Symbols & Signs in Polish History, Culture & Life

Hi there to you all Poles,

Please mention the signs or symbols that are of unique significance in Polish history, culture and life. Symbols could be from among colours, animals, art, drinks, food, . . . everything that stands for POLAND.

Check the symbol "Polska WalczÄ…ca"

Yes:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotwica

The white eagle is the greatest symbol Poland because the story behind it, about the first king of Poland learning to respect nature, is one of the wisest and most charming stories ever told. When I see the Polish flag I think of that brave mother eagle's blood stained feathers and I know that despite being red and white the Polish flag is green.

The banner of Kościuszko Uprising that glorifies Polish peasants:
pl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plik:Banner_of_Ko%C5%9Bciuszko_Uprising.PNG&filetimestamp=20100312140810

It was used for example by the 303 fighter squadron:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dywizjon_303

The symbol of Polish Winged Hussars is also characteristic:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Polish-1st-Armd-Div-Badge.jpg

Speaking of animals, the drawing of Wojtek the bear is used:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wojtek_soldier_bear.png

If you want to look towards painters, then look for Malczewski, Matejko, Kossaks.

he can also check crow's thread where he posted many nuce pictures od husaria:


So maybe also the turtle graffiti ("pracuj Polaku powoli" - Pole, work slowly!)
source in Polish:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pracuj_Polaku_powoli

Also, various buildings and monuments are characteristic Polish symbols: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigismund%27s_Column

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warszawska_Syrenka

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopin_Statue,_Warsaw

And Palace in Poland:

pawian

What is this, then!!?? What palace?


Why is the Polish flag green?

+++

Everybody! One more question: Which one is Poland's symbol: White stork or white eagle?? Both?? AND they must be white?

The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw:

See the gadgets on the right


Yes!


Storks must be white to be a symbol

When black, they are not a symbol anymore. They are black sheep:

The story of the white eagle is as follows: The first King of Poland enjoyed falconry and he decided that if falcons and hawks could be trained to hunt, for people, then perhaps eagles could be so trained as well. He located a white eagle's nest that contained young eaglets and he climbed up to steal one. Upon reaching the nest the mother eagle stood in front of her young and fought the king as he tried to grab an eaglet. The king drew his dagger and pricked the mother eagle in the chest thinking that she would fly away and thereby allow him to get the eaglet he sought, but the brave mother eagle still fought on despite the red blood staining her white feathers. The king became ashamed of himself and he relented, and out of admiration for this noble bird's defense of her young he proclaimed that from then on the white eagle would be the symbol of Poland and the Polish flag would be red and white because those were the colors of the white eagle's bloody breast. I said that the Polish flag is therefore green in the sense that green is the symbolic color of those who have decided to respect nature as this king decided to do when he climbed down from that eagle's nest leaving the eaglets to grow up wild and free.


Indeed, Arthur Schopenhauer even criticized this attempt to stave off the extinction of the aurochs in the second volume of his great work The World As Will And Representation. He wrote "But to inflict the punishment of death for shooting an aurochs, as is done in Poland, is too much, for the preservation of the species of the aurochs must not be purchased with human life." (Chapter XLVII On Ethics)

Perhaps he meant Wisent
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisent
cause the last Aurochs died in 1627.

Yes, Arthur was probably confusing the two beasts, or perhaps he was unaware that the aurochs was already extinct.

Oh, Thank you so much. It was a very nice story and help.

Do you know of other stories like this about Poland? If so, please tell.

AND. What about Polish folklore? Or myths? Please tell me. I'd really like to know.

Thanks.

The legend which Des Essientes told you seems to be an American version of that legend (never heard it before, though I've checked it and indeed there is such version of the legend). However in Poland the legend goes like that (in a nutshell): Lech (he was one of three brothers: Lech, Czech and Rus) follows the eagle and when the eagle brings him to his nest, Lech take it as a sign that he should settle there and creat a country. Why the Polish national symbol is white eagle on the red background? Because he wanted to see what is in the nest when the eagle aroused to fly and it was sunset time so the sky was red...

I must admit I like more Des Essientes' version :)

There are many legends in Poland. I suggest to create a new thread to not to annoy the mods ;)

Popular legends:
About Wanda who didn't want to marry a German
About Wars and Sawa (how the city Warsaw was established)
About the Wawel dragon and shoemaker Dratewka
About Bazyliszek
About Boruta devil
About nobleman Mr Twardowski who end up on the moon

Silver Eagle !

Not what I could read in our Constitution?

English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Poland
Polish: pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%C5%82o_Rzeczypospolitej_Polskiej

Oh wow, it is true I read this story from a pamplet published in honor of Pulaski Day, which is a Polish-American holiday in honor of Casimir because he fought in the Revolutionary War that freed the USA from British rule.


Wow! Lech following an eagle is amazingly similar to the Aztec foundational legend which is depicted on the Mexican flag.


Here is a link to an English language telling of the Twardowski story:

gutenberg.org/files/20740/20740-h/20740-h.htm#Page_237

It is called auspicium
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auspicium
and that motive occurs in many cultures.

Constitution was written by ignorants then, either that or wiki article !

Read the Constitution.
Funny thing you perceive our legislators as ignorants, meaning you believe you would be the right Legislator.

Where can I download the latest version of the national constitution of Poland? (An authentic one)

Here you are: sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/polski/kon1.htm

This is the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, website.

English: sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm


This phrase shall be read by Ironside over and over:

I was only joking a little :-)
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasztanka

• 
  pilsudski_na_kasztan.jpg
  

Emblematic for Poles to such an extent that lower-case stanczyk means generic 'jester' alongside błazen and figlarz.

This is no longer the era of sulking clowns, of course. Why, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz has been in self-imposed exile in London for some five years now. That aside, one or two of the more unhinged members of our Opposition have been trying to tell us for some dozen months now that instead of depressed comics, what we have is an elite of grinning funeral directors...

Two-finger salute

• 
  Ludwik Solski, as Old Veteran, by Wyspiañski
  

Is two-finger-salute really a Polish symbol??
AND when do you do it? for saying hello, or good-bye??

yes
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-finger_salute

"Rogatywka", a Polish generic name for an asymmetrical, peaked, four-pointed military cap used by various Polish military formations throughout the ages.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogatywka

The term "róg" mean a horn, but also a corner. Rogatywka = a cap with corners. No army in the world have ever used this sort of cap - unless you go way back centuries ago.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czapka

• 
  Contemporary "Rogatywka"
  
• 
  Czapka of a wachtmeister of 1st Uhlan Regiment of Polish Legions
  

This is only used in the military.

It is not any Polish symbol, MyJustyna. There is a crowd of nationalists on Polish Forums, unluckily, and soon they will present you -- for example -- statues of pagan gods, pentagrams etc. ;-) Trust my word on it. PolskiMoc = PolishPower like in "White Power", do you understand?