Genealogy / Websites detailing marriage/birth records in Greater Poland ( 1880-1929)? [10]

I guess I got lucky and found mine. A lot of people in the USA have problems finding out what town, etc. their families came from. Early ship records do not include it. Later ones, do. So, to help, many volunteers transcribed the marriage records in Poznan and they include Catholic Church records that are available and Protestant Church records.

This is very helpful because if you know both grandparents or both great-grandparents, you can be fairly certain that the record is yours and the village is now the place where you can find more records. The wedding records often give the names of the parents and then you get to go back another generation.

You can then contact the Diocese for the original records if you like, or for an email version. I know not everyone is there. Yet, it is a very useful place. I find records there that are not in the Mormon records online. Of course, their familysearch.org may have records that the other lacks. Give that one a go, too.

Genealogy / Websites detailing marriage/birth records in Greater Poland ( 1880-1929)? [10]

These records are just before the time period you are interested in, but could be useful:

basia.famula.pl/en

Also, marriage records are useful:

poznan-project.psnc.pl

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

From a cooking blog here is a little more about the origin of Busia or Busha:

"Also, I wanted to explain why it's called "Busia's" Sauerkraut. Modern day Poles call their Grandmothers "Babcia", however, as my husband's family is Polish by a couple of generations, prior to The Great War, in the Ukraine, Grandmothers were called "Babusia", shortened to "Busia", and sometimes twisted by accent and time to "Buzia" (which actually means "mouth" but I am just glad that they try and are close)..."

polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-and-remembering-our-past.html

Travel / How welcoming is Poland for an American visitor? And great places to visit. [43]

I've visited three times. In 2000, 2008 and last year and found people very welcoming.

History / Pomerania -a Polish land since the creation of Poland and the German invaders. [60]

Hi Shopgirl, nice to see you posting again. And yes, we do miss Bratski around here. Hoping Daisy's offer will help entice him back here again.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

Softie smiles and passes the olive branch. :)

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


You may be in a contest to pass or fail.

Generally, I enjoy a good discussion. I have no vested interest in pass or fail. I believe the original poster's question was answered. However, his question was laced with the notion that Polish customs were barbaric. That to me was bullying, and a thinly veiled put-down.

I do know there are those in the States who militantly want everyone to conform to what they view as wholesome and good. So, I get where you are coming from. However, my impression is that Poland has its customs, and they are not in danger of being bullied into changing them. Especially not from people on a forum. I could be wrong, but to me this is not an issue in Poland. Just their own personal preference.


In a way, I do. lol

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

No one is bullying any Poles from what I can see. It is just natural for them to leave it alone. So, why do you care?

You are the one who is bullying them to change their ways.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Actually, it seems most of the world is already intact, and it is you who wants to keep things to your liking.

Less people here in the States are doing it now anyway. Things are naturally changing with more knowledge and the desire to let this be the man's decision. I know of several men who were left intact and they were glad the choice was up to them. None suffered immeasurably in the gym locker rooms.

No reason to look down on Poland in particular as the USA was one of the few places with a wide practice. Everyone will have their preferences. Nothing to worry about one way or another.

As another poster said, most of us ladies are happy when we are with a man we love, and his package can be any style. It's the man. Not the tool.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Speak for the girls you know. :-)

I am sure there are as many views as there are women. And mostly they will be guided by what they have known.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


I think being less sensitive for a male is robbing him of what nature intended. Trust me on this one, either way can be wonderful for a woman. :->

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


As with most things, whatever you see in your culture, seems normal and more beautiful. I am sure those who have their necks stretched, or their feet shortened from birth by binding consider a regular human neck ugly, and regular human feet ugly.

It comes down to what you are used to and people then justify whatever it is as their preference. I think the best judge of better sex would be a man who was left intact as a child and later had the procedure.

I've heard that with the loss of the foreskin, the penis is exposed to more friction from clothing and eventually becomes less sensitive.

