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One of them talk about the drowning of Marzanna. She was the goddess who personified winter. Every year they create her with straw and cloth, sometimes they even put head scarfs on them. They then throw it in the water, for the preperation of spring.

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7 unique Polish traditions you won't find anywhere else in the world

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Interesting, bizarre, entertaining and unique Polish traditions and customs that will entice you to make the most of your next memorable visit to Poland

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They prepare an extra plate and leave an extra chair. If somebody shows up at the door they can give them food and shelter.

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Why Do Poles Leave One Chair Empty on Christmas Eve?

#polish christmas#heritage

Polish Christmas traditions are some of the most enchanting composites of Polish culture and heritage. Leaving a chair empty at the Christmas table may be one of the most popular customs, but few people know its interesting history.

Nowadays, the tradition obliges Christmas Eve dinner hosts to prepare an extra chair and plate at the table should there be an unexpected visitor. If someone actually turns up at the door, hosts should feed this guest and give them shelter.

This strictly and commonly observed custom is very compatible with traditional Polish hospitality, a trait Poles have always been very proud of. Indeed, Poles strongly believe in an old saying, which has it that 'a guest at home is God at home'.

However, the roots of the tradition of an empty chair are much more complicated and Poles are not unanimous in deciding where it originates from. Let us present to you the three most probable hypotheses.

1. Pagan rite

The 12 Dishes of Polish Christmas

Many Polish traditions derive from pagan rites because the lands that became Poland, before their baptism and conversion to Catholicism in 966, had their own system of Slavic pagan beliefs. One of these rituals was called Obiat. It was a huge feast, celebrated in memory of ancestors and recently-deceased tribe members. A participant would have to sweep their empty chair before sitting at the table to 'excuse' the soul that might be seated on it. After everyone had finished eating, the table was supposed to be left as is for a few hours so that the dead could take their turn in the banquet.

Scholars believe that after Poland's baptism, this tradition became adopted into the new reality. In its early Christian form, the empty seat was being left to commemorate those who had passed away earlier in the year.

Historical Facts about the Baptism of Poland

This theory seems fairly likely, since a number of pre-baptism traditions were transformed into Christian customs, and remain popular despite the 1050 years that have passed since Poland parted ways with pagan culture. One of the most notable is that children's favourite Śmigus Dyngus, a national holiday they spend throwing water at people.
Learn how observing this old Christmas tradition resulted in a mystery that was never resolved in a special Christmas episode of our podcast Stories From The Eastern West:
2. The Holy Bible

Śmigus-Dyngus: Poland's National Water Fight Day

A few days before the birth of Jesus Christ, an obligatory census was announced for all the inhabitants of Syria and Judea. It meant The Holy Family-to-be had to immediately travel to Nazareth in Judea, despite the Virgin Mary being heavily pregnant. As you probably know, she went into labour mid-way whilst they were still in Bethlehem, forcing them to desperately look for shelter. After being turned away from the inn, they eventually found a place to stay in a stable, the humble spot where Jesus was born.

The story of their wandering and looking for shelter is said to be another possible source of the empty chair tradition. According to supporters of this theory, it is to remind us that we should all be ready to accept an unexpected guest and never turn away somebody in need. Given how perfectly it interweaves with the previously-mentioned saying, 'a guest at home is God at home', we can assume this guess a very accurate one.

3. The January Uprising

The Marvellous Christmas Tradition of Poland's Szopki

In the mid-19 th century, Poland didn't exist on Europe's political map. It had been partitioned by its three neighbours (Russia, Prussia and Austria) and was de facto occupied. Each of the occupiers introduced a more or less severe policy for eradicating Polish culture and language on these partitioned lands, with Russia and Prussia being leaders in this field. Poles have always been the type of people that can't stand foreign occupation and every few decades of the partitions they took part in massive uprisings. One of the biggest was the January Uprising in 1863.

It was triggered by the forced enlistment of Poles into the Russian Army. Even though it started very spontaneously in Warsaw, the uprising spilled over into all the other partitioned Polish lands. It soon turned into several months of guerrilla war against overwhelming occupant forces and, tragically, led to the massive deportation of captured insurgents to Siberia.

