The most beautiful polka pictures. The most beautiful Polish female models (23 photos). The average image of a Polish girl

Since in Ukraine, according to statistics, there are fewer men than women, in order not to suffer from loneliness, you can also focus on foreigners. Moreover, they are very fond of Ukrainian women ... for their beauty, character, perseverance and diligence.

Our compatriots who know the foreign environment within the country itself tell about the mental characteristics of men abroad.

Complaining for no reason

Country number three on our list - so close and at the same time far away - Poland. Ekaterina Kuznetsova, an ex-resident of Zaporozhye, who moved to this country for permanent residence, told how the family institute works there and why the Poles love Ukrainian women so much.

- Poland, although allegedly a state close to Ukraine in spirit, but the Polish people, especially the indigenous people, differ significantly in mentality, behavior and even everyday habits. As practice shows, the locals are very friendly, polite and good-natured, although most of them have a habit of complaining for no reason, she says. Our compatriot noticed some peculiarities in the rules of local etiquette. So , the Poles greet each other by the hand , and kiss good friends on the cheek . The respectful "pani / pan" works everywhere - even on the street, even in a cafe, even in an elite restaurant. - It strikes me very much how people behave in public transport: men let women go ahead, they open the door or hold the elevator. In fact, this is a trifle, but very nice. I would like that men in Ukraine would not forget to be polite, - the interlocutor continues.

Zaporizhzhya was very pleased with the fact that in Poland it is strictly forbidden to smoke at public transport stops. Therefore, you catch men with a cigarette in your mouth not at every step, but only in specially designated places. Citizens themselves and the police strictly control smokers and in case of violation write out rather large fines to them.

Coming back from work

Unlike Ukrainian, Polish men are more trained in order. There are trash cans at every step, the owners clean up after the dogs, and in public transport, everyone must pay the fare. You rarely see a controller there, but there are enough "hares", and they - predominantly from other countries, including ours. - The Poles also work in different areas, some go further to Europe to earn money. But the difference between them and us is that they return to live in their native land, which cannot be said about us, says Katya. - Now, with the new president, Andrzej Duda, it has become easier for women to live ... For each child, the state allocates assistance - 500 zlotys a month. And another +130 PLN is given for each child if the family low-income. Therefore, if a woman has a minimum wage, it is not profitable for her to go to work, because then all assistance is canceled. If a person earns well, then the family has enough to live on. Even this year, assistance was introduced for all students - PLN 300. And those who go to school also receive funds to buy everything they need by the beginning of the school year. As a mother, this makes me very happy.

Rest not for all the money

In terms of courtship, as Ekaterina noted, Poles are not very different from Ukrainians. Although I can't speak for everyone. - In every house there is a shovel ... There are those who abuse alcohol, there are those who cheat, and those who carry their women in their arms, - she continues. - As in other European countries, in Poland it is not practiced to get married early. According to the latest data from the Chief statistical management of Poland, representatives of the beautiful half of humanity quantitatively predominate in the country. Among the 38.5 million Poles, 52% are women, that is, in cities there are as many as 111 women per 100 men, and 101 in villages. Young people in Poland are becoming less and less conservative and willingly imitate the European approach to marriages- the later, the stronger.

According to statistics, Polish women get married on average at 26.4 years old, and Polish men leave the bachelor's path at the age of 28.4 years. - A man and a woman meet for a very long time - 5-10 years before marriage ... Often young Polish couples go to work, first collect funds for a house, a wedding, and only then get married. And it happened so sadly in our country that, according to all traditions, parents make weddings for children, - the woman says. Poles divide duties in families in different ways. Here, according to the countrywoman, the phrase works well: “As you make bed, so you will sleep”. There are families where the wife is in charge, but there are vice versa. – Life in Poland, in my opinion, is more measured and calm. Ukrainian men and women rush headlong to work and work until the last client. It's not like that here. For example, I was shocked by the stories of my friends. They go to the hairdresser for 5-10 years, and if the master works until six, then only until six. She will not enter into your position, even if you have known each other for ten years. He lowers the blinds and “Goodbye!”, The interlocutor notes. I think women are happier here.

They don't carry ten bags from the store; family members tend to have cars.Families of the Poles go on vacation and not for the last money, like us, but for a salary.It is interesting to spend weekends - also a local tradition.

Love for hard work

Poles love Ukrainian women for their beauty, charisma and diligence.They love our care.Mentally, with the Poles, if a woman is from Western Ukraine, there is not much difference.Poles, like Ukrainians, are Christians.Some of their celebrations are different.For example, they are surprised by our loud celebrations for the New Year, or rites for Baptism, - says Katya.However, one should not forget that some Poles are rather dismissive of the Ukrainians.There are those who still consider our territory their colony.Hypocrisy - it is also present in society.Some Polish employers perceive our men as cheap labor, and women are seen as objects of sexual pleasure, - adds the ex-resident of Zaporozhye.

Everywhere there are pluses and minuses.Ukrainian men, according to women, are more attractive.The Poles are not so attractive to her from the outside, although there are no comrades for the color.

Interesting facts about Polish romance

Poles are the earliest people in the EU to get married.Polish men put on their wedding ring for the first time on average at 29, while Scandinavians get married after 25, and Spaniards at 34. Polish women get married a little earlier than men - at 27.Younger brides in the EU are only residents of Bulgaria and Romania.

39% of Poles believe that the wedding should be organized in such a way that family and friends will remember him for another half a century.

44% instead consider marriage Impreza a waste of money.

82% of Poles who nevertheless came to the altar and survived the wedding banquet are satisfied with their marriage.

Three-quarters of Poles and Poles admit that sex is an important part of their relationship.

More than 70% of respondents aged 16 to 49 have sex at least once a week.

During the 10 years of existence of the largest Polish online dating service Sympatia, Poles have created more than 5 million profiles.That is, every sixth adult in Poland at least once tried to find a mate on the Internet.

