Polish Culture: Beyond Pierogi and Cabbage

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Poland - Land of Green and Golden Fields

Welcome to Polish Culture!  This is one location on the Internet where you can read some short articles, find some interesting and often-times little known links and overall learn a little bit more about in Polonia and modern-day Poland.

If you like what you find here tell your friends and rate this page; if you don't find what you are looking for or have ideas about what you'd like to see included here, write me a note in the Guestbook at the bottom of the page.  Also, be sure to vote in the Poll below.

Thank you for reading!  Now, a little bit about modern Poland and its history...

Tiny Poland, located in central Europe, maintians its position as a crossroads between easter and western European countries and cultures.  While Poland's national origins date to the 10th century, its borders have repeatedly shifted due to a history of aggression and warfare initiated by neighboring countries.  Border changes at the end of World War II (1945) could have overwhelmed the national mentality and culture.

However, today, tiny Poland, the 8th most desnely populated country in Europe, is a free democracy and looks to align itself with western countries.  In 1999, Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and in 2004, the European Union (EU).  Its citizens welcome prosperity while continuing to develop and enhance for visitors the country's history, folk culture, impressive architecture and beautiful natural landscape.
 

Poland's Cities and Countryside in Pictures 

Websites Available in a Variety of Languages

Daniel Schultz the Younger
Page about Daniel Schultz the Younger, the most important and famous Polish Baroque painter born in Gdansk about 1615. Paintings reflect the countryside as well as people of the Baroque period.
Storks in Poland
Storks in Poland. Photos, Videos and other Multimedia Goodies. A Multitude of Interesting Stork Facts.
An Archive of Pictures of Poland
An incredible archive of pictures of modern Poland. Some of these are of little known spots as well as the more typical tourist areas.
Site dedicated to the black stork.
The monitoring of the migration to Africa of the black stork. Includes tools to make it easier for you to follow this journey, with a lot of interactivity and useful information as possible.
Jasna Góra - Sanktuarium -
Sanctuary of the Mother of God at Jasna Góra (Bright/Shining Hill) at Czestochowa

Refred to as "Our Lady of Czestochowa"

The miraculous painting of Our Lady, Mother of God, is Jasna Góra's most valuable treasure. Jasna Góra is now Poland's most famous Mary shrine among the many others throughout Poland.

Many beautiful pictures on this site including an opportunity to enlarge a full-color photo of this marvelous icon.

Polish History 

More Favorite Books

Amazon.com: God's Playground: A History of Poland, Vol. 1: Norman Davies: Books
Amazon.com: God's Playground: A History of Poland, Vol. 1: Norman Davies: Books
Amazon.com: God's Playground: A History of Poland, Vol. 2: Norman Davies: Books
Amazon.com: God's Playground: A History of Poland, Vol. 2: Norman Davies: Books

My Favorite Books about Poland. 

Mostly History!

Vote on my favorites and add your own, if you like. Just follow the instructions.

Books About Traveling to America 

Fiction

Here are some of my favorite books about the Polish experience of traveling to America in the late 19th and early 20th century and living in a new country..

A journey to Boston

One of my favorites by a well-know author who was actually writing about her neighbors in the Pioneer Valley of western Mssachusetts. Very poignant story; rich in description.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

A Coal Miner's Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska, Latimer, Pennsylvania 1896 (Dear America Series)

A young adult book,, but interesting nonetheless, about a young girl who comes to America because her father arranged a marriage for her. Locaion in the U.S. is where a good majority of Polish people settled in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Rodzina

Rodzina is a fictional story for young people (grades 4 through 7) by Karen Cushman. It tells about twelve-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski and her journey from Chicago across the United States on an orphan train in 1881.

Amazon Price: $6.50 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Jadwiga's Crossing: a story of the Great Migration

A fictional account about a young Polish couple emmigrating from Poland to upper New York state around the turn of the 19th century. The story, based on contemporary letters and records of a smilar couple, was begun by Aloysius A. Lutz and then completed by his son, Richard J. Lutz. This is a descriptive and accurate tale. The only thing missing is the smell of steerage.

Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Polish Culture in Photography 

Digital Images Made During Trips to Poland - Summers, 2005 & 2006

Some symbolic images of modern Poland found within my photographic images may be found at: Webshots.com and Squidoo Lens: Polish Culture in My Photography.
They include:
  • Green and gold backgrounds represent Poland or Polanie, the Land of Fields / Living on the Field.

  • Our Lady of Czestochowa, Maximillian Kolbe, Pope John II, amber rosaries symbolize ties with and tradtions of the Roman Catholic Church.

  • Amber also represents a continuing source of commerce from prehistory to current times.

  • Solidarity represents the establishment of the first Autonomous Trades Unions and the official end to the Communist-dominated Polish People's Republic more than a quarter century ago.

  • Crocheted lace and pottery signify folk crafts as well as expanding international markets. They also represent the beautiful and tough women who have kept these crafts alive.

Little Known Warsaw 

History abounds in Warsaw, even though it was completely rebuilt after WWII. Here are some Warsaw sites few people mention or visit, but which are important to the Polish people:
The Warsaw UpRising
Here is some agonizing history about the major Polish uprisings started in Warsaw:
The Kosciuszko`s Insurection -1794
The November Uprising -1830/31
The January Uprising - 1863
And the one in 1944.

Feelings run strongly about the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Some of these feelings are expressed at this Forum.

Polonia in the United States 

Polish-American Communities

Wiegela: The Polish Christmas Eve 

Links to more information about Polish Christmas Eve (Wiegelia / Wigilia)
1. Christmas in Poland - Christmas Eve (Wigilia)
2. Food during Christmas Eve (Wigilia)
3. Polish Food, Recipes & Stores In Poland

Reader Feedback 

Cercis wrote...

in reply to LaurieBeth

Hi Laura Beth,

Thanks for the feedback and the lensroll on your Italian-American lens.

Best for the holidays, Cercis (aka Georgene)

ReplyPosted December 21, 2008

LaurieBeth wrote...

Hey, great job! Five stars and a lensroll on my Italian-American Culture lens. Happy Holidays! <3

ReplyPosted December 20, 2008

Spiritus wrote...

Love your lens my friend !

PS Pierogi Ruskie are my favourite !!
travel guide to Poland

ReplyPosted July 01, 2008

Cercis wrote...

Katrina, Thanks for your kind words!

ReplyPosted June 11, 2007

Katrina wrote...

Nice and informative lens!
Katrina
Katerina's Healthy Greek Recipes

ReplyPosted May 25, 2007

by Cercis

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