During this period, the empty chair tradition gained a new dimension. From the year of the uprising onwards, the empty place was not only left for ancestors or an unexpected guest but, first and foremost, in memory of those who had been deported east, in order to strengthen the hope of their fortunate comeback.

Final word

The Map Is Not the Territory: How Satirists Charted Poland When It Wasn't on the Map

Which of these hypotheses seems to be the most accurate? The answer is: all of them. Apparently, this tradition's meaning has evolved according to the circumstances. Even though its observance didn't change a bit, it always remained an important part of celebrating Christmas in Poland.

What's most significant about it - and will certainly always continue to be - is that you don't have to know anything about the tradition's background to see that it is strong proof of Poles' hospitality. They find treating every guest like an honorary guest their personal duty, and visiting Poland even once in one's lifetime leaves no doubt about it.

Polish Christmas Eve Traditions
Author: Wojciech Oleksiak, 1 December 2016
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Why Do Poles Leave One Chair Empty on Christmas Eve?

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polish christmas #heritage Polish Christmas traditions are some of the most enchanting composites of Polish culture and heritage. Leaving a chair empty at the Christmas table may be one of the most popular customs, but few people know its interesting history.

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This talks about all different types of art in Poland.

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To some, Poland is a country of grey apartment blocks, winter and... polar bears. Well, it might be for those who never heard about Poland and its rich culture. But if you saw Eurovision 2014 or if you've already visited Poland and managed to stop by a souvenir shop, you probably know that there's a lot of colour and adornments to our craft!

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It talks about the worst concentration camps

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In 1933, the first Nazi concentration camp was built in Dachau, Germany to imprison dissidents. Heinrich Himmler took over in 1934 and start arresting "racially undesirable elements" - Jews, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, and the (mentally) disabled.

Germany invaded Poland in 1939, and since Poland had a vast Jewish population, more camps were built. The killings began in 1941, and the following year, Germany started to exterminate the undesirables in staggering numbers.

As WWII progressed, more camps were built for different purposes. There were those for POWs, those for slave labor, and those designed for extermination. The following were the worst in terms of casualty rates.

1. Auschwitz-Birkenau

Built in Poland it was actually a vast network of 48 sites. Also called Auschwitz I, II, and III for the main facilities, they had 45 other satellite camps. Auschwitz I originally held Polish political prisoners who were first sent there in May 1940. It was at Auschwitz II (Birkenau), where the exterminations began in 1942.

Of those killed some 90% were Jewish, the rest were Poles, Soviets, Romani, Sinti, Jehovah's Witnesses, gays, and those of mixed German blood. Though gassing was a major cause of death, so was overwork, malnutrition, poor conditions, inhumane treatment, and infectious diseases.

More than 1.1 million died here.

2. Treblinka

Treblinka was built to the northeast of Warsaw, and was set up on 23 July 1942. Although the first concentration camps were not meant to kill anyone, Treblinka was specifically designed for death.

By August 1941, over 70,000 handicapped German men, women, and children had been exterminated through Aktion T4, an operation to eliminate the weak. And the knowledge gained from that was used at Treblinka. Jews and Gypsies were worked at Treblinka I. When they died, they were disposed of at Treblinka II.

Some 700,000 to 900,000 Jews and about 2,000 Gypsies were killed here, the second highest casualty rate after Auschwitz-Birkenau.

3. Bełżec

Bełżec was opened on 17 March 1942 specifically to exterminate the Jews and to "Germanize" the area as part of Nazi colonial expansion into Poland. As such, many non-Jewish Poles and Gypsies in the region were also sent here to die.

As early as April 1940, German Jews were in Bełżec as slave labor to prepare for the German invasion of Russia. In October 1941, however, Himmler gave the order to exterminate the Jews and Poles in order to make room for German Christian immigrants.

It's estimated that some 500,000 to 600,000 Jews, Poles, Russians, and Gypsies died here.

4. Majdanek

Majdanek was built to house 25,000 POWs in anticipation of Germany's invasion of Russia. But after the First Battle of Kiev in September 1941, there were over 50,000 Soviet POWs, so the camp was redesigned in October.