Views: 3 087

Each people of the world has its own characteristics, which are absolutely normal and ordinary for them, but if a person of a different nationality gets into their midst, he may be very surprised at the habits and traditions of the inhabitants of this country, because they will not coincide with his own ideas about life. We invite you to learn 8 national habits and characteristics of the inhabitants of Poland, which will help you better understand the inhabitants of this country.

They are really polite people.

Don't be surprised if a skinhead accidentally steps on your foot and apologizes warmly. The Poles do it automatically. The scope of required courtesy is much wider than in other countries.

To strangers, the Poles turn to you, adding the construction pan / pani / państwo (mister / madam / gentlemen). Calling strangers “man” (mężczyzno), “woman” (kobieto) is unacceptable in Poland. At the same time, the titles “girl” (panno) or “young man” (młody człowieku) are used by older people in relation to really young Poles, but are considered obsolete.

Etiquette is observed in business correspondence. And here a foreigner needs to be careful - for example, in a job application it is not enough to write: “Director Kowalski: please hire me” (this is uncivilized). Be sure to apologize for the inconvenience. To the director to address “Dear director! Very, very much I ask you to hire me, ”explain why you should be employed and how much you will appreciate it.

They love to complain

Complaining is the favorite sport of Poles. Don't try to compete with them. The answer "everything is fine" to the question "how are you?" considered indecent (how is this "good"? It's suspicious!). Life cannot be easy and good! Poland is a "safe haven" with a growing GDP in Europe plunged into crisis. Well, yes, they didn’t seem to feel the crisis, but in Germany the motorways are still better ...

They agree to offers from the third time

A real Pole will refuse several times before agreeing, for example, to a treat (it’s ugly to agree right away). In Poland itself, despite the number of refusals, the guest will be fed in any way, but abroad, with their habit of refusing out of politeness, the Poles sometimes go hungry. So if by chance a Pole happens to be at your house, offer at least three times: help, food, any amenities, you will see - you won’t get a positive answer the first time. Well, maybe only if this instance has suffered enough abroad ...

They are very religious

Poles are very religious, every Sunday most go to church. Everyone celebrates Easter and Christmas together, and the most important holidays in the country are Catholic. Many Poles divide life into periods: from baptism to first communion, from first communion to chrismation, from chrismation to wedding, from wedding to death. A passer-by in communication with a boy may well ask if he already had the ritual of the first communion or will he only be?

Even to marry for a Pole means "to get married." In Poland, it is customary to seal the bonds of marriage in the church. At the same time, the latter even replaced the registry offices, since priests draw up all state documents. Interestingly, in a white wedding dress, a girl can only get married. It is not customary to wear it for a civil ceremony in the registry office.

They are learning in bulk.

In Poland, higher education is no longer prestigious or fashionable, it is mandatory. Everyone studies, it is not always clear why, but the fact is that the position of a cleaner without at least a secondary education is hard to get. Unfortunately, the cult of education is not paired with material compensation for the work invested in education. There is a popular anecdote: the mother of the illiterate Yasha cannot find him a job for minimal money (he will go on a drinking binge with a large salary), because such small salaries are only for people with higher education. But here we again return to the topic of “folk sports”.

They stock up on food

Poles take care of their children and other relatives living in other cities. "Sloik", that is, a bank, is an integral attribute of every Polish family that sent a child to study or a husband on a business trip. In these jars they carry their mother's food for the whole long week: soups, main courses, sauces, salads, pickles and canned food. Without this, it is impossible to live in Poland, every Sunday all cars, buses and trains are simply overflowing with banks, and on the road you can sometimes hear the characteristic sound of glass walls rubbing against each other. If Polish students were banned from carrying cans, they would starve to death.

For them, all the nations of the former USSR are Russians

For Poles, everyone who lives east of Poland is Russian. It went back to the times of the USSR, when any citizens of the Union were called Russians. Therefore, do not be surprised if, having informed a Pole that you have come from Belarus or Ukraine, you suddenly hear from the interlocutor: “Well, how are you doing in Russia?”

They love torturing foreigners

Here cream 2 grows on trees. In crypt 3 you can buy cannon 4 full of beer. Children are entertained with parties 5 . The Poles, to be honest, are not the most organized nation in the world, so very often they memorize something 6 . 7 itch and guess a lot 8 when 9 stumble with friends. Glamor girls visit freak salons 10 . They walk on sofas 11, eat from chairs 12, making sure to keep a favorable stomach 13. The country is prosperous - in every city there is a palace 14, and every Pole has his own building 15. Everyone who works receives a pension for 16 and usually rests for 17 weeks.

Polish-Russian Dictionary:

1. pytać (torture) - “to ask”.

2. śliwki (cream) - "plums".

3. sklep (crypt) - “shop”.

4. puszka (cannon) - "bank".

5. wieczorynka (party) - an analogue of the program "Good night, kids."

6. zapomnieć (remember) - “forget”.

7. cieszyć się (itching) - "rejoice."

8. gadać (guess) - "talk".

9. spotykać się (to stumble) - “to meet”.

10. salon urody (salon ugly) - “beauty salon”.

11. dywan (sofa) - "carpet".

12. stół (chair) - "table".

13. wygodny żywot (profitable belly) - "a comfortable life."

14. dworzec (palace) - "station".

15. zdanie (building) - "opinion".

16. pensja (pension) - “salary”.

17. niedziela (week) - "Sunday".

Polish cinema is one of the most developed in Eastern Europe. Many Polish films are widely known outside of Poland, for example, "Pharaoh" (1966), "The Flood" (1974), "Witch Doctor" (1982), "With Fire and Sword" (1999), "Kamo come" (2001). In Poland, earlier than in the USSR / Russia, M. Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" was filmed. Polish directors Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Agnieszka Holland, Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Andrzej Zulawski, Krzysztof Zanussi made a great contribution to the development of world cinema.

