camp fire with good Polish friends and talked complete rubbish you can never truly know Poland...
I agree. There is no better way to learn about the people and the country than having a good meal and a few beers with them! Everything also is just a "hearsay".
I'm glad you experienced the reality. You can take it or leave then.
If you have Polish blood in you then you will do ok i reckon , i think its best you talk to an older person who has lived all their life in Polska , as those who have left for life in another country are influenced by the culture of the country they have moved to , and often have distorted memories of the real culture of Poland...I wish you luck with your talk , let us all know how it goes....
I would love to be able to visit Poland and talk with an older person who has spent their entire life living in Poland but seeing how my speech is on Monday, I don't think I'll be able to make it to Poland this weekend :)
How about the day of the dead , and the respect Poles show to their deceased...i found that a big difference to the ways back in the UK...also Polish family life , much closer than in the west , with more respect shown for older people , especially the scary Babcia,s...
What is the day of the dead? My great grandmother just passed away yesterday and we're having her viewing tomorrow afternoon, what would be considered disrespectful behavior at her funeral and what would be respectable according to Polish tradition. Does babcia refer to grandma?!
Indeed it does...they are scarey old women in post office ques that can attack without warning if you say anything when they barge you out of the way to jump the que....
The day of the dead is in november , and i believe its a celebration of the life of the dead person rather than a mourning , the whole churchyard is lit with thousands of candles , very spectacular....HA , here is me sounding like i know all about Polska , i am just a Brit who has lived here five years , and knows not so much....
Wildrover, I'm sure you've seen the cemeteries on that day too. There are lots of candles lit on each grave. When the evening comes and you drive home after visiting the graves of your beloved, you can pinpoint exactly where another cemetery is... the radiant aurora gives it away, the sky is lit! I was always in awe when I looked at it.
I helped shift a load of stuff to a cenetary in Lobez for a teacher friend who was staging a play with some children from her class , i had never seen so many candles , and it was so different from what i knew in the UK...It is one of many things that make Poland special for me , and i hope it does not change too much...Check out smyngus dingus day too....we have just had this in Poland...
As for weddings...maybe you could talk about the weddings in Zakopane where the bride and groom ride away in a horse drawn carriege , and they have their path blocked by a car , and have to pay a small fee to pass through....or maybe the dozynki , the harvest festival party where all the foods harvested are put on show , and eaten , of course a little alchohol gets consumed also....
How do you properly pronounce 'dozynki'? Remember this is a speech I am giving so I should probably know how to properly pronounce what I am talking about :)
