polish pagan traditions
Polish mythology is mainly associated with distinctive and vivid demonology full of monstrous creatures, witches, evil spirits, and werewolves. The most popular Pagan path practiced in Poland is Rodzimowierstwo (native faith), an indigenous form of Slavic polytheism. The native religion of Poland could be a mixture of Catholicism with the old, Pagan customs and practices, including the magical ones, said Verm. In 1954, the Polish writer Ewa Szelburg Zarembina composed a fairy tale inspired by the folklore motifs of the Warsaw Mermaid Story. Because one year is not nearly enough. Although Poles have some very ancient traditions reaching back to their pre-Christian roots, not many of them have survived up to these times. Skarbnik was wandering around the mines and observing, According to the legend, he is hidden but if one whistle, Skarbnik shows up and may punch one in the face. It can be classified as polytheism, but instead of gods, there are Christian saints who had replaced gods and taken over their qualities. He further explained that the tenets of Rodzimowierstwo exclude creating religious mix or joining different faiths (in a way of joining patheons or following many paths). At the time, hungry Polish would use a thick slice of bread as a plate and then eat it. They just needed something to be at the same time of the year, because of the fact that Pagan festivals and traditions were preserved even despite the Christianisation. Eggs are artistically painted in various lovely and intricate patterns, and different sections of Poland are noted for their special designs. To make up for this, someone was always invited to make up the deficiency, be it honored guest or wandering beggar. Today,that population isstill dwarfed by its Catholic counterpart, but its loyal practitionerscontinue tocultivate a Pagan thriving subculture. As with Wicca, the resources for those interested in Rodzimowierstwo can be a mixed bag. He first encountered the tradition in 1978, before it had acquired the standardized name. You can also see what it looked like last year! St. Stephans Day marked the end of work contracts for the year; new bargains were struck for the upcoming year. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); (eiderdown)! In case St. Nicholas could not make the visit personally, his gifts were placed under the pillow during the night, which made children and parents sleepy the next day from waiting and watching to be sure that the children were sound asleep when St. Nicholas arrived! Whether he should pursue his opponents through the dark woods and steep mountains where they had gone or to return back and admit that he was defeated in great shame in front of his people. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. One of the carolers played a musical instrument to accompany their songs. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; We are the most comprehensive English language resource dedicated to educating the world about ancient Slavs and modern Slavic nations alike. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Polish can certainly teach us a thing or two about getting hitched to the same person on more than one occasion. Let flowers bloom, and fields turn green. The blessed eggs, the symbol of life, are sliced into pieces, and each person present takes a piece of egg and wishes each other good health, prosperity, and happiness for the coming year. Taking the young girl in his arms, the lord of the manor started dancing. Dozynki, harvest holiday, was traditionally celebrated at the end of the summer. Rogalinski explained more of the tenets of this native religion, which varies depending upon the source material. The vigil lasted until the burial in order to protect the dead soul from evil spirits. published: Ewelina Nurczyk Boze Narodzenia, Christmas Day, was considered so important a holiday that menial work of any kind was not even thought of. The custom was called Oczepiny. My grandfather was a koldun or village healer in his native land and continued the practice when he came to the US in 1912. }(document)); This website uses cookies. (https://wildhunt.org/2016/07/paganism-in-poland.html). And the more they are annoyed, the more we dump water on them calling, Dyngus Smigus! Yet, even in Poland, one of the most Christianized European countries, Pagan religionsare growing within the shadow of the Church. Still, the client base has not grown large enough to support many such businesses yet; online shops fill that gap, especially for Pagans who dont live in the larger cities. Holidays and Celebrations Szczodre Gody (Generous Festivities) - Winter solstice - December 21-22 Putting a tree of life at home, a ritual feast Jare wito (Spring Festival) - Spring equinox - March 21 Burning a sacred fire, drowning mammon, decorating eggs Noc Kupay (Night of Baths) - Summer solstice - June 21-22 We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The minute the enforcers of orthodoxy begin to loosen their grip, or a country accepts a degree of pluralism, it all comes roaring back to life . container.style.maxWidth = container.style.minWidth + 'px'; Although Poles have some very ancient traditions reaching back to their pre-Christian roots, not many of them have