A note regarding the spelling of the names of actresses: in Polish, most female surnames end in "a", while in Russian, female Polish surnames are usually written with the ending "aya", for example, the Polish surname Skłodowska is traditionally written in Russian as Skłodowska. In both Polish and Russian, Polish surnames are declined by case.

25th place. Ewa Wiśniewska(born April 25, 1942, Warsaw) - Polish theater and film actress. She played Princess Kurtsevich in the highest-grossing modern Polish film of the 90s, With Fire and Sword (1999), receiving the Orly Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.

24th place. Grazyna Barszczewska / Grazyna Barszczewska(born May 1, 1947, Warsaw) is a Polish theater, film, radio, television and cabaret actress. In 1999, she received the "Wielki Splendor" prize awarded by the Polish Radio to the best radio actor.

23rd place. Elzbieta Barszczewska / Elzbieta Barszczewska(November 29, 1913, Warsaw - October 14, 1987) - Polish theater, film and television actress. She played the role of Beata in the film "Witch Doctor" in 1937 (a remake of this film is the well-known in Russia film "Witch Doctor" in 1982).

22nd place. Joanna Opozda / Joanna Opozda(born February 7, 1988, Busko-Zdrój, Poland) is a Polish actress and model.

21st place. Elzbieta Starostecka / Elzbieta Starostecka(born October 6, 1943, Rogow, Poland) - Polish theater and film actress, singer. Winner of the Złote Grono Award (for the most popular actress in the 1976/77 season) for her role as Stefania Rudecka in the film Leper.

20th place. Marta Zmuda-Trzebiatowska / Marta Żmuda-Trzebiatowska(born July 26, 1984, Czluchow, Poland) is a Polish actress. Acting in films and TV series.

19th place. and - Polish actresses, twin sisters. They were born on November 15, 1985 in Nowy Sącz (Poland).

photo by Paulina Hapko:

photo by Karolina Hapko:

18th place. Zofia Batytska / Zofia Batycka(born August 22, 1907, Lviv, Ukraine - June 9, 1989) - Polish actress, Miss Poland 1930, Vice-Miss Europe 1930, Miss Paramount 1931.

17th place. (real name - Kiziuk / Kiziuk; born August 10, 1943, Lviv) - Polish theater, film and cabaret actress.

16th place. (real name - Taubvursel / Taubwurcel; March 28, 1938, Lodz, Poland - March 10, 2013) - Polish theater and film actress.

15th place. (born June 4, 1970, Bialystok, Poland) - Polish and Swedish actress and singer. Famous film roles: Natalya Simonova (Golden Eye, 1995), Elena Kurtsevich (Fire and Sword, 1999).

14th place. (born February 8, 1944, Warsaw) - screenwriter, director, also an actress who starred in just one film - "Heat" (1964).

13th place. (born January 8, 1936, Vladimir-Volynsky, Ukraine) - Polish actress and TV presenter, Miss Poland 1957. Alicia Bobrovskaya became the first representative of Poland at the international beauty contest "Miss Universe", while winning the title of 4th Vice-Miss at this competition.

12th place. (September 5, 1942, Warsaw - March 19, 1997) - Polish actress and model. Teresa Tuszyńska played in 12 films, but she never received an acting education.

11th place. (born January 19, 1955, Warsaw) - Polish actress, dancer, model, writer.

10th place. (born September 15, 1990, Tychy, Poland) is a modern Polish actress, acting in films and TV shows.

9th place. Katarzyna Maciąg(born May 3, 1982, Kozienice, Poland) - Polish theater and film actress.

8th place. Anna Dymna / Anna Dymna(born July 20, 1951, Legnica, Poland) - Polish theater and film actress, best known in the countries of the former USSR for her role as Marysia Vilchur in the film "Witch Doctor" (1982). In 1988, she played the role of Margarita in a 4-episode Polish adaptation of M. Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita. The real name of the actress is Dzyadyk / Dziadyk. In 1973, she married actor Wiesław Dymny, after which she took her husband's surname. Despite the fact that in Russian the surname of the actress is correctly spelled "Smoky", in Russian-language sources the spelling of her surname in the Polish manner has settled down - Dymna.

7th place. Olga Savitskaya / Olga Sawicka(February 7, 1932, Poznan, Poland - April 2, 2015) - Polish ballerina, choreographer, actress.

6th place. Barbara Karska / Barbara Karska(b. September 20, 1949, the Netherlands), better known as Barbara Nielsen- An actress known to Soviet audiences for her role as Basya in the Polish film Anatomy of Love (1972).

5th place. Karolina Gruszka / Karolina Gruszka(born July 13, 1980, Warsaw) - Polish and Russian actress, wife of Russian director and playwright Ivan Vyrypaev. Famous film roles: Masha Mironova (Russian rebellion, 2000, voiced by Chulpan Khamatova), Sasha (Oxygen, 2009), Ekaterina (Delhi Dance, 2012), Vera (Long Live Belarus, 2012).

4th place. Magdalena Meltsazh / Magdalena Mielcarz(born March 3, 1978, Warsaw) is a Polish actress and model. Famous film roles: Ligia (Kamo Gryadeshi, 2001), Princess Henrietta (Fanfan Tulip, 2003), Lady Elzbieta (Taras Bulba, 2008).

3rd place. (born August 14, 1938, Wilyanov, Poland) is a famous Polish actress who starred in almost 100 films. Famous film roles: Princess Elzbieta (Ashes, 1965), Marysya (Marysya and Napoleon, 1966), Isabella Lentskaya (Doll, 1968), Varvara Pavlovna (Noble Nest, 1969).

