Food / Bigos Recipe [183]

Years and years ago some groceries (kind of 'fresh fruit and veggie/organic' shops) were selling 'freshly made' sauerkraut straight from the barrels. I loved it. And it didn't need rinsing.

But I don't think you can find any of those anymore.

I use Krakus or Victus sauerkrat and my mum's advice was to rinse the sauerkraut or, if needed, add some fresh cabagge.

Different regions have different recipes for bigos.
I make it using sauerkraut only (I'm lazy), my mum does it sweet+sauert or just sweet (fresh cabbage).

If you use saurkraut, put a little bit oil in the frying pan/pot and let it cook for half an hour. The saurkraut will change a colour a bit and will become more translucent (like onion when you fry it) and soft. Then you can put it in the pot/mix with the sweet cabbage and cook it with the rest of the ingredients.

Always good idea to leave some of the liquid aside (as advised above) in case it's not 'sauer' enough. It's really easy.

Smacznego!

UK, Ireland / Cheap calls to Poland from the UK [134]

the best and most up to date details gives you:

niftylist.co.uk/calls/

it's like a database of all the cheap numbers to call wherever from UK

Language / Polish words difficult to translate into English [66]


Quite often you can't translate word for word because it may make no sense. The context is very important.

zabytkowy/zabytek - listed buidling - because of it's historical or architectual value;
for example -there's a number of listed buildings in our town dating from baroque/ or 'a listed baroque buildings'
as for zabytkowy car/book etc - it will be simply 'antique'

wychowanie/wychowawczy - eduction/educational
Ministry of Education/higher education etc; zaklad wychowawczy (another Polish word for it is 'poprawczak') is equivalent to British 'young offenders centre'

reprezentacyjny - representative BUT
sala reprezentacyjna will be something along the 'assembly hall'/auditorium
fundusz reprezentacyjny - Representative Funds

Kamienica- 'townhouse'. of course most of it are currently divided into flats. But historically, there used to be one owner.

kilkanascie (between 10 and 20) /kilkadziesiat (over 20) - and one more - kilkaset (over 100) - you can use 'several'.
several thousands dollars, several hundred people etc

Language / Polish words difficult to translate into English [66]

there's no literal translation - except to say is a 'district' of a town usually

very good explanation is here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiedle

Language / Polish words difficult to translate into English [66]

to compare it to a British system it will be something like a 'ward' but without the political implications of wards in the UK
basically it goes like this:
town/city is divided into dzielnice and dzielnica may have few 'osiedle' (depends how big is the town or city; some small ones dont have 'osiedle')

osiedle is very informal and the 'few blocks' you mention is more like a housing estate, but again - it's not the case in Poland because osiedle can be a mix of freehold housing and some social housing

osiedle is more about the geographical and historical split of town and cities

Love / My husband is Polish and I was wondering why he drinks all the time. [66]

@salsa
how long have you known him for? before marriage i mean
If the guy had a drinking problem before you got married and you've known each other for more than 6 months you would notice the pattern

if he started drinking heavily recently, he may have problems

Genealogy / Need some help with Bublitz family origin. [23]

Here is history of Bobolice from their official website.

bobolice.pl

The name Bublitz has been recorded officially on 17/04/1320 when they were awarded the town status for the first time.
Although not stricte Polish (there's more history involved) it wasn't also German however, because of its growth as a town, Germans moved to the area.

West Pomerania, where is Bobolice, became part of Brandenburgia (German Principality) in 1648.
If you have anyone who could translate it for you, then you'd know more

And flag and coat of arms of Bobolice from Wiki
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobolice

Currently it's a small town/village.

Plus one more detail:

West Pomerania, where is Bobolice, became part of Brandenburgia (German Principality) in 1648. There is also a history of Jewish community in Bobolice. After the first partition in Poland Prussian king (Fryderyk II) removed 7000 Jews from the region to Poland. The number of Jewish families in Bobolice dropped from around 25 to 6.

Also, another interesting fact from the document below, in 1812 Germans became something what could be called 'Jewish germanisation'. Meaning, they would get the same citizen rights as German citizen IF they change their surnames and names to German, start speaking German and change the clothing/way they dressed to 'European' and had to convert to a christian faith in some cases.