survived up to these times. Behind him were a fiddler and double base player playing a merry tune. Warsaw, Garlands over the Vistula River 23, Krakw, Wianki - a Celebration of Music 23. He believes, this type of sacred place could bring Pagans together despite their low numbers. To go caroling with Turon required that at least one of the participants be dressed in some type of animal costume and mask. Religio Romana is a modern Pagan reconstructionist religion based upon the ancient faith of pre-Christian Rome. container.appendChild(ins); Reportedly, in the early history of Poland, the banks of the river Vistula were lined with tiny wooden huts where farmers lived. Easter is naturally a Christian holiday and commemorates Christ resurrection but it is at the same time inseparably bound with the pagan traditions related to the beginning of spring. Often rooted in religion, Polish traditions and customs remain as strong today as they did centuries ago. The candles were to symbolize the eternal light for which the soul yearns . The legend of Janosik who is considered the Polish Robin Hoon, tells the story of Juraj Janosik who was a Slovak highwayman. For example, drowning an effigy of Marzanna - to drive back winter and summon spring - dates back to Slavic faith, while Zaduszki, the Polish All Saints' Day, supplanted the older Slavic Forefathers' Eve. Regardless of whether these historical events have influenced the generous hospitality of the Polish, their warm, welcoming nature is one of the most treasured of Polish traditions. It is also said that if somebody is too loud, misbehaves, or curses, Skarbnik may hit one with a lamp. Photo 86715707 Wideonet | Dreamstime.com Ash Wednesday He gathers his mighty knights and takes off on a quest. They would take place . Some Polish Easter traditions reach back to earlier, pagan beliefs; some are fusions of pagan and adopted, Christian traditions. Then they kindle new fires in their home, to signify the renewal of faith and greeting of the spring. On this special day, young men leaped over bonfires while ladies made wreaths of herbs and cast them to float down the river. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); Whoever it landed on was prophesied to marry before the others. In Poland, Sw. Mikolaj is not an oversized man with red pompom topped cap, red Jacket, and riding boots. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Religion is not the subject of discussion; it is not discussed because of its personal character.. The men crept through a window or through a chimney. He was supposed to pass down what he learned to the eldest in the next generation: my mother. In Polish tradition, the bread and salt at the reception are ritual food. According to the Polish folk myth from the pre-Christian Slavic tradition, the . It is greeted with such mystical symbolism, that it is considered by many to be a greater holiday than Christmas itself. Drawning Marzanna in the village Jeziorzany in 2014 [Photo Credit: Jacek wierczyski]. Among the many demons in Polish folklore, there is a benevolent character called Skarbnik who is a friendly mythological figure. On this day, boys try to catch girls by surprise by splashing them with water. This large wreath was made of a mixture of wheat and rye, sometimes one or the other. Christmas day was the beginning of the twelve-day period from Christmas which was called Gody These twelve days were observed very carefully, for it was believed among the Polish people that Christmas Day and each of the following eleven days foretold the weather for the equivalent month of the year. There will be less pop music and more real histry of ancient Slavic tribes. The rest of the meal reflected the products of the familys labor, Barshch (Barszcz), a beet soup; dishes made from beets, cabbage, sauerkraut, beans, noodles, dumplings, potatoes, dried fruit, fresh apples, and nuts. ins.className = 'adsbygoogle ezasloaded'; Rogaliskis number of 2,000 highly-committed regularly-active Rodzimowiercy is consistent with many other accounts. The interest in such practices is marginal, but is becoming bigger.. Unfortunately my die-hard rabid Catholic Polish grandmother put a stop to it calling it blasphemous, so, unfortunately, I didnt learn anything, which I regret to this day. Still, this being one of the most important celebrations of Christianity as well as one of the most anticipated of Polish spring traditions, it is loved and celebrated both by . These smaller sandwiches, called tartinki, are quite possibly responsible for transforming parties in Poland from seated affairs into standing ones. var cdn = window.StacklaGoConnectConfig ? St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (Sw. Mikolaja albo Mikolajki) You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Adherents tend to use a reconstructionist methodology to rebuild their native faith, which has not spread through the English-speaking world as widely as some other European-based Heathen religions. lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId + '-asloaded'), { attributes: true });var cid = '6354310426'; Tomasz Rogalinski is one such practitioner. We use cookies to analyze our traffic, enhance our websites functionality and performance, and a better experience for our