Polin
5 Oct 2008
Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]
Yeah, I can agree with that. But it depends how he described Czechs as well - cos scandinavian blond is what I'd call 'blondies'. It is because yes originally Slavs are a nordic 'nation' (or Indo-European) as most of the nations in Europe. I'm sorry I'm not an expert so please correct me when I'm wrong. Some argue that 'nordic' was actually more ginger than blond - but it is used I guess mostly against people claiming some 'white domination' or superiority within European nations or other racist stuff. In European culture the image of blond hair, blue eyes has a meaning for people, sometimes it's good sometimes very much politically incorrect. Anyway even if we take the group who came from the east as light hair one the thing that later distinguished Poles from the rest of the Europe was the closeness to other groups like Mongols, Bulgars, Huns, Magyars - which contributes to the features like for example the dark eyes or at some point very dark hair. Some say the fact that the slavic languages are different than the germanic ones because of the impact the eastern groups had on Slavs - even when it comes to character.
Anyway maybe yes 10th might be to early to pin the Polish look as light brown hair, brown eyes (or even green) and light olive skin but it proves that what one thinks of ethnicity might be connected more to history, even literature or to put it in one word as culture rather that 'genes evaluation'. To be quite honest I would risk and say that what Poles think of their look could be more connected to what is written in such books as 'Ogniem i mieczem' or Chlopi or people's songs which praise those 'black eyes' And yes, 'White Russians' might have been earlier in those lands than those with other features (mostly result of mixture) but it doesn't explain why people hold this or other pictures in their mind of their or others ethnicity.
I don't know if it is something we can establish and give a simple answer to the question. As I said Poles very much mixed with nations around but this is this something peculiar about them and for me it makes it part of our identity - when I look at my eyes it is good to feel the 'history behind it' and knowing we shared this part of history with Ukrainians for example makes me sigh every time i hear Kozak, Sicz, Kresy etc. I don't know why I think like that but it's amazing what pictures one holds in its mind...
*************************************************************
Hmm, maybe that's why some people want to pin the Polish look as the dark eyes, dark blond hair as it was result of the fact that Poland was reaching so far east. Which brings back the image of this great, big and powerful country. These are the 'outcomes' of this part of history we are most proud of or maybe not, cos there are moments which fill us with pride even more, but definitely the stories and tales we most often sigh to ;p
Yeah, I can agree with that. But it depends how he described Czechs as well - cos scandinavian blond is what I'd call 'blondies'. It is because yes originally Slavs are a nordic 'nation' (or Indo-European) as most of the nations in Europe. I'm sorry I'm not an expert so please correct me when I'm wrong. Some argue that 'nordic' was actually more ginger than blond - but it is used I guess mostly against people claiming some 'white domination' or superiority within European nations or other racist stuff. In European culture the image of blond hair, blue eyes has a meaning for people, sometimes it's good sometimes very much politically incorrect. Anyway even if we take the group who came from the east as light hair one the thing that later distinguished Poles from the rest of the Europe was the closeness to other groups like Mongols, Bulgars, Huns, Magyars - which contributes to the features like for example the dark eyes or at some point very dark hair. Some say the fact that the slavic languages are different than the germanic ones because of the impact the eastern groups had on Slavs - even when it comes to character.
Anyway maybe yes 10th might be to early to pin the Polish look as light brown hair, brown eyes (or even green) and light olive skin but it proves that what one thinks of ethnicity might be connected more to history, even literature or to put it in one word as culture rather that 'genes evaluation'. To be quite honest I would risk and say that what Poles think of their look could be more connected to what is written in such books as 'Ogniem i mieczem' or Chlopi or people's songs which praise those 'black eyes' And yes, 'White Russians' might have been earlier in those lands than those with other features (mostly result of mixture) but it doesn't explain why people hold this or other pictures in their mind of their or others ethnicity.
I don't know if it is something we can establish and give a simple answer to the question. As I said Poles very much mixed with nations around but this is this something peculiar about them and for me it makes it part of our identity - when I look at my eyes it is good to feel the 'history behind it' and knowing we shared this part of history with Ukrainians for example makes me sigh every time i hear Kozak, Sicz, Kresy etc. I don't know why I think like that but it's amazing what pictures one holds in its mind...
*************************************************************
Hmm, maybe that's why some people want to pin the Polish look as the dark eyes, dark blond hair as it was result of the fact that Poland was reaching so far east. Which brings back the image of this great, big and powerful country. These are the 'outcomes' of this part of history we are most proud of or maybe not, cos there are moments which fill us with pride even more, but definitely the stories and tales we most often sigh to ;p