By December, there were 150,000 inmates and in March the following year, there were over 250,000. Originally meant to be a working camp, the authorities couldn't cope with the numbers, so it was turned into a labor and extermination facility. "Unhealthy" Germans were also sent here to die.

By 1945, 360,000 people were killed, including thousands of Germans unwanted by their own government.

5. Chełmno

Chelmno opened in December 1941 as part of Operation Reinhard to purge the Polish Jews from the Łódź Ghetto. To "Germanize" the area, the local, non-Jewish Poles were also sent here to die. As Germany expanded, other Jews and Gypsies from Austria, Bohemia, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, and Moravia were also put here.

Though primarily a death camp, it was also used for medical experimentation. It was here that doctors developed the mobile gas vans used in Operation Barbarossa against Russia to kill large numbers in open air.

The Polish government claims that about 340,000 people died in this camp, alone.

6. Sobibór

Sobibor was built near the Polish town of Wlodawa in March 1942 to supplement the Bełżec camp which housed Jews deported from the Lublin Ghetto. It was at Sobibór that early experiments on gassing were carried out on several Jewish prisoners.

The fit and the unfit were first separated of those brought in. The latter were gassed immediately upon arrival, while the former were first worked to exhaustion. On 14 October 1943, the prisoners rose up in revolt and about 50 escaped, after which the authorities obliterated the camp.

Some 250,000 people died at the site, which is now gone, but a memorial center has been built there.

7. Dachau

Dachau was built near Munich in 1933. Its first prisoners were Germans who opposed the Nazi regime, while its last inmates were SS officers awaiting trial in 1945. In 1935, its first minorities were Jehovah's Witnesses, followed by Germans of mixed descent, and immigrants.

Jews were sent here in August 1940. To accommodate more people, almost 100 other sub-camps were created throughout southern Germany and Austria, which were administered from Dachau. After the war, Germans expelled from Eastern Europe were kept here as they awaited resettlement.

It's believed that more than 243,000 died here by the time it was liberated in 1945.

8. Mauthausen-Gusen

Mauthausen was built in upper Austria in August 1938, and was one of the first massive concentration camp complexes in Nazi Germany, and the last to be liberated by the Allies. The two main camps, Mauthausen and Gusen I, were labelled as "Grade III" camps, which meant that they were intended to be the toughest camps for the "Incorrigible political enemies of the Reich". Unlike many other concentration camps, which were intended for all categories of prisoners, Mauthausen was mostly used for extermination through labour of the intelligentsia - educated people and members of the higher social classes in occupied countries.

It is estimated that between 122.766 and 320.000 people were murdered in Mauthausen.

9. Bergen-Belsen

Bergen-Belsen in Germany's Lower-Saxony, was built in 1943 to be a POW camp. At its height, 95,000 international prisoners were kept here, requiring constant expansion throughout the war. Prominent Jewish hostages were also sent to this camp to exchange them for German POWs, so it was never meant to become an extermination facility.

Due to food and medical shortages, however, as well as unsanitary conditions and inadequate facilities, many died from starvation, disease, and lack of adequate care. When the Allies liberated it in 1945, they found some 13,000 corpses lying about.

It's estimated that at least 50,000 people died here.

10. Buchenwald

Buchenwald means beech forest, belying its horror, and was the first camp to be liberated by the western allies in WWII. Set up in July 1937, it was the also first camp built in Weimar, Germany, as well as the largest after Dachau.

Created for Communists, Freemasons, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, Poles, Soviets, Slavs, homosexuals, and common criminals, it began life as a working prison for arms production. But in 1942, they began medical experimentation on the inmates. In August 1944, an Allied bombing raid hit the facility, killing 388 and wounding some 2,000.

By 1945, 33,462 had died from executions, malnutrition, and experimentation.

Shahan Russell is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

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In 1933, the first Nazi concentration camp was built in Dachau, Germany to imprison dissidents. Heinrich Himmler took over in 1934 and start

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It takes about what the best polish food is

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When you think of Poland, three things probably come to mind: pierogies, Lewandowski, and beatboxing. While the world is grateful for these Polish contributions, it's truly a shame that we don't know more about the amazing cuisine that your neighborhood babcia (grandma) has been cooking up for years.