2nd place. Fields of Raksa / Pola Raksa(born April 14, 1941, Lida, Grodno region, Belarus) - actress, three times (1967, 1969, 1970) awarded the Silver Mask Award as the most popular actress in Poland. She starred in Polish and Soviet films. Famous film roles: Hedwig-Maria Kalinowska (The Girl in the Window, 1964), Helena de Wit (Ashes, 1965), Zosia (the film of the same name, 1967), Marusya "Spark" (TV series "Four Tankers and a Dog", 1966-1970 ), Yvette (Nocturne, 1966). The full name of the actress is Apolonia / Apolonia, while in the movie she starred under the diminutive name of Paul, which is erroneously indicated in Russian-language sources as Paula.

The most beautiful Polish actress - Barbara Brylska / Barbara Brylska(born June 5, 1941, Skotniki, Poland). Famous film works in Russia: the Phoenician priestess Kama in the film "Pharaoh" (1966), Nadia Sheveleva in the film "The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!" (1975), Helena in the film epic "Liberation" (1972), Eve in the film "Love's Anatomy" (1972). In Russian-language sources, the spelling of the actress's surname in the Polish manner has become established - Brylska.

Poles - what are they? This is a large West Slavic nation known for its vibrant culture and mentality. There are many different stereotypes about them, sometimes even contradicting each other: proud, puffy, scammers, smiling, simple, insincere. So what is their true nature? What are the specific features of Polish culture, what traditions are characteristic of this country?

History of the people

The first mention of the country of Poland appeared in the X century. Several principalities were united by the Piast dynasty into a small state. Throughout its long history, the country has experienced a period of feudal fragmentation, the Mongol-Tatar invasion, and the decline of state power. It was united with such states as Lithuania, Livonia (modern Estonia), was known not as Poland, but as the Commonwealth.

The golden age for this country was the period from the beginning of the 16th to the 17th. The independent existence of Poland was threatened by numerous invasions of the Swedes in the 17th century, but King Stanislav Poniatowski tried to prevent the collapse of the state through reforms. It was not possible to avoid the partition, the first took place in 1772, the second - in 1793, the third - in 1795. From this year to 1918, she again became independent.

The First and Second World Wars caused great damage to the country. Entire cities were destroyed, about five million people were killed, and part of the territories were lost. The country had to be restored in a severe crisis. Revolts broke out and discontent grew. In the 80s of the XX century, a series of strikes took place, which led the state to liberation from Soviet power. The Democrats, who were in power, changed the economic course from planned to market, and in politics they switched to pluralism.

Antonyms

Back in the Middle Ages, the Poles were called "Poles", and the country of Poland itself was called Lyakhistan or Lehistan. Initially, the word "lyakh" had a neutral character, but in the period from the 18th to the 19th centuries, it acquired a negative connotation in the Russian literary language. This word was used, wishing to express a contemptuous attitude towards the representatives of the nation.

At the moment, the correct variants of the forms of the feminine and masculine gender are "Pole" and "Polka". By the way, until about the 19th century, the word “Polish woman” was also considered normative, but then it became contemptuous (Dal’s dictionary). Now this form is obsolete or colloquial (different dictionaries give different marks).

Polish language

It is one of the largest Slavic languages. It belongs to the West Slavic group, the Lechit subgroup. In some ways, it may seem similar to Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian, but there are a number of nuances. The first feature is that in Polish the deletion always falls on the penultimate syllable (with the exception of loanwords). There are many unusual sound combinations in the phonetics of the Polish language, which will be difficult for a beginner to reproduce. For example, such letter combinations as cz, sz, dz are read as very hard h, very hard sh, soft d and z together, respectively.

As noted above, the Polish and Russian languages ​​are quite similar. However, the similarity can be deceiving. There are a large number of words called "translator's false friends". Their peculiarity is that they are very reminiscent of words familiar to a native speaker of the Russian language, but they are translated in a completely different way. So, for example, ogonek, similar to "light", is translated as "tail", dywan, causing direct associations with the word "sofa", actually means "carpet". People learning Polish need to be attentive to the "false friends of the translator" in order not to get into an awkward or comical situation (after all, "shop" in Polish is sklep!).

Traits of national character

So, the mentality of the Poles, what is it? Many say that one of the most important features is a smile on the face. The Poles smile at a meeting, when communicating, when getting to know each other. There is a stereotype that she is insincere, but this is not so. They are really quite friendly people.

They will smile in the store, in the hospital, even in the impound lot, but the tourist should not think that friendliness and goodwill indicate a desire to provide him with any privileges (they will not give him a discount in the store). Also, the Poles are quite gullible. People are accustomed to behaving honestly for this reason to trust each other. For example, a cashier at a store may allow a customer to deposit money for a later purchase if they have forgotten it. And yes, the buyer will actually bring them. Another opinion that exists about the Poles is that they are “informers”. In fact, they are just quite zealous in protecting their rights and respecting the law. For example, if a neighbor makes noise late at night or litters in the entrance, he will most likely be reported to law enforcement agencies.

What else makes up the features of the national character of the Poles? Tourists and emigrants encountering the inhabitants of this country note that they are quite simple people. Even high-ranking persons do not actively demonstrate their wealth and position.

Finally, the Poles are the people who complain. They do it a lot and often. Almost everything can become a subject of discontent: the government, roads, assortment in the store, and so on. Their complaints are passive: despite the fact that many things do not suit them, they are not going to change anything. These are the characteristics of the Poles.

What do they say about themselves

They have a rather high opinion of themselves (which is why the phrase “puffy Lyakh” appeared). The Poles consider themselves a civilized, educated and cultured nation. Polish girls are presented as patriots who sincerely love their Motherland, and at the same time they are ready to commit an insidious act. Of course, they are seductively attractive. A woman is perceived as an example for a man, placed above him.

