Lesson 12

Learning about Polish holidays and traditions not only helps you understand Polish culture but also gives you an opportunity to practice useful phrases and vocabulary. Additionally, being able to express your opinions in Polish will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations. In this lesson, we’ll cover major Polish holidays, key traditions, how to express opinions, and a reading practice with Polish folk tales.

1. Major Polish Holidays & Traditions

Poland has a rich cultural heritage with many unique holidays. Here are some of the most important ones:

New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day (Sylwester & Nowy Rok – 31 grudnia & 1 stycznia)

• Poles celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks, parties, and champagne.
• A common phrase you will hear is „Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!” (Happy New Year!).
• Tradition: Many people make resolutions for the new year (postanowienia noworoczne).

Epiphany (Trzech Króli – 6 stycznia)

• This religious holiday commemorates the Three Wise Men.
• In some cities, there are large processions with people dressed as kings.
• Chalk is blessed in churches, and people mark their doors with C+M+B (symbolizing the names of the Wise Men).

Easter (Wielkanoc – March/April)

• Easter is one of the most important religious holidays in Poland.
• Traditions:
  • Święcenie pokarmów (Blessing of the Easter basket with eggs, bread, sausage, and more).
  • Śmigus-Dyngus (Water fight tradition on Easter Monday).
• Common phrases:
  • „Wesołych Świąt Wielkanocnych!” (Happy Easter!)
  • „Chrystus zmartwychwstał!” – „Prawdziwie zmartwychwstał!” (Christ is risen! – He is truly risen!)

Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja – 3rd May)

• This holiday commemorates the adoption of the Polish Constitution in 1791.
• There are parades, speeches, and national pride celebrations.

All Saints’ Day (Wszystkich Świętych – 1 listopada)

• People visit cemeteries and light candles on the graves of loved ones.
• It’s a quiet and reflective day, honoring the deceased.

Christmas (Boże Narodzenie – 24-26 grudnia)

• Christmas Eve (Wigilia – 24 grudnia) is the most important celebration.
• Traditions:
  • Opłatek (wafer-sharing ceremony, exchanging wishes with family).
  • 12 dishes (symbolizing the 12 apostles, including pierogi, carp, and barszcz).
  • Leaving an empty seat for an unexpected guest.
• Common phrases:
  • „Wesołych Świąt!” (Merry Christmas!)
  • „Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!” (Happy New Year!)

2. Expressing Opinions in Polish

To engage in meaningful conversations, you need to know how to express your opinion. Here are some useful phrases:

Basic Opinion Phrases

• „Moim zdaniem…” – In my opinion…
• „Uważam, że…” – I think that…
• „Sądzę, że…” – I believe that…
• „Nie zgadzam się.” – I don’t agree.
• „Masz rację.” – You are right.
• „To zależy.” – It depends.

Example Sentences

• „Moim zdaniem Wielkanoc jest najważniejszym świętem w Polsce.” (In my opinion, Easter is the most important holiday in Poland.)
• „Uważam, że Wigilia jest bardzo wyjątkowa.” (I think that Christmas Eve is very special.)
• „Nie zgadzam się, myślę, że Nowy Rok jest ważniejszy.” (I disagree, I think New Year’s is more important.)

3. Practice: Reading Polish Folk Tales

A great way to immerse yourself in Polish culture is by reading traditional Polish folk tales. Here are a few well-known ones:

• „Smok Wawelski” – The legend of the Wawel Dragon in Kraków.
• „Pan Twardowski” – A Polish version of the Faust legend.
• „Złota Kaczka” – The tale of a magical golden duck granting wishes.

🎧 Practice: Find audio versions of these folk tales and listen to them to improve your pronunciation and comprehension.

Summary

• Polish Holidays & Traditions: Learn about key celebrations and cultural customs.
• Expressing Opinions: Use phrases like moim zdaniem and uważam, że to share your thoughts.
• Practice with Folk Tales: Reading traditional Polish stories helps you expand your vocabulary and cultural understanding.

By learning about holidays and traditions, you not only improve your Polish skills but also deepen your connection with Polish culture. Keep practicing and enjoy the journey! 🇵🇱📖