Why should the Polish all over the world wear red on St. Joseph's day?

Does anyone have the reason why Polish should wear red on St. Joseph's day? People are trying to tell me that this is not the case, is it so? Go into great detail, and tell me why, please.

Mike

really? i haven't heard of that...

Red for workers and the struggle to improve the lot of the common man. St Joseph is the patron of workers.

That there is commie talk!

St Joseph is also the patron St. of "people fighting communism".

Indeed. But it's first and foremost International Workers' Day.

I thought that was May 1?

Are you sure?

!st May is both.

I wonder was that a move to redirect attention from the labour unions to the church?

Very possibly, like the Justice and Peace movement, an uneasy mix of socialists in the church and catholics within socialism.

you mean last saturday ? 19/3/11

I don't know why, but I do have photos to prove it takes place.

JonnyM, a bit of yes and no with your explanation... wiki has more.

That sounds like a very honorable reason to wear it :)

It sure is.


Figures. :s

So self-improvement is somehow 'commie'?

Red =Commie
"Workers of the world unite!" =Commie
Modern day labor unions =Commie

Red = liberation

19 March=St. Joseph Husband of Mary (main feast and name day)
1 May=Feast of St. Joseph the Worker (first proclaimed by Leo XIII in an attempt to draw workers away from the secular labour movements and toward what eventually became the Catholic Trade Union Movement)

which is when there is a church procession through the streets. certain participants wear a red smock.

Does anyone out there have the facts as to why Polish wear red on St. Joseph's day, so I can pass the correct facts on to some one. Please not what you think, unless it is fact.

Mike

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

JohnnyM

Are you German, or Russian? Because, you act like you don't like the Polish. If you don't why are you here. Unions were, at one time good, but not now.

Mike

A pretty weird thing to say. Poland has unions, and very very stong labour laws. How long have you lived in Poland?

A few months on each visit. Some unions are O.K. until they tell the government what to do, or who will be our leaders. I have many family and friends living in Poland, and they think as I do.

Mike

So not very long.


Who are the government?

Mike, you didn`t learn much. :):):) It is as I told you - native Poles don`t wear red on the day. Most Poles don`t even know there is such a day at all.

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.

I suspect he doesn't realise that Solidarity were/are a trade union.

I also suspect that he doesn't understand who provides PiS's power base in Poland.

I dont know if you say this is right or wrong,from the posts of yours I can recall I doubt you cast those judgements. So,I only quoted your post to make a point;

Does it matter if this is a "real " Polish or "American " Polish tradition or not? I mean, why not have this as a newish tradition,an offshoot if you like? Like people say,if us watered down Paddy's can sport Green on "our" day,why shouldnt Poles wear red on theirs?

In fact,why not red and white? I cant remember the context but I remember a photo of a Polish woman in red skirt and white blouse on some "day" or another :)

Id maybe avoid certain areas of LA from what I glean from cultural documentry's such as Boys in the Hood and Dont drink your juice in the hood while.........

BTW, Ive never actually felt any need to wear green,not sure what its like over the little water in ireland but I susspect its much as it is here in england,its only non or 50th gen "irish" that sport leperchauns hats and shamrock face paint :)

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.

Cool :)
(hang on,thats not the creepy death one is it? ;) )

polish wear red because it also is a symbol on their flag.