Language / WISŁA or VISTULA?? [46]

I hope this isn't too far off topic, but ...
I read where the Polish alphabet includes a few letters that are not generally used in Polish but they are included to make it easier to spell foreign words. One of those letters is "V". Polish doesn't need a "V" since it has a perfectly good "W". But "Vistula"?. Is Vistula an exception to the rule or is it a foreign word?

I apologize if this is too far off topic. But I have wondered about this ever since I found that my ancestors lived near Płock and the Vistula.

Genealogy / Which Polish first names are considered unpopular / obsolete in Poland? [124]

Thank you.
Based on some of the names I have seen in Polish genealogy records, I wonder how old the little kid was before he learned to write his name. And I thoroughly appreciate the use of the diminutive form of names.

Genealogy / Which Polish first names are considered unpopular / obsolete in Poland? [124]

I am trying to guess the original, Polish version of a first name that has almost certainly been severely Americanized before it shows up in our records. The American version is listed as Valdemere. The "V" and the "ere" ending make a pretty strong case that it has been modified. But what was the name in Poland? I found a similar name, Włodzimerz, that could have been the original, Polish version. Any other suggestions? Is there a Polish name like Waldemar or anything similar?

History / MAP OF POLAND IN 1880'S [95]

Thank you all. Embarrassing. I can find the references now but I couldn't before. I would say that I was spelling it incorrectly except I looked in several places and the search engines usually cover minor spelling mistakes . And I scoured the map and found every town in the records except Szczechowo. Sigh. Thank you again.

History / MAP OF POLAND IN 1880'S [95]

I have several records from my grandmother's family showing they lived near Szczutowo (which still exists I think). Their town was Szczechowo Kolonia (which I cannot find). I can find no other Polish town name with "Kolonia". There might be some, I just couldn't find any. Do you think the Kolonia means anything or is it just a way to make the name more unique? Do you think it is just like in the U.S. where some places have the word Township added on. Or do you suppose there was some historical reason to call it a colony. Were there perhaps colonies established during the partitions?

Genealogy / Looking for a person living in Warsaw - any online phone book in Poland? [33]

Thanks @mafketis. I read where the Polish people are very protective of personal information. The article said this was because of the years of communist rule so it all made sense to me. But it sounds like the actual situation is more complicated. Not being able to easily read what you want to read would be reason to complain. I don't think very highly of US newspapers but a person should be able to read whatever he or she wants.

Thanks again.

Genealogy / Looking for a person living in Warsaw - any online phone book in Poland? [33]

What does "RODO" stand for?

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1400]

There seems to be several "tricks", like avoid using metal and seal it well to keep air out. I had some pretty wimpy ćwikła until I learned the tricks.

Hot foods are pretty interesting. Horseradish is great since (at the risk of sounding indelicate) it is only hot on the way in. Not so with peppers. But enough ...

As I discerned that I was losing the horseradish pandemic, I resorted to chemical warfare. I got some of the baddest plant killer I could find and applied it. About all it did was to curl the leaves a bit more than normal. I have heard since that you should plant it in a large pot or half-barrel. But one guy told me that it can still jump out of the barrel. Horseradish zombie apocalypse!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1400]

Thanks. Bunch of new food dishes to research.

I had a reasonable sized chunk of horseradish left over one year so I stuck it in the garden. What can it hurt, right? Stuff started to take over the garden! I dug out as much as I could but it came back almost as fast. That is one tough plant! Of course my real problems started when I ran over it with a rototiller. Bad move.

If I ever make it to Poland I'll look for ćwikła, now that I know it is available year-round.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1400]

I grew up having a dish at Easter made with grated horseradish and beets. I cheated this year and bought a small jar of grated horseradish. (Too hard to find good horseradish and too painful to grate it by hand) It is too hot to eat it by itself but it goes great on ham and hard boiled eggs. I am almost certain it is Polish but it might not be. Does this sound familiar?