The mass migration, mainly to Germany and both AMericas, from Bobolice and area peaked mid 19th century

These details you'll find here: bobolice.pl/zydzi.pd


In Bobolice Pomerania there's no castle currently. There is an indication that something was there because it was marked on the 'Lubinus Map' from 1618 but no more details regarding it. The map is exhibited in Braunshweig's Palace in Kolobrzeg.

Owners of Bobolice in XV-XVI century were changing frequently. The village belonged to knighted families of von Massow, Eberstein, Lode i Puttkamer.

However, in the area there are 16 smaller palaces (not in Bobolice) with four of them being listed buildings.

There is a castle in another Bobolice, in Silesia region (south Poland) - zamkipolskie.com/bobol/bobol.html

Love / My husband is Polish and I was wondering why he drinks all the time. [66]

salsa

oh, salsa..

it was my father...they divorced after 25 years but he used to do the same. It wasn't my mum or anything. He got a job with some real nutcases and he wasn't a 'pal' until he got drunk with them.

Enough to say there was jealousy, anger, suspicion, arguments, abusive beahviour etc etc...
He changed jobs, people he worked with and all became normal.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

haven't read what you guys wrote but I love Poland for its inconsistency...
for the fact the people can be 'converted' (if you try hard enough)
for the fact that as an nation we were so ****** up we have no idea who we are and where we come from

for the fact that when other nations may be getting deluded, we learn from your mistakes (hopefully) and come out on the better side

that's my HOPE for Poland

UK, Ireland / Religion and identity among Polish immigrants in the UK [20]

Im a Pole but living in London for over 10 years. I've been once to a Polish church here. My friend's idea. It was nice but nothing exciting. My thoughts after this 'visit' were:

1. it's nice Polish people can feel togetherness - after mass there was a kind of a tea time or something - people mingled, got their teas and cakes, talked.

2. i didin't feel part of it as my relationship with the Polish Catholic church is - and has been for years - troubled one- nothing to do with being in the UK.

3. Found a seromon a bit annoying - kind of patronising but maybe some people need to be treated this way
4. Polish priests here - not all - are the same as in Poland - hypocrisy is the god
5. I like - haven't done it in ages thou - going to Anglican/Protestant/other churches. For some reason I feel more part of it/in place than I usedto in our Polish ones.

And now I tell you about the hypocrisy. It's a true story which happened to me - and was a joke among my friends for a long time.

We know the rules Polish priests suppose to obliged/live by, yes? Celibacy etc.

Anyway, about 10 years ago i made friends with some Polish people on a Polish message board. There was one guy that talking to him was quite interesting - pretty deep thinking etc. So we arranged meeting for a coffee.

We met. We talked. He managed to avoid telling me what he was doing here before citing 'i am a freelancer' (well - in Polish it's 'wolny zawod) but when we met, I kept pressing/guessing etc. And finally I hit the nail. He was a priest here in one of the better known Polish churches in London.

So, after finding out what he was doing in the UK, I got a full story out of him - how he found himself in London.

He was from a small parish in Poland. Tried to get a place somewhere abroad for a long time - and finally got lucky. Why did he want it so much? Because he fell in love with a young widow in his parish and people got talking about them. He knew if he comes here he may get a small Polish parish somewhere in the UK, or anywhere else, on his own. He can then bring the woman he loved at some point and be happy with no people talking - no resigning from church duties etc. Basically - having it both ways.

So - hypocrisy the same way as it used to be, and still is I believe, in Poland.
I didn't know if to feel disappointed or angry but I felt pity. Weak character, weak person - how someone two-faced can preach about morals and what people do abroad. Broken families, drinking etc.

On the other hand, my Latin teacher was a priest once. He fell in love, left the church, married the woman he loved, had beautiful kids and became one of the best and funniest Latin teachers.

This I admire and respect.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Polonius not here

wniary - it's a brand name in Poland (currently)
probably comes from 'wino' - wine
but there used to be a 'fort' called 'winiary'

didn't look for details

Piekarczyk - baker's apprentice - someone who learns the jobs - bakery
other fromns: Piekarski. Piekarz (Baker)

Karczewski -
verb is 'karczowac' - no idea about exact English word but those guys who cut out the forrest (mostly in Canada now - lumberjacks??)
anyway - karczowac means cutting trees in the forrest

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Could also derived from LASKOWY, as in orzech laskowy (hazelnut).

