Will western traditions eventually impact Polish tradition?

Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

11 Aug 2008 / #1

I've noticed that some of the younger people in Poland are celebrating holidays like Halloween and Valentines day. Do you think with time more of the meaningful traditions will eventually be overlooked?

Bratwurst Boy 12 | 11,824

11 Aug 2008 / #2

In Germany too...we got Halloween and Valentines day.
But then we have our revenge....all the christmas trees, christmas markets and Oktoberfests did go the other way too.
So it's a give and take more or less...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

...Patron trees (for example, the Irminsul, Thor's Oak and the figurative Yggdrasil) held special significance for the ancient Germanic tribes, appearing throughout historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. According to Adam of Bremen, in Scandinavia the Germanic pagan kings sacrificed nine males (the number nine is a significant number in Norse mythology) of each species at the sacred groves every ninth year.[1]...

...Other notable traditions in relation to Christmas have also been derived from Germanic pagan practices, including the Yule log, Christmas ham, Yule Goat, stuffing stockings,[5] elements of Santa Claus and his nocturnal ride through the sky, and surviving elements of Pre-Christian Alpine traditions....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_market

...A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during advent, mainly the four weeks preceding Christmas Day. These markets originated in Germany and Austria but are now being held in many other countries....

southern 74 | 7,074

11 Aug 2008 / #3

holidays like Halloween and Valentines day.

Halloween is from ancient times,no relationship to Christianity.It was so popular that the Church accepted it.
Valentines day is catholic fest.

OP Zgubiony 15 | 1,553

11 Aug 2008 / #4

ok.

What I'm referring to are the National holidays and what not. Not trying to focus on religion. Do you think younger people will pay less attention to some of the traditional holidays?

szkotja2007 27 | 1,498

11 Aug 2008 / #5

I think the traditional ladies day on the 8th of March will disappear, which is a shame - Valentines day is just way too commercial.

toty 1 | 36

14 Aug 2008 / #6

so in this valantiens days... girl and b f can have sex and love??? or only kiss

ShelleyS 14 | 2,893

14 Aug 2008 / #7

No, valentines day is for men who like men! So I suppose they can do both

PolskaDoll 28 | 2,099

14 Aug 2008 / #8

so in this valantiens days... girl and b f can have sex and love??? or only kiss

Who knows what Valentine's Day is supposed to be about any more? Buying your loved one a big fluffy toy? Spending a ridiculous amount of money on one day to show your loved one you love them?

I think the traditional ladies day on the 8th of March will disappear, which is a shame - Valentines day is just way too commercial.

You're right, Valentine's is way to commercial now. Maybe it always was. Ladies/Women's Day is better. Of course there is lesser known Men's Day ;)

Switezianka - | 463

15 Aug 2008 / #9

I think it's a shame that young Poles adapt those foreign holidays because Polish ones are much more fun.
For example Noc Kupały (21/22 June) was the traditional, original and Pagan-rooted celebration of love, before Valentine's Day became popular. People gathered by rivers, made bonfires where they burnt herbs, and unmarried girls floated wreaths of flowers with candles attached to them on the rivers. Sometimes young man tried to catch them. Unmarried people went to forests to look for the legendary fern flower. And, of course, it was all a great feast outside, at night. Now, it's replaced by buying some cheesy plastic heart and a box of chocolate.

bluebird - | 36

24 Oct 2008 / #10

Christmas Day is also on December 25th due to the Winter Solstice on 21/22nd. I think the original Pagan festival was called Samhein?

Jesus was apparently really born in the Spring or Summer. But with Samhein being the biggest Pagan festival, they shoehorned it into it's current day!

Daisy 3 | 1,224

24 Oct 2008 / #11

I think the original Pagan festival was called Samhein?

Samhein is 31st of October Celtic new year when the ancestors come back to visit, got nicked as all saints eve or all hallows eve, Halloween

Del boy 20 | 254

24 Oct 2008 / #12

Daisy

smart girl

gtd 3 | 639

24 Oct 2008 / #13

Now, it's replaced by buying some cheesy plastic heart

I hate cheesy plastic like Gouda...that's not proper cheese!