How to offend a Pole

There are several rules that must be observed when dealing with the Polish people, otherwise they can be very offended. Away, you should agree to the offer to change into slippers. Refusal can offend a Pole. It will also upset the host very much if the guest has a hearty lunch before the visit and refuses to eat his food. What is left after the feast can be offered to take with you, you should not refuse this. The character of the Poles, though benevolent, but touchy.

Finally, since the Poles are quite religious people, they can be seriously offended by visiting the temple in an inappropriate form (shorts, short skirts) and attempts to photograph or film the service.

Cultural contribution: literature

Polish literature begins its history in the 16th century. Its founder is the writer Mikola Rey. His works, written in a journalistic style, have a sharp socio-political orientation. In a rough but rich language, the author defended the interests of the gentry and ridiculed the Catholic clergy. Jan Kokhanovsky is considered the first national poet. He was educated in Paris and in Italy, and although he wrote in Latin, he went down in the history of literature as an author who wrote splendidly in Polish. He wrote on love and political topics, one of his most famous works, Trena, was written under the influence of a personal tragedy - the death of his daughter.

Adam Mickiewicz became the most famous not only Polish, but also the world poet. His most famous work is the poem "Pan Tadeusz", which recreates in detail the historical picture of the life of the gentry. Mickiewicz is a leader, a leading author of Polish Romanticism.

Of the modern authors, the most famous are Janusz Leon Wisniewski, who wrote a book about virtual love "Loneliness on the Web", which became a world bestseller, Andrzej Sapkowski - the creator of the Witcher universe, the author of many works in the fantasy genre.

Cultural contribution: music

The first most famous Polish composer was Nikolay Radomsky, who lived in the 15th century. Known for writing polyphonic music. A century later, European ones appeared in Polish national musical motifs. This happened thanks to Diomedes Kato, who lived in this country. Around the same time, the works of such composers as Vaclav from Shotul, Luca Marenzio appeared. The most famous Polish composer is the great Frederic Chopin.

Polish traditions

Some of them will seem familiar to a Russian person, but others may surprise.

• Burning of an effigy of the Slavic goddess Mazhanna. This ceremony is somewhat reminiscent of the burning of a doll on Maslenitsa. On the first day of spring, a scarecrow is made from straw, decorated with ribbons, beads, patches. First, the doll is set on fire, and then drowned in a pond. It is believed that this custom will accelerate the onset of heat.
• Correction is an event that takes place on the second day after the wedding. The festivities continue until the third day.
• Christmas traditions. Since the Poles have a rather religious character, Christmas is a very important and significant holiday for them. On this day, it is customary to lay straw under the tablecloth, and put an additional device on the table. The straw symbolizes the circumstances of the birth of Christ, and the extra plate indicates that this nation is friendly and hospitable. A guest, even an unexpected and uninvited one, will always be met with joy, invited to the house and fed.
• "Śmigus Dyngus" (Śmigus Dyngus) is an Easter tradition that involves pouring water on passers-by. This is done from water pistols, plastic bottles or bags. Such a non-standard custom is explained by the fact that water is an obligatory element of baptism.

National Costume

An obligatory element of traditional clothing is bright embroidery: flowers or patterns are depicted on fabrics. The girls include: a skirt (striped or embroidered), a white shirt (sometimes with colored patterns), a corset, an apron, a headdress, shoes (boots or shoes with lacing with a small heel). The colors of the women's costume are mostly bright: green, blue, red, brown shades. The headdress depends on the status of the polka. The unmarried wear brightly colored scarves and wreaths adorned with flowers. Married women put a cap on their heads. A very important part of the costume is jewelry: large earrings, massive bright beads.

Poles men are more restrained in colors: brown, black, gray and white prevail. Their costume consists of a white shirt, a vest (usually embroidered), a belt, black or brown pants, boots, and a headdress. Usually it is a hat with a fur trim.

Polish cuisine

Replete with meat dishes, sausages, pates, pickles (mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables). Polish cuisine is hearty and varied. The most famous first course is zhurek soup, which is boiled on kvass. Mushrooms, potatoes, smoked sausages, hard-boiled eggs are added there. Season it with lots of spices. Those wishing to try something more unusual should pay attention to the soup called chernina. The composition includes such an unusual ingredient as goose blood. In addition, goose offal, dried fruits and vegetables are added there.

One of the most famous second courses is, of course, bigos. The standard recipe includes meat (pork) and sauerkraut, but rice, dried fruits or vegetables can be added in various variations.

Another popular cabbage and meat dish is cabbage rolls (in Polish - gołąbki). Rice, cereals or potatoes are also put in the filling. This dish is served in tomato sauce.

Sweet lovers should definitely pay attention to Kolaczki biscuits. These are envelopes made of shortcrust pastry stuffed with jam or cottage cheese. You can buy these in a bakery or in a supermarket.

National dances

Polonaise used to be performed at balls and ceremonial events. Now this dance is an obligatory part of the prom. It is a processional dance with graceful and elegant movements. It suits the character of the Poles very well.

Mazurka is a dynamic, temperamental dance. It is one of the most difficult due to the rapid change of movements. Mazurkas were composed by such composers as Frederic Chopin and Karol Szymanowski.

1. Poles often complain that they got the mountains in the south, and the Baltic Sea in the north, and it warms up not so hot. But lucky with the lakes formed after the convergence of the glacier. The Masurian Lakes are a favorite place for yachting or kayaking, the latter are very popular.