A recent trip to the motherland awakened my love of Polish food. My parents are both Polish immigrants, but after 30 years in the states they're American AF. My brothers and I were little brats when we were kids, and always got our mom to make burgers or order pizza, anything but Polish food. Because of this, we've strayed a bit from our roots. But the prodigal daughter has returned, and I'm here to let the world know that Poland has so much to offer.

1. Rosol

Let's start with a Polish staple. Rosol (pronouced ruh-soo, roll your tongue on the r) is pretty much chicken noodle soup, but everything is made from scratch-no cans allowed! The ingredients are so fresh, I wouldn't be surprised if the chicken in my soup had been alive two hours earlier.
#SpoonTip: a warm cup of rosol can cure anything from a runny nose to the worst kaça (hangover).
2. Red Barszcz

Sticking with soups, barszcz is a red beet broth typically served as an appetizer on Christmas Eve. Add some body to your barszcz by dropping in a few minced meat or mushroom mini-dumplings ( uszki). But remember, no meat on Christmas Eve.

3. Mizeria

If you hate your current cucumber salad recipe, look no further than this creamy concoction. First, you slice and salt some cucumbers to draw out the water. While your cucumber slices drain, chop up some onion, dill (an herb I personally find unpleasant, but let's stick to tradition), or both.

Mix it all together with some sour cream and you have a delicious salad, without the unhealthy fat-free dressing. Go one step further in the healthy direction and use plain yogurt instead of sour cream.

4.Gołąbki

Pronounced goh-wom-kee, or better known in English as stuffed cabbage. In this recipe, cabbage leaves are cooked and filled with rice, sautéed onions, and some assortment of ground meat (turkey, beef, etc.) If you're not a fan of cabbage, take a trip to Poland and prepare to be converted. There are a million variations (including this stuffed version), that will make your tastebuds and your digestive track very happy.

5. Bigos

Another cabbage dish, but this one is truly essential to the Polish culture and to your tastebuds. I'm aware that this looks like dog food, but just trust me. Fried and stewed fresh cabbage, sauerkraut, assorted meats (kielbasa, bacon, and stewed pork are the best combo), and mushrooms combine to warm your soul on a cold, central European day.

I like to add a few dashes of hot sauce for heat and extra flavor. This dish only gets better with age, so prepare it a day or two in advance for the best results.

6. Salatka Jarzynowa

Don't even bother with the pronunciation on this one, just eat it! To make this sweet and tangy salad, dice up some boiled carrots, turnips, and potatoes, pickles, peas, hard-boiled eggs, and a sweet apple.

Mix these together with a nice helping of mayo and a squirt of mustard, season to taste, and serve with a slice of rye bread. I realize this recipe may sound like an unappetizing compilation of random foods, which is why I force my friends to try it before I tell them what's in it.

7. Kompot

After all this food (and we're not even halfway through the list), you may find yourself in need of a beverage. Quench your thirst with some homemade fruit juice.

Make kompot yourself by boiling fruits such as apples, plums, cherries, and berries (anything really, sometimes my mom throws in a stalk of rhubarb) in a vat of water and sugar. The more sugar the better, but you're in control here. This is a good way to use up overripe produce. Once the juice has cooled, sit back and sip on the literal fruits of your labor.

8. Kabanosy

I'd describe this one as the Polish Slim Jim. Kabanosy are a thin, smokier kielbasa that taste a bit like pepperoni. They taste great straight from the deli, but I also like them dried. You know the drill by now-best served with a slice of rye bread, but feel free to add cheese and tomatoes for a complete sandwich.

9. Zurek

Also known as the 'White Barszcz.' The Poles must have hatched this clever recipe in order to use up all their leftover Easter eggs. People usually eat this soup for breakfast, and they always eat it on Easter morning. Zurek is a soup made of sour rye flour, sprinkled with chunks of kielbasa and hard-boiled eggs. You know the Lord has risen when that first bite hits your lips.

10. Kopytka

A Polish gnocchi, if you will. The kopytka is a little potato-y lump of goodness. I was picky as a child, and I mostly ate sweets. In order to enjoy this dish, I shoveled sugar onto the kopytki by the spoonful. I still eat them this way, but normal people eat them with a sprinkle of sugar and melted butter, or with fried onions.