Language / Polish sayings [237]

That is probably the idea behind it. She may have elaborated by imagining who it would be that was hungry.
Thanks!

Language / Polish sayings [237]

Are there any Polish sayings when someone drops a spoon or a fork? My mother used to say it meant someone would soon be coming to the house and you could tell if it will be a man, a sport, or a lady by what was dropped?

Law / Weapons laws in Poland. Carrying a concealed handgun? [918]

Yes, earlier in the thread it was established that people in Poland can get hunting guns, just not handguns.

History / Were Nobles during Commonwealth constituting the Nation of Poland? [37]

Very interesting information. I was motivated, also to read about the Ossets.

Law / Weapons laws in Poland. Carrying a concealed handgun? [918]


Wish I could say the same thing about the hotel where I work.

Good example Antek.

Poland is very safe. I've traveled with people and all alone in Poland. And as a woman who only knows a tiny bit of Polish, I always felt safe.

History / Were Nobles during Commonwealth constituting the Nation of Poland? [37]


That is an interesting question. I've always wondered how the nobles of various societies became "nobles." What made them better, was it that they accumulated wealth and then weaved a story about their origins being somehow more divine, or in this case, a separate race?

I read the linked article above and while it was only a tiny part of the article, it seemed to indicate that modern historians doubt that the nobility descended from Samatians:

"The alleged ancestors of the szlachta, the Sarmatians, were in reality a confederacy of mostly Iranian tribes north of the Black Sea, described by Herodotus in the 5th century BC as descendants of Scythians and Amazons, and displaced by the Goths in the 2nd century AD and had nothing to do with Poland; the legend however stuck...."

However, I did notice that they allowed some wiggle room for maybe an offshoot of the group from the Black Sea.

Either way, I always admired how the Polish nobility was so different than the Western nobility. I tell people all the time that Poland was more advanced as far as freedoms go than even England. In history classes in this country, they always mention the great Magna Carta when they speak of evolving freedoms in Europe.

I wonder if there are any genetic studies done on surviving Polish nobility to investigate the question from that aspect.

Either way, the idea and the traditions around it seemed to have had some very advanced and positive effects on Poland and Europe, at least until the whole thing degraded and lead to the downfall of Poland. (So much gridlock with the veto and the meddling into Polish elections by other countries).

USA, Canada / What do Poles think about drinking raw milk? In America, unpasteurized milk is PROHIBITED. [49]

Raw milk is actually better for you, but you have to have healthy animals. It is easier for the FDA to allow questionable practices for dairies, and just cook the milk to kill germs.

Better to have healthy cows, healthy milk, and no need to pasteurize.

Or, I agree, tell people of the risks and make an informed decision. Good point about the things that are legal and can definitely harm you.

Years ago, I bought raw goat's milk from a farm. I did not know it was illegal now to buy your own raw milk.

Life / Why should the Polish all over the world wear red on St. Joseph's day? [32]


Yes, it is judgment-free, only an answer in response to the original question as to if it is a worldwide custom. And I agree, that is how culture develops. Offshoots that carry something of the old, and add a new twist.

It is quite similar here in the USA. On St. Patrick's Day almost everyone wears some green. Yet at one time, the newer immigrants felt excluded, and added their own customs. Red on St. Joseph's Day. After awhile people enjoy participating in, and recognizing the customs of everyone. Cinco de Mayo day is a popular custom now.

Life / Why should the Polish all over the world wear red on St. Joseph's day? [32]

Yes, it seems to be a Polish American thing in response to St. Patrick's Day. Polish Americans and Italian Americans got together to have a day to wear "their" colors.

Life / Why should the Polish all over the world wear red on St. Joseph's day? [32]

Not just Poles, also Italians:

ehow.com/how_2125593_celebrate-st-josephs-day.html
democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4901150#4901372

And I believe this is the reason why red in America in particular:

scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?autocom=blog&blogid=2&show entry=81

USA, Canada / How long will a package take to mail from Poland to USA by sea? [21]

In 2000, I made the mistake of sending a postcard "by land", and it got to the USA five months after my vacation was over.