Polonia / Polish satellite TV abroad [40]

That is correct. Called my friends and they have Polsat package, dish size 80cm and make payments for it over the internet. They are in London.

I know before they've had different provider (Cyfra?) but since then they've switched to Polsat. The first time around somebody from Poland brought them the decoder from Poland and it was being paid in Poland (before 2004).

I think there's a possibility to buy a dish here.

In the UK the three tv sat offered are Cyfra+, Polsat and something called 'n'. I think they've also had this 'n' tv at some point but weren't happy with it.

ahm and one more thing - I think the 80cm is the standard size dish as SKY dish (at least the ones I see) are the same size as their one.

Genealogy / Jewish Roots of Poland [638]


google :)

israelpost.co.il/Mall.nsf/8E74C813D2940A87C225765300460B46/$file/poland_l.gif

original painting by Juliusz Kossak: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berek_Joselewicz

History / POLAND: EASTERN or CENTRAL European country? [1080]


amen to that

History / POLAND: EASTERN or CENTRAL European country? [1080]


still correct

would add one thing - culture
when Poland was crying because of the partitions, England was ahead with its industrial revolution
Poland didnt have much influence on Western or Eastern (Russian/South Europe) culture

so yeah - we are central - always in between and undecided

History / POLAND: EASTERN or CENTRAL European country? [1080]


yeah...
you won't know it but back in the 80s there was a very dry joke going that Poland is the ***** of others

so yeah, we lie where we lie

Food / Your all time favourite Polish Dishes! [108]

LENIWCE!

Im a pierogi person, and love 'pierogi ruskie', but pierogi leniwe (cottage/farmers cheese kind of based) are all time favourite

Sweet or sour
sweet - topping with buttery and sweetened breadcrumbs
sour - with sour cream and sugar

and potatoes pancakes - love them too

pretty good recipe for leniwe

easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/noodlesdumplings/r/lazypierogi.htm

Life / Famous Polish people (that we have actually heard of) [231]

Pola Negri
Stephanie Powell (if anybody knows her)
the guy who plays Stephan in the Vampires Diaries (he's reaaaly sweet!)
plenty of others connected to the film industry - and the beginning of film industry in the USA
current ones - ALan Stark I think is his current name in the USA...two times winner for costume design -Schindler's List being one of them? cant remember the second one

as for you, I suggest to start with Stella Walsh, my uni friend's great aunt, disqualified during some athlete thingy in Poland and being taken for a man on many occasions

britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/634342/Stanislawa-Walasiewicz

Life / Any good Polish films to watch? [112]

Polish cinema annoys me; I find the films or being too intellectual/depressing, or too stupid to enjoy

I found one film I enjoyed. Actually two (over the last two years).
The first one was very real and very true without being exaggerated - just the essence of what's really going on in families under the stress - called Plac Zbawiciela (Savour's Square). Because of the subject i think it's a universal film, and not something typically Polish. I'd rather say that these emotions and behaviour were introduced to Poles post 89'.

The version I watched had really good English subtitles
I was amazed! Being usually very critical of the Polish cinema ( after 95'), I'd really recommend to watch it.
stopklatka.pl/film/film.asp?fi=21312

The other one is very different. It is by a Polish director unknown to me, but reminding me of Kazimierz Kutz and his films about Silesia.

The film's called #Sztuczki' (Tricks) and has a really great soundtrack by Tomasz Gąssowski. Again, extremely limited number of actors, slow pace but the story sucks you in.

sztuczki-film.pl

Life / Famous Polish people (that we have actually heard of) [231]


didnt check those few pages before I answered and you talk to me FB??