users. After the wreath was blessed the entire procession made for the manor house, singing the songs that accompanied the event were usually those that were indigenous to the area, perhaps unknown in other villages. Today, Leszek Czarny is one of Lublins most popular heroic legends and an ever-inspiration for poets and artists. The Polish believe the girl who gets the most soaked in the celebration will be the first to marry. From the PGST News Vol. The citys name was, of course, Warsaw. An odd number foretold that someone would not live to the next Christmas Eve supper. POLAND This European Union member state is a bastion of Roman Catholicism, with as many as 37 million adherents (87.5% of the total population) today. The chosen girl went to church in great pomp and ceremony, wearing the wreath on her head while sitting in a wagon pulled by four horses decorated in greenery and surrounded by other young maidens wearing flowers in their hair. Leszek the Black started thinking about what is the right thing to do. The wedding feast also followed established traditions. By Michelle Tea. "It's how it sounds," I'd say. Large or small, the Polish open sandwich will include pretty much whatever you have lying in your fridge cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, egg, dill, whatever. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Laszka shared a narrative that is common in other parts of the worldwhereChristian traditions draw upon Pagan practices. Sleepy husbands and wives arise and give them a gift of eggs. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); Wianki (literally 'wreaths' in English) is an event that can however be traced back to the bygone days of paganism and has preserved some of its original character. He was dressed in a long white robe, wearing a tall head piece much like a bishops mitre, a long white flowing beard, and in his hand he held the shepherds staff. A traditional meat-free Wigilia meal has 12 courses drawn from forest and ocean, field and orchard, representing the months of the year. The people wait for the priest to bless it, then each person takes a flaming piece of wood from the fire and hurriedly carries it home. Gniezno was the first capital of Poland and the name meant home or nest while the white eagle stood as a symbol of power and pride. X No.4 Winter 1993 by Stan Garczynski. The last rite included a funeral banquet. Then we had to change our clothes because there wasnt a dry thread on the girls and we boys were not better off., From the PGST News Vol. Polish demons and mythical creatures dont live underground but in mountains, forests, or swamps where they can meet people and animals. Pisanki (Polish Easter Eggs) According to this legend, the King and his knights were fighting a battle where Boleslaw lost his life. The Legend about Sir Twardowski and the Devil is, understandably, a devilish story about one of the most popular devils in Polish folklore that signed a pact with the nobleman Sir Twardowski in the 16th century. while the city was named in recognition of Krakus II. Jaselka is the general name given to the two forms of Christmas caroling called Szopka and Herody. var t = d.createElement('script'); It is the universal custom, among the common masses as well as among the distinguished, for men to soak the women on Easter Monday. On the best plate of the house, the blessed wafer or Oplatek (Christmas wafer) was placed. No one has ever been able to truly eradicate it, despite centuries of tremendous effort. From drowning winter to getting hitched twice, Polish traditions and customs often border on the bizarre but are certainly a highlight to discover. lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId + '-asloaded'), { attributes: true }); .box-3-multi-110{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:10px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Slavic Rodzimowiercy groups registered with the Polish authorities in 1995 are the Native Polish Church (Rodzimy Koci Polski), which represents a pagan tradition which goes back to pre-Christian faiths and continues Wadysaw Koodziej's 1921 Holy Circle of Worshipper of wiatowid (wite Koo Czcicieli wiatowida), and the Polish . Swieconka (Easter Blessing of Food) Wigilia Christmas Eve Dinner. The legend has remained a mystery even today as it has been said that there are witnesses who have confirmed seeing an enormous snake coming out of the water and upsetting the boats on the river Obra. It wasn't as bad as another kid in my elementary school classMichael . The entire procession stopped at the gate leading to the manor house, its members continuing to sing until the owner emerged. Gniazdo is a magazine created by the Rodzimowiercy, but there are other publications that, according to Rogalinksi, mix traditional and New Age beliefs without providing any context. The Mermaid of Warsaw tried to seduce the Prince by showing him a beautiful place that he was so marveled by that he decided to build a city upon it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This cap was always held as special and reserved for wear to church, for special folk festivals, and on her death, for burial. It does not store any personal data. So was the case with Polish mythology and folklore which stems from the folklore and beliefs rooted in Slavic religion also known as Slavic paganism which was observed by the Slavs before the introduction of Christianity in the period from the 9th to the 12th . Polish Easter customs have not changed much during the centuries. cultural traditions (first of all, the works of Vechaslav Ivanov and Vladimir Toporov are distinguished). 