I hope you receive your package sooner.

Genealogy / Just found out I'm Polish! [45]

Are the parents also listed as Wilson? If so that is tough. Do you know when they arrived in Texas? I guess you already attempted to go back a generation on the Wilson name. Did you look at arrivals to the USA? They might have changed the name already, although unlikely.

You might look for naturalization records, too.

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]

Prussia was quite a mix of peoples. There probably is no Prussian ethnicity unless you are talking about the original Baltic Prus. Those Prus that survived mixed with the Germans who came, and other nationalities.

History / BEATS OF FREEDOM - A HISTORY OF POLISH ROCK MUSIC [108]

ThanksMedia Watch. Yes, I am interested in Polish American singers. *hides from Delph* ;-)

Always liked Pat Benatar. Appreciate the links. I am not a big jazz fan, but I like Basia (but I believe she lives in England). Never was too keen on Bobby Vinton. Although, I did learn to say "I love you" in Polish.

I just got done watching all eight parts of the "Beat of Freedom" and found it fascinating how music, and rock in particular has changed cultures and society. I can only imagine how hard it was to defy Communism in Poland. Very proud about how once again, Poland found a way to be a country, and to be free. We always heard about Solidarity here in the States, but it is wonderful to see the music and its influence.

I notice that many people in Europe who were raised under Communism tend to be very anti-liberal. They associate hippies with the left, and seem to equate Socialism in any form to Communism. The hippie movement at least in America was rather liberal. I guess it goes without saying that the hippie movement (and rock and roll) was really against the established order where ever you lived, and for Poles, the established order was Communism. (She said realizing there must be some controversy on PF to get attention to a thread).

Nowadays there are very conservative rockers, too. Any thoughts?

History / BEATS OF FREEDOM - A HISTORY OF POLISH ROCK MUSIC [108]

This is a very interesting thread! As an American with some Polish ancestry, I have made a big effort to learn as much as I can about Poland's past. And you are right, topics here tend to be dominated by pre-WWII and perhaps right now, but I have wondered about life in Poland during the same time period in which I grew up in America. (the 50's and 60's.)

I remember in 1966 meeting a young Polish girl, Ewa, who moved to NYC from Gdańsk. I was 16 at the time, and she a bit younger. I was crazy about the Beatles. She seemed to have very little knowledge or love of rock and roll, and enjoyed classical music. At first, that was puzzling for an American teenager. I had to learn more about why that would be the case.

But then, I went to Poland for the first time in 2000 and the friend I was visiting was 29 years my junior, and just wild about the Beatles. Despite the huge age gap, we had lots in common and had been emailing for about 8 months, and having a wonderful time. I stayed with his family in Gdańsk, and his folks were about my age. One night his Dad took out the guitar and he and his wife played and sang songs. And I really enjoyed it and felt like they had experienced something similar to my teen years, maybe just a bit later. I think my friend Ewa who moved to NYC had just missed what was about to happen in Poland. So, liked watching these two videos very much. Thanks!

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

Delph, something tells me that you will eventually get around to it. My impression is that you have a quick mind. At one time, I preferred European history to American history, but I have come to enjoy both.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

Well, I did read he likes American History, so I give him the benefit of the doubt. I do believe he hates Poles who went to America. Maybe because he is a foreigner in Poland and knows Polish and feels superior to those who have Polish "blood" but only speak English.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

Hi RubasznyRumcajs, I can toggle back and forth between English and Polish keyboard. It is an option on Windows. I got some transparent sticky Polish letters to affix to my keyboard. I can still see the English letters underneath, but also the Polish ones on top.

Biggest problem for me is the reversal of y and z and some of the punctuation.