I'll have a look if dont have to join the group/whatever
but good luck with the project

Genealogy / Jewish Roots of Poland [638]

palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=15943


inventionofthejewishpeople.com/2010/04/haaretz-on-shlomo-sand-and-what-it-means-to-be-jewish/#more-597


(Shlomo Sand)

inventionofthejewishpeople.com/2009/11/shlomo-sand-responds-to-simon-schamas-review-in-the-financial-times/

Life / Any good Polish films to watch? [112]

a bit off topic but

I like Polish films, but with age I find them too depressing/intellectual/contemplative or plain stupid (comedies)
Is it me? or some kind of tendency?
I liked Sztuczki (Tricks)
But something-I-can't-remember-the-title-but-so-called-gangster-comedy nearly killed me with boredom (and stupidity)

I'd say - go back to to school and start making films like Vabank
(worth watching - Polish version of The Sting I think)

Classifieds / Jute bags in Poland - lucrative business? [16]

It's like selling the ice to the Eskimo :)
These type of bags have been around in Poland for ages (it's the 'bad west' who introduced us to these awful plastic bags!)
Topping it up with the fact that in many respects Poland has been more organic than the 'West', I believe you won't find it very lucrative business (importing).

It doesn't mean there's no space for more but you'd have to make a really good research

This is a website dedicated to 'PRL hits' - things we miss the most from the 'red era' - spodlady.com/torby

Genealogy / Suwalki/Supliski [8]

There are two:

1. Established in 1908
Parafia =Parish) rzymsko-katolicka p.w. Matki Boskiej Czestochowskiej
Adres: Bacejły 32, 16-411 Szypliszki
Telefon: (87) 568-11-27

2. Established in 1794
Parafia rzymsko-katolicka p.w. Ducha Świętego
Adres: Kaletnik 70, 16-411 Szypliszki
Telefon: (87) 564-79-28

you can do a partial check here online:

geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php

click 'podlaskie' (current name of the district where Szypliszki are)
not all the records are online so not sure if you find anything. Gave you adresses to Szypliszki parishes in another topic

Study / 90% of Poles have university degree? [57]

When Poland became a 'free country' yet again in the 90. suddenly there was a huge increase in a number of schools - private schools - where you were able to do your BA/MA.

I've known number of people who were telling me 'I have two degrees' to which I always replied - where from? From Pcimie Dolne?'

Pcimie Dolne is a derogatory term - it means that something coming from there can't be of any value.

But that was the case back in the 90 - huge number of semi-unis/schools that you coughed up the dosh and you were studying to get your BA and MA. Most of these people wouldn't make it through exams to get to a normal, old established unis. Most of these schools didn't have good lecturers because those who valued themselves wouldn't set a foot through the door.

It's changed later - money talks. Few schools since then closed the door. Number of reasons, from various frauds to not having proper curriculum etc.

I would think that the situation is more balanced now, but in the 90 it was wild wild west and yes, I wouldnt be surprised if the number was really high.

Genealogy / Poland Genealogy Resources [130]

wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra

It's a digital library of various books, documents and other resources (also some newspapers)
From nobility in Poland to address books and phone books well before 1939; names of villages and their owners etc etc

Most of the documents are in Polish, some Latin. It covers the area of Wielkopolska, but also partially Pomorze and other regions if it was within the administration of Poznan Principality or Gniezno archdiocese.

another one
archiwum.plock.com/index_g.php

This is a link to a new project from National Archive in Plock. They are currently working on it but some of the documents, like birth/death/marriage certificates up to 1907 are online.

Genealogy / Poland Genealogy Resources [130]

true, and one more thing worth adding - the digital library is a project undertaken across Poland so if put Biblioteka Cyfrowa in google/whatever search engine , you'll come across digital libraries from other parts of Poland.

Couldnt find one directory for all of them.

Study / 90% of Poles have university degree? [57]

for once you might be correct

not sure about redneck tho

Genealogy / Old Polish Prayer Book-Chlib Duszi [14]


orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=25795.0


theologyincolor.com/hymns/pdf/pisennik_bibliography.pdf - -page 3 and 4

Carpatho-Rusyn prayerbook

Look also for info on Starokatolicki Kosciol Morawitow. They identified themselves in 1906. Until then they were part of RC church in Poland. However, they patron was and is Our Lady of Perpetual Help and they've also had churches in south east part of Poland and Russia/Ukraine.

Maybe ther's a connection/explanation.