Law / Landlord forces me to pay internet+TV [17]

@Ziemowit
Thanks. While I was doing genealogy I saw a question on the US 1930 Census asking whether the family had a TV. I thought it was just a curious question. But I'm guessing now that the US was thinking about that sort of thing as well and decided against it.

Law / Landlord forces me to pay internet+TV [17]

@Ziemowit


Reading between the lines: If you buy a TV in Poland you have to register it and pay a license fee? Who gets the license fee money and keeps track of registration?

Life / Pawn shop in Poland [6]

Thanks. If I ever do make it to Poland ...

Life / Pawn shop in Poland [6]

moved from


There's a term I haven't heard before. I know what it means pretty much. But where would I go to find a lombard in Poland? Is there equivalent in US besides a regular bank or savings and loan?

(Remember April Fool's Day is over.)

Language / Cultural disparities shown through Polish and English languages [171]

I find the Polish use of diminutive names intriguing. I don't know all the "rules" for diminutives but it seems like a person receives a diminutive name almost immediately. But there is never a diminutive last name. In the US it takes a little while longer to get a "nickname" but it can be either name or a completely new name unrelated to a person's real name.

Language / Cultural disparities shown through Polish and English languages [171]

Don't know. Her background was so different from mine that I just accepted it. It didn't feel comfortable for me to call her Ms. Mable so I just went with Mable. I don't know how many people were Mr. or Ms. besides me. I know she didn't have much good to say about some of her family so she just called them by their first name. But when she got a cat she named it Ms. Kitty. I kind of got the impression that the title was used for people she liked more than anything.

A friend (from the North) moved to Georgia for work and his children were born there. He taught them to call adults with title+first name as well. I think it was pretty common to do that.

Language / Cultural disparities shown through Polish and English languages [171]

The title+first name is (or at least was) used in the Southeast US, especially when children were talking to adult friends of the family. I kind of like the practice as it shows respect but allows a child to avoid struggling with difficult-to-pronounce surnames.

I had an elderly black neighbor who grew up in the South. She didn't get around well so I'd help her do stuff. She always called me Mr. Paul. So I guess the practice extended to adults in some cases as well.

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

What is czarny piątek? In US Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. But I just watched a video that said Poland doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. Perhaps the Friday before Easter?

Genealogy / Anyone from Berezka / Brzuska near the Ukrainian border ? [53]

There is a branch of my family named Baran who lived (still lives) in Patton, PA, not far from Ben's Creek. My grandparents are also buried at Sts. Peter & Paul Byzantine. I will email you.

Food / Which foods are generally disliked/unpopular in Poland? Which non-Polish foods are slowly gaining popularity? [140]

(note to self: do not buy stock in the company that makes Karmi)
I sort of figured the bison grass vodka might be a manly sort of alternative vodka. My poor wife may get tired of me buying her odd vodkas.

Food / Which foods are generally disliked/unpopular in Poland? Which non-Polish foods are slowly gaining popularity? [140]

So the plan will be to buy my wife a wisniowka and then I can drink it when she doesn't like it. Can't throw it away now, can I? That qualifies as alcohol abuse!

As to the old guy dying from drinking too much vodka, I hate it when that happens. Will try to avoid.

Food / Which foods are generally disliked/unpopular in Poland? Which non-Polish foods are slowly gaining popularity? [140]

Yeah, I figured drinking beer is already within my skill set and I could likely drink beer in any language. But I didn't want to have the locals pointing and laughing at me behind my back for my faux pas at vodka drinking. And from what it sounds like, a guy could get in trouble if he tried to buy someone a drink of cherry vodka. Glad I asked about this.

Food / Which foods are generally disliked/unpopular in Poland? Which non-Polish foods are slowly gaining popularity? [140]

I recently read where Poland considers vodka to be a Polish product and prides themselves on the quality of their vodka. I am kind of a piwo kind of guy but I should probably learn about vodka before I book my visit.