2. Polish weather can be very unpredictable and locals constantly complain about it: in winter, by European standards, it is frosty (up to -25), and in summer it is not warm enough. In general, it is in the blood of the Poles - to be dissatisfied with something. In the spring, on the same day, rain can start, end, hail fall 3 times, after which everything will dry up in the sun without a trace. The seasons, as is customary in Europe, do not begin on the first day, but according to the astronomical calendar, so it’s not worth congratulating everyone on the beginning of winter on December 1, they won’t understand.
3. Poland is quite homogeneous ethnically, linguistically and culturally. Nevertheless, it includes most of Silesia (Shlensk), which went to the Poles after the Second World War. The area is very specific, especially the industrial-mining Upper Silesia with its center in Katowice, with its incomprehensible Sloan dialect and its own opinion about the rest of Poland.
4. Economically more developed western Poland is often outraged that it feeds lazy people and drunkards from the poor agrarian eastern part.
5. The problem of internal migration from rural areas to big cities in Poland is not very acute, the infrastructure is quite decently developed. A common story is when a Warsaw family, living in an apartment, starts building a country house, after which they move there and rent out the apartment.
6. During its history, the territory of the country has been divided many times, as evidenced by the fact that St. Nicholas brings gifts for Christmas to children in Warsaw, in Poznan - Gwiazdor (from the word star), in Krakow - Angel, in Silesia - baby Jesus, and in the eastern regions there is even Santa Claus ...
7. Polish small businesses and NGOs often live on subsidies and grants from the European Union. My friend thus received 40 thousand euros to open a kindergarten in her suburb and a free course in business economics to boot.
8. Since 2007, a law has been in force, according to which 1% of your taxes must be transferred to the activities of public benefit organizations, you choose the organization yourself. Therefore, there are pitiful advertisements on the street - give 1% to the children of Africa or to a dog shelter.
9. There are no homeless animals here. Nuclear power plants, too, everything is good with the environment. In the cities on the banks of the Vistula there are a lot of river gulls, the parks are teeming with squirrels. In my residential area of ​​Warsaw in the evening I ran into hedgehogs more than once.

10. Poland is home to the largest number of white storks (23% of the world population). Like bison from Belovezhskaya Pushcha, storks are one of the symbols of the country.
11. Separation of garbage exists, although it is not strictly controlled. There are many places where containers for collecting old clothes are placed, what they do with it later is unknown to me.
12. Since 2004, Poland has been a member of the EU, and since 2007, the Schengen area.
13. Since the beginning of the 90s, a wave of emigrants has poured out of the country, mainly to England. With rising living standards, many have returned, but it is still not uncommon for a doctor working in a Polish clinic to fly to London for the weekend, where he receives his weekly salary at a time.
14. State Polish clinics are free, but there are not as many of them as grandmothers with sores. Therefore, you need to make an appointment with a therapist somewhere in a month or two or go to a private clinic. Of course, this does not apply to emergency cases.
15. Chicago is considered the second largest city in the world by the number of Poles living in it.
16. As the Poles themselves say, they do not like two nations - Russians and Germans. You can find combined monuments to the victims of Nazism and the communist system. However, such dislike is more stereotyped than real, and is manifested only during sports competitions.
17. It was almost never necessary to meet hostile attitudes towards Russians. Often, on the contrary, everyone is very friendly and hospitable, they will always tell you the way, if necessary, they will call you from their phone, and sing “May there always be sunshine”. For some reason everyone knows this song.
18. The Russian language is understandable to the majority of the older generation, as it was compulsory in the schools of the Polish People's Republic. However, in the 90s, as a language forcibly imposed, Russian was no longer studied, and only recently began to return and become popular again.
19. For the Germans, the Poles remain a poor and cold neighbor without electricity, stealing their cars. Hence the common jokes like this: What does the Polish triathlon look like? - Came to the pool on foot, and returned on a bicycle.

20. On the other hand, the Germans actively take advantage of the proximity and cheapness of Poland and go on weekends to Wroclaw or Szczecin, which once belonged to Germany. From the latter to Berlin a little over 100 km, buses run from 10 zł, and all excursions are offered in two languages ​​- German and Polish.
21. To an untrained ear, Polish is just a collection of hisses, especially if you don't listen closely. For example, the word happiness sounds like “shchenschche”.
22. Despite its kinship with all the languages ​​​​of the Slavic group, in Polish there are many words that mean completely different things than in Russian:? sklep - shop? dworzec - station? zapomnic (read as "remember") - forget? - beautiful?dywan - carpet?owoce - fruits
23. Tanya means cheap in Polish, so it’s better for girls with this beautiful name to introduce themselves as Tatiana. "Tania odziez" is not a fashionable author's collection, but a common name for second-hand.
24. If somewhere on the street of Krakow you ask how to get to the library, and they answer you “just”, do not take the answer as a mockery. "Simple" means "straight."
25. Spoko - in Poland it is a standard phrase in almost any life situation and means something like "Spokuha". Poland's Euro song was "Koko-koko, Euro Spoko" performed by the grandmothers' choir.
26. The traditional song for birthdays, weddings and any other events where you need to wish for something - “Sto lat!” Wish for a hundred years, respectively.
27. The Poles call only black pepper pepper, for the rest (including chili) they use the word “paprika”, being very surprised at how we distinguish which particular pepper we are talking about.
28. From other words that cause emotion: adidasy - sneakers, rajstopy - tights, kawaler - bachelor.
29. Polish girls are really very beautiful, they dress tastefully, but not defiantly. Bright coloring, miniskirts and high heels are usually reserved for representatives of a certain profession.