04 of 11 He was attracted to it because of hisextensive historical knowledge of the Slavs. It does not mean that there is no possibility of conducting ones life according to the rules taken from the other faiths (unless theyre contradictory to Rodzimowierstwo), fascination by the other culture or having friends, family or know the people who have the other dominant faith.. One day, she decided to swim into the Vistula river from the Baltic Sea and as she was swimming upstream, she reached the area where Warsaw is today. However, the devil was even more than Sir Twardowski so, one day, he tricked him and made him visit an inn that was named Rome. On this day, locals create her likeness using straw, old clothing and even accessories like a headscarf. Sheila said, Polish people (in general) are not very good in being understandable and tolerant. "Swan-kow-ski.". Several centuries on, they endure as a favourite Polish culinary custom. 7. The myth about the Polish Eagle is one of the most recognized in Poland since this bird is the symbol of the Polish Republic and it is also a focal element in the Polish crest and the Polish coat of arms. Near this settlement was the castle Wawel Hill where King Krakus ruled. Today, All Saints All Souls Day is celebrated in a very solemn manner in Poland. It is looking for similarities and helping those who are nearest to us, it is not about fighting other people.. Due to the tradition of eating fatty or sweet foods before the start of Lent, which calls for fasting, Poles have adopted the custom of eating paczki, or Polish donuts. I end up learning something, and even, sometimes, am drawn to research. In customs that can be documented back to the sixteenth century, the young couple was most often greeted at the entrance of the house with bread and salt. As summer draws to an end, the Polish Feast of Greenery takes place on September 8th. Fortunately, in Poland there were no such cases as in the Ukraine, where the statues were destroyed on Wodzimierzowe Wzgrze/Starokijewska Gra., Rogalinksi said that, while there are aggressive speeches of clergy condemning minority faiths, it is not generally talked about by others. ins.style.display = 'block'; These unique representations of our world and humanity offer a multilayered world of imagination that opens up a whole new universe of perception and understanding of history, nature, culture, anthropology, etc. Jacke became thin as a twig out of sorrow and suffered all the time, learning that no happiness is possible without sharing. var pid = 'ca-pub-6145023705656770'; I never got back to the business to get his contact information either. ins.style.width = '100%'; As it isin other countries,thesebusinesses have the potential tobecome networking hubs as the Pagan population grows. In case of a serious threat or catastrophe in the mine, the Treasurer shows up to warn the miners by flickering a lamp, appearing in front of them, or hitting the ground strong enough so they could hear him. It was hung in a prominent place, such as in an entrance hall, above a chest of drawers, or above the door of the main living room as a symbol of prosperity. Fish was served in the families who could afford it. Everyone would gather at the home of the bride to accompany the bridal couple to the church, but also to witness the blessing and symbolic farewells of the bride with her parents, relatives, and friends. Also on Holy Saturday typically Polish ceremonies are performed in the church yard. The blessings were so important that, if a mother or father had died, the wedding party would stop at the cemetery where the groom or bride asked for a blessing from the deceased parent. Whatever the number, its small, and that carries with it certain limitations. These short moments of joy in the difficult life of peasantry follow many traditional customs before young couple exchange the wedding rings. The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content. Crafted from the most beautiful ears of grain, the Dozynki wreath was made in the shape of a dome-shaped crown. The Legend of Sir Twardowski and the Devil, 11. Because engagement was as binding as the marriage itself, it was always done in a public act in front of family and friends who acted as witnesses. Everything was to be made as comfortable as possible for them and that this last day of the year would prophesize everything that was to happen in the coming year. After each psalm is sung, a candle light is extinguished to signify the sorrow over the torture of Christ. Cooking included only the heating of previously prepared food. Fortune telling, singing, and general merriment might round out this thoroughly enjoyable evening. On both days, at twilight, the Poles make pilgrimages to their local cemeteries. Christmas is, apart from Easter (see: Traces of Slavic Pagan Rites in the Polish Easter Tradition), the most celebrating feast in Poland (Lemnis, Vitry 1979:178).This Christian holiday, which is intimate, family, and usually spent with the dearest people, however, goes back to the traditions of pagan-Slavic times (Ibid. When he became a king, the secret was revealed and he was banished from the country. A Polish historian wrote of what he called the Oblewania. