History / Recommended Poland's history books [191]

Merged: Recommended reading on Polish History

I would like to rise to the challenge that I have sensed in earlier posts on PF, as to the ignorance of the average person claiming Polish Heritage on the history of Poland and Her people. Being of Polish descent and recognizing my lack of knowledge as to the history of Poland, I would like to learn more. So what books, non-fiction as well as accurate historical fiction would you recommend ??

Are there any good Documentaries or movies dealing with Poland that you would recommend ?? Needless to say I would have to have these sources in English.

I did have the opportunity to visit Poland last year and really enjoyed it. Hope to go again some day.

History / Recommended Poland's history books [191]

Thanks guys this will get me started on a good library search. Any good documentaries about Poland or Polish Society out there???

Travel / Poles the worst-dressed tourists in the world? [25]

Not to be to hard on Polish dress, but last Summer while visiting Poland what surprised me the most was some of the vulgar sayings in English that people were wearing on T shirts. I had to wonder if they actually knew what was printed on their shirts, if they did they should have been ashamed to be seen in public with such things on. Then there were the shirts with US sports team names but linked to the wrong states. Such as the New York Redskins?? Some one should tell the China man that made them that the Redskins reside in Washington DC.

Travel / Poles the worst-dressed tourists in the world? [25]

It is the truth. I saw the New York redskins shirt in Krakow

Love / Polish women are angel [30]

I do not know if he is Irish or not. I just do not understand how is English improved so dramatically between his two posts

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

So could someone tell me the meaning of, or anything about the name Bucia? Is it very common in Poland today?

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

Thanks Astoria, My maternal grandparents were Bucias and immigrated to the US around 1905. My mother always said that they came from outside the Krakow area. Someday I would love to do more research on an exact location. Pete

Love / Polish women: what do you think of Polish men? Physically unattractive? [180]


I do have to admit that I made close to the same comment to my Polish friend that I was traveling with last Summer (in Poland) that the women were much more pleasant to look at then the men. But then again I'm a guy :)

Food / How do you like your Polish OSCYPEK? [14]

I always have to laugh when I think of this cheese. When my sister and I were walking around the market in Krakow, she bought some from a street vendor. She thought they were cookies!!! She thought it was the worse cookie she ever had!! It does make a nice cheese though.

Food / How do you like your Polish OSCYPEK? [14]


What are the fake ones??,and how do you tell real from fake??

History / What Was Happening in Poland around 1905? [73]

cmira2323 You might want to start with the records at Ellis Island. That was the main port of entry into the USA at that time. My grandparents also came from the Austrian side of the Polish partition, we were able to find them in the Ellis Island records. They listed them as from Austria but that they were Polish. The other info that we were able to access was the ship they traveled on, their port of departure and the town they formally lived in. You should really try and find a copy of their info on the ship manifest. Good Luck

History / Polish Easter Tradition is also pagan! [47]


Easter is always the first Sunday, following the first Full moon, following the Spring equinox. So it actually fluctuates around a thirty day moon phase. This year Easter was almost as late as it can get. It can only move three days later. At the risk of going off topic there is an old saying here in the U.S. "Late Easter , Late Spring", meaning when Easter falls late on the calendar warm Spring weather will also be slow arriving. It seems to have held very true this year, we had frost again this morning and only 32 degrees.

News / World's oldest man is Polish! [9]

Sorry to rain on your parade Beckski but I just saw a piece in the paper last week with an interview with a lady from Detroit who is 115, and they only claimed that she is the second oldest in the world, as there is someone in Japan who is 116. I guess you did say "man", but I can not remember if the person in Japan was a man or woman. But still hats off to anyone who can live to a ripe old age of 100. My wife had a great grandmother that made it to 102.

Food / Bary mleczne/milk bars in Poland [30]

This might seem like a strange question but could you tell this Yank what a "Milk Bar" is??

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

What can anyone share on the name Bucia, my mothers maiden name. I have heard a couple of different translations; boot or shoe, and also tree. Is the name an archaic or old fashion word that has gone out of use in modern Polish? She was from South Eastern Poland, if that sheds any light on the translation. Thanks

Life / Comparing Poland and Romania [108]


At the risk of going off topic, Why do you think Poles carry this embarrassment of their Folk Culture??