30. Polish cuisine is very close to ours, but less oily. Traditional dishes are Russian feathers (pierogi ruskie), Ukrainian borscht (barsz ukrainski) and Greek fish (ryba po grecku). You can easily find them in every restaurant.
31. Russian perogi are dumplings with cottage cheese and potatoes, in Poland they are often fried after boiling. Keep this in mind if you decide to buy in a store, usually they are already welded and it is better not to dip them into water again. The pies we are used to are not baked in Poland.
32. Another national dish is bigos - stewed cabbage with meat and smoked meats. Depending on how bigos was cooked at home, the recipe varies: from a mountain of meat with rare glimpses of cabbage to a plate of cabbage with pieces of sausage.
33. Soups - this is what starts any holiday in Poland. The obligatory first course for Christmas is mushroom soup or red borscht (one-syllable beetroot soup with spices). Red borsch is often not eaten, but drunk, so do not relax if on Christmas Eve you get a glass of liquid that looks like mulled wine. Yes, you can stumble on borscht in coffee machines, again I don’t recommend stumbling.? on sourdough with white sausage and an egg, and even a wedding feast begins with soup. However, not everyone eats soup on ordinary days for lunch.
34. What I could not get used to for a long time was the fact that the Poles almost never eat bread with soup. Well, in catering establishments, bread for the first is very rare. But you can try zhurek in a bread pot (the crumb is removed and the bread turns into a dish).
35. One of the brightest holidays in Poland is All Saints Day on November 1st. Something similar to our memorial Sunday, only on a larger scale. People come to the cemetery and with the onset of twilight they light candles in huge numbers, it becomes light as day. In general, in terms of the number of lamps placed around monuments and in cemeteries, as for me, the Poles are world leaders.
36. On the other hand, it is useless to come to Poland as a tourist to enjoy a real Catholic Christmas. On December 24 at 15.00 all shops, museums, cafes, bars are closed and so on for the next three days. At this time, Poles mostly gather with families, sit at home, drink, eat and watch TV. On Christmas Eve, my friends and I found only one working Kebab for two million Warsaw and a couple of stalls with alcohol, and a day later the only open pizzeria for a huge shopping center.
37. The employer does not have the right to force employees to work on Christmas, so only small family shops or gas stations can be open. At the last one, we were once offered to buy a half-liter bottle of 96% alcohol. With alcoholism, selling alcohol only by prescription, they do not fight here.
38. Poland's number one fast food is kebabs. In composition, the same shawarma, only twice as large and placed in half a loaf, is eaten with a plastic fork, since everything does not fit into the mouth at once.
39. Pizza in pizzerias often comes with an extra jar of sauce (garlic or ketchup). This makes the pizza more juicy. I have not seen this in other countries.

40. From the remnants of the Soviet era in many cities in Poland, the so-called "milk bars", originally subsidized by the state, have been preserved. Food in them has always been and remains cheaper than in other places. For 10–15 zlotys (100–150 rubles) you can have a full meal. True, the orders in milk bars remain very Soviet.
41. One of the main export products from Poland are fruits and vegetables. You can buy them here quite cheaply: for 4–5 zlotys (40 rubles) a kilogram of peaches. The same applies to the prices of meat and dairy products.
42. Of the products that are either not available in Poland or very difficult to find: croutons for beer, fermented baked milk, condensed milk, dumplings and taranka (Poles cannot stand its smell).
43. Contrary to popular opinion even in Poland, Poles do not drink that much and share stories among themselves about the impermeability of Finns who are on a binge from Friday to Monday, or about 5 liters of beer drunk by a German in the evening.
44. On the other hand, vodka is one of the symbols of the country. When my friends and I sat down in a cafe in the center of Warsaw on the first day and ordered a beer, the waiter looked with a smile and said: “Guys! You are in Poland, take vodka! ”Meanwhile, they won’t argue that vodka was invented in Poland, and not in Russia.
45. Traditional Polish vodka - bison with a blade of grass inside. To solder the female half, it is often mixed with apple juice, this mix is ​​called "charlotte".
46. ​​In Poland, there are no chemical low-alcohol drinks like a screwdriver, but there are many varieties of various honey and fruit beers.
47. In addition, ordering a regular beer in a bar with the addition of raspberry or ginger juice, and then drinking it from a straw is considered quite normal.
48. The Poles are very athletic, do not suffer from excess weight, many run, go to the gym, dance, salsa studios grow like mushrooms here.
49. The number one sport is football. Despite the mediocre performance of the national team and the weak domestic championship, almost everyone in Poland is an ardent football fan. Somewhere in Łódź you can easily be beaten if you don't correctly identify which local club (LKS or Widzew) you are a fan of.

50. Since Polish clubs and the national team fail quite often, the popular slogan is “Polacy, nic sie nie stalo” (“Poles, nothing happened”).
51. Even the current championship of the Polish volleyball representation in the World Volleyball League did not particularly shake the football championship.
52. On the site of the current National Stadium in Warsaw, built specifically for Euro 2012, there used to be the largest bazaar in Eastern Europe. There you could buy everything from smuggled Ukrainian cigarettes and pirated CDs to any clothes and documents. This part of the right bank of Warsaw is called Prague, and a couple of years ago the area was considered the most criminal and dangerous in the capital.
53. By the way, Poland is the first European country to massively protest against ACTA, which restricts the freedom to disseminate information on the Internet. Whatever you say, torrents are very close to the Poles.
54. Polish roads can hardly be called ideal. There were almost no wide and fast motorways connecting major cities, especially before the European Football Championship. Now the country has set a course for the improvement of infrastructure and wherever you go, new roads are being built everywhere.
55. On average, Poles pass on the rights from 3-5 times. This is one of the remnants of the old corrupt system. Now it is impossible to give a bribe to an examiner, cameras are installed in cars, however, in order for the work of instructors to pay off, those who pass are deliberately overwhelmed by minor mistakes.
56. Poles are quite punctual. This also has a public transport system with a detailed schedule of all routes at each stop. And the schedule is almost not violated.
57. Of all Polish cities, only Warsaw has a metro. The only line for today was launched in 1995, the opening of the second line is planned for a year, but for now the entire Polish capital is carefully dug up by the metro construction.
58. According to legend, after the war, I. Stalin, as a gratuitous gift from the Soviet people, offered the Polish people to build in Warsaw a choice of either a metro or a palace of culture. The Poles chose the second, for which they received the tallest building in Poland erected by the type of Stalinist skyscrapers today - the 237-meter Palace of Culture and Science.
59. During the Second World War, 85% of Warsaw was destroyed, the retreating Germans wanted to raze the city to the ground. There were proposals to leave the ruins and move the capital to another place. Today's Warsaw is a whole city built anew. Restoration proceeded at an accelerated pace, block houses in the style of socialist realism were hastily built, so most Poles do not like Warsaw, they say that it is very noisy and gray.