11. Nalesniki

Nalesniki (nah-lesh-nee-kee) are a better version of the crepe, which is why the French stole our recipe.* You can eat these with the standard fruit or Nutella filling, but they are best when stuffed with a sweet cheese mixture and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
* I have no proof of this.
12. Krokiety

If you have an aversion to sweets, you can take a plain nalesnika, stuff it with minced meat, mushrooms, or cabbage, roll it up, coat it with egg wash and bread crumbs, and fry that baby for a delicious krokiet (croquette). These crunchy meat rolls are my absolute favorite.

13. Pickle Soup

I thought Americans had an obsession with pickles, but then I went to Poland and discovered who the real fiends are. If you lived in Poland, you would probably have a garden, grow cucumbers, and make pickles. Pickle soup provides a practical and delicious use for all those pickles from your personal garden, also known as aisle 12 at the supermarket.

14. Liver and Onions

This is a joke, that's f*cking gross.

15. Kebab

No, not a shish-kebab. This kebab doesn't come on a stick, but on a roll. Kebabs are so popular, you can locate a kebab hut within 5 miles of your location in Poland.* A kebab is loaded with meat that has been shaved off of a larger, rotating hunk of meat, and is topped with delicious salads of red and white cabbage, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and sauces (white, hot, etc.) It's pretty much a big ass salad bursting out of a roll.
*Not a fact, but kebab huts are abundant.
16. Fasolka po Bretonsku

Fasolka po bretonsku translates to baked beans, but our tricky Polish friends actually stew these beans. White beans, tomato paste, bacon, kielbasa, onion, and spices combine to create a gas-tastic dish. In this single dish you get your daily serving of protein, fiber, and happiness. Wash it down with a beer for extra happiness.

17. Ryba po Grecku

Roughly translated, this is Greek-style fish. My mom serves this dish cold and I despise it (I'd rather eat the liver and onions). But when I tried it warm with freshly fried fish, it had to be one of the tastiest Polish meals I'd eaten.

In this dish, the fish sits under a medley of veggies, usually carrots and onions, tomato paste, and some spices-think of it as a chunky sauce. Even though I'm not too sure where this dish stands ethnically, I can tell you flavor-wise it's very good.

18. Pierniki

Also known as Torun gingerbread, these are cakey gingerbread cookies that can be covered in chocolate, iced, or filled with various-flavored jellies. They often come in the shape of a heart. Aw. Fun fact : Torun, Poland is the home of both Pierniki and Nicolas Copernicus, that guy who said the Earth isn't the center of the universe.

19. Sernik

Sernik is a drier version of American Cheesecake, so don't expect to find this version at the Cheesecake Factory. Instead of using creamy Philadelphia-style cream cheese, Poles use a dry farmer's cheese called . Its texture is similar to that of feta cheese. Many recipes call for a layer of chocolate on top, which makes any dish taste better.

20. Szarlotka

Pronounced char-loht-ka, this is a Polish apple pie, but better, of course. The szarlotka consists of three to four layers, starting from the bottom:

Vanilla cake

Grated apples or applesauce & cinnamon

Foamy meringue (some recipes omit this layer)

Crumbly shortbread topping, dusted with powdered sugar

Now we're here, wishing we were eating this right now instead of reading about it. This cake can be served hot or cold, and it doesn't even need a scoop of ice cream to feel complete.

21. Paczki

Pronounced pOHnch-kee. You'll never go back to Dunkin' after you try a Polish donut. The only downfall is that you can't buy a box of paczki holes for your bday, because these donuts are filled and bursting at the seams with various flavors of jam, pudding, sweet cheese, or nutella. My favorite filling is rose jam.

Before, you probably thought Polish cuisine was meat, potatoes, and pierogi-well, it mostly is. How else would we win all those World's Strongest Man competitions? Try these dishes and you'll win World's Happiest Wanna-Be Polska.

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21 Polish Foods You Need to Try That Aren't Pierogi

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When you think of Poland, three things probably come to mind: pierogies, Lewandowski, and beatboxing. While the world is grateful for these Polish contributions, it's truly a shame that we don't know more about the amazing cuisine that your neighborhood babcia (grandma) has been cooking up for years.