Can I drink flavored vodka or will you take away my "man card" if I do? The type that intrigues me is called wiśnowka (or something like that). Is there a difference between flavored vodka and infused vodka?

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

Back in the 80's I had a casual friend, Doug, who was a gunsmith. Doug's wife, Chris, worked in a furniture store. Doug and Chris had been at another friend's house for dinner. They arrived back home fairly late. They were just going into their house when a co-worker of Chris showed up at the door. The co-worker, Wayne, was a pretty big guy who worked as a furniture delivery man. Wayne said he was driving in the neighborhood when his car broke down. He asked if he could use their phone. They showed him where the phone was and continued bringing stuff in from their car.

Doug brought in a rifle, ammunition and some other stuff he had in his car and took them to the basement. Chris took some stuff upstairs to put it away. When Doug came up from the basement, Wayne hit him over the head, knocking him out. Wayne dragged Doug back to the basement. Wayne then went upstairs, beat up Chris and tied her to the bed. He then ran back to the basement where Doug was starting to wake up. He stabbed Doug several times, then ran back up to tie Chris up since she had started to get loose.

Doug revived enough to grab the rifle he had just brought in, loaded.it and headed back up to stop Wayne. They met on the stairs. Doug emptied the rifle into Wayne, and seeing that he was still alive, broke the rifle stock over Wayne's head. He then went up, released Chris and called the police.

The police found that Wayne was a serial murderer and was responsible for several unsolved murders. The incident is documented in the book To Kill and Kill Again.

Genealogy / Want to find a person [762]

Thanks kaprys. How do you know what my next question will be before I even ask? You've done it more than once now. Cosmic! I was pretty sure that Wsholek was not real Polish with -sh- but now I know it is likely Wszołek.

Pozdrawiam.

Genealogy / Want to find a person [762]

Men with surnames of Woźniak and Wsholek are mentioned in my grandfather's birth record. How does one write these surnames for a female? It's formulaic if you have -ski and -ska. But how about Woźniak? Woźniaka?? Wsholeka becomes Wsholeka??

News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]

I found this statement in an article about your presidential elections.

"Since coming to power in 2015, the governing Law and Justice party has been in conflict with the European Union over new laws that give the government more control of the judicial system."

I might be misinterpreting this issue but I would think the relationship between the various branches of your government would be defined in your constitution and your laws. Probably I am just confused again so I would appreciate some clarification.

Genealogy / Hypothetical cousin from America - genealogy and Poles [20]

Yeah, I was probably too judgemental. Anyone even remotely serious about genealogy probably has more objective motives.

What is a Polish elite site? I need to see if there is any nobility in my ancestry and the name implies maybe I could do it there.

But seriously, what is a Polish elite site? Never heard that term.

Genealogy / Hypothetical cousin from America - genealogy and Poles [20]

So many amateur genealogists here have hidden agendas. They won't admit it, but they are looking for "royal ancestors". And there is the eternal search for "family crests". There are scoundrels here who will sell you your family crest. And, big surprise, the crest usually has something on it to commemorate the "service to the king". Kind of weird IMO. I don't even know what a family crest is. I bet my great grandfather didn't either. And the highest status he probably reached was when the mud built up on his shoes. And I still feel blessed to learn about him.

Genealogy / Hypothetical cousin from America - genealogy and Poles [20]

Thanks for the input Jack. I can't explain why Americans seem to be interested in genealogy (even though I'm one of them). But I have observed that the hobby seems to be most popular among older Americans. The young people who show an interest mainly want to use the DNA tests but usually don't want to pore through ancient census records. I looked at the web pages for some Polish genealogy clubs. Sometimes they show pictures of the members and they look to be a bit younger. But these are obviously generalizations and might be inccurate.

It is unfortunate that TV and movies are seen as significant. I don't watch TV. I shudder to think that an extraterrestrial alien civilization may be forming an opinion about earth based on TV signals that have escaped into space.