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); Next, the brothers entered a dispute about who deserves the honor of killing the dragon.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'meettheslavs_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',120,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meettheslavs_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-120{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:10px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:10px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. April 9, 2019. They visit from house to house singing songs, playing pranks, and merrymaking. And Polish Easter, besides the spiritual factor, is mostly that. Sometimes the owner removed the wreath from the girl himself and placed it aside. Siliniez - A wood god from Poland who moss was sacred; his altar fire was kept burning only with moss. Reportedly, the pact contained a stipulation that said that the soul of Twardowski can be collected exclusively in Rome. Very often, those people have problems with finding or maintaining their jobs. If a young lad would catch the wreath that was made by his beloved he could ask for her hand. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There was screaming, shouting, and confusion. Generally, it was worn by a young girl involved in the harvesting, or someone who was considered a very good worker. Koldowanie, as it is known in Polish, is actually a pagan tradition and is not limited to Poland. In Slavic legend, a sacred oak tree was the home of all beings; the top branches were the heavens, the trunk and lower branches the realms of men, and the roots were the underworld. Then they are taken home and placed by the holy picture of the Blessed Mother, and remain there until the next year. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); On the wedding day it was customary to have musicians playing as the wedding guest began arriving at the Dom Weselny (wedding home). The couple always sat at the table which was located along the wall containing holy pictures. The first preparation for Christmas Eve began very early, right after midnight. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); The period approaching midnight was a magical time when animals talked and well water turned to wine and everyone readied themselves to attend the midnight Mass of the Shepherd or Pasterka. The custom of caroling in Poland, or Chodzenie Po Koledzie, began on St. Stephans and lasted until the Feast of the Purification on February 2. Czech went westward, Rus to the east while Lech went north. The shadow it casts on the wall is said to reveal the girls marriage prospects: if its shape resembles something used by a man, she will marry within a year. Feast of Greenery, September 8th (Matki Boskiej Zielnej) This legend was very popular in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and in the 19th century, a number of writers and activists used the character of Janoshek as a symbol of resistance to many kinds of oppression and this practice was extended even during the Second World War when anti-Nazis partisan groups praised or bore his name. Popular sweet treats, especially loved on this day, are Pczki, Polish-style doughnuts, and Faworki, otherwise known as angel wings, which are crispy pieces of pastry dipped in sugar. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Szopka was a portable crib or manger scene carried by young boys from house to house. According to folklorists' research and findings, Slavic folklore contains a great number of spells, charms., incantations, practical rituals for love, relationships, work, fertility, protection, healing, divination, communicating with old spirits and ancestors, averting the evil eye and many others. Satanic Temple candidate loses primary bid, https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/. It is an ancient pagan tradition held in Poland on the Easter Monday. All the events above are free of charge. In Poland, no-one would dream of wishing their friend a good year on their birthday. People bless the eggs on Easter, they decorate the table with green, they have a Christmas tree, they eat the meals that are traditionally connected with Winter Solstice, they hang mistletoe, they celebrate Pagan Dziady (the festival connected to death) and they have to add some invented holidays (e.g. In the scriptures, the Holy Family was en route to Nazareth when the Virgin Mary went into labour, forcing the family to find shelter. Starting on Good Friday and through Saturday, every one visits the various churches in town to view Christs sepulchers so beautifully and artistically arranged and bathed in flowers. However, Polish heraldry was composed of local Slavic communities by mercenaries whose aim was to show who are they working for. The entire family washed themselves in this water in order to assure plenty of money for the rest of their lives.