60. The Old Town (historical center) of Warsaw was restored according to the paintings of the 17th-18th centuries and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an example of a thorough restoration of the destroyed property. In other cities of Poland, restoration is not always in a hurry, because the restored houses suddenly show up with the owners who owned the house before the war.
61. When you say Auschwitz, the Poles correct you - it is correct to call the concentration camp Auschwitz, since it was built by the Germans. In May of this year, Obama's speech in which he used the phrase "Polish death camp" caused a massive outcry here.
62. Urban transport in Poland is an integral system. In Warsaw, the same ticket gives you the opportunity to travel on the metro, city bus, regular or tourist tram, suburban train and even the ferry across the Vistula, which runs in the summer.
63. The variety of tickets is also amazing: from 15 minutes in Krakow for 2 zlotys (? 20 rubles) and 20 minutes in Warsaw for 2.60 to plastic travel cards with a recharge for 90 days for 220 zlotys.
64. Children under 7 years old, honorary blood donors who donated more than 18 liters, people over 70, as well as luggage, bicycles and pets ride for free.
65. Tickets can be bought from vending machines or kiosks. Moreover, a kiosk is a common name for small shops with a basic set of products and a press, and a kiosk can be located anywhere, including shopping centers.
66. Trolleybuses are only in three cities in Poland: Lublin, Gdynia and Tyche.
67. At night, night buses run in all major cities, their route differs from the usual one and covers the route of several day buses. Everything that is prohibited in public transport (smoking, drinking alcohol, damaging the property of the fleet, fighting) can be more than enjoyed on night buses.
68. Despite the abundance of modern buses with a low seating position, air conditioning, a plasma panel that shows the route and current location, about a quarter of the buses in Warsaw are old Ikarus. Often they play the role of night buses, if they finish it, it’s not a pity)
69. Yellow traffic light in Poland is called orange.

70. The complexity of transport interchanges in Warsaw frightens from ignorance. For example, there are more than fifty Dw Wilenski stops in the capital, each has its own number and can be located five hundred meters from another with the same name. And the routes of some buses contain up to three stops of the same name in a row.
71. Cyclists in Poland feel quite confident. Sidewalks are often divided into two parts - for people on their feet and on wheels. It is better not to enter the bike path, they can move. Since August of this year, automatic bicycle rental stations have been operating in Warsaw. The principle is the same as in Paris or London - 20 minutes for free, up to 1 hour - 1 zloty, further more expensive. In Krakow and Wroclaw, such a rental has been operating for several years, the capital does not immediately adopt innovations.
72. Sirens of emergency services (ambulance, fire, police) are simply deafening and clearly sound louder than required. They say this is done so that the Poles know where their taxes go.
73. Trains, unlike buses, are not particularly punctual. The time of delay at the station is announced in minutes and sometimes you hear that the train is late for 90 or even 300 minutes.
74. Tickets for travel in 2nd class carriages are often sold in unlimited quantities and without seats, so you have to stand very tightly in the vestibule for several hours in a row. There were times when the train was late due to the fact that all the passengers could not be stuffed into the car.
75. The Poles are indeed very religious, although at first glance this may not be noticeable. Churches here use the McDonald's slogan - the closest one is five minutes from you. And most importantly, Catholic churches during the services are packed to capacity. Probably, this is facilitated by the nature of the Catholic service, which is fundamentally different from the Orthodox one - you don’t have to stand all the time, and the priest (Catholic priest) will certainly tell a couple of jokes during the Mass. And in order to hallow food for Easter, you don’t need to wake up at five in the morning (they do it the day before on Saturday).
76. Catholics commune only with bread (payment), only the priest drinks wine, and, given the number of masses, in the late afternoon he should be well cheerful.
77. Popular in certain circles are the Catholic "Radio Maria" and TV channel Trwam, often manipulating the opinion of the faithful voters.
78. The Catholic Church has the right not only to marry, but also to officially register a marriage, without applying to the registry office.
79. And yes, abortion is prohibited in Poland.

80. Figure of Pope John Paul II c. Poland is practically inviolable, and it is better not to argue or joke about the pontiff with the Poles. In each city you will find a street named after him, a monument and a school, if the school is lucky, of course.
81. The first president of post-communist Poland, the leader of Solidarity, Lech Walesa, enjoys almost the same unshakable love and reverence. Other world-famous Poles - composer Frederic Chopin, as well as Maria Sklodowska-Curie, who discovered polonium and radium, are often mistaken for French outside the country, and the latter's maiden name is generally omitted.
82. Despite the power of the church, opposing views in society are also strong. In the last parliamentary elections, more than 10% of Poles voted for the Palikot Movement, a newly minted party that advocates stopping funding for religious organizations, removing crucifixes from the Sejm hall, and meanwhile legalizing same-sex relationships, abortion and marijuana. From this party, for the first time, a transsexual and an open homosexual got into the Polish parliament.
83. It is hard to say that the school is separated from the church. In 9 out of 10 schools in each!!! crucifix will hang on the walls in the classroom. In addition, from the first to the sixth grade, twice a week, a religion lesson, usually taught by Catholic sisters. Religion is one without the possibility of choice - Catholicism. The lesson is optional, but few refuse.
84. A group of parents protested against crucifixions in classrooms a couple of years ago in Wroclaw, the crosses were removed, a week later a twice as large group of their opponents came out, and the crosses had to be returned.
85. The school system is different from what we are used to and is divided into 3 levels. Podstawowka - junior grades from 1st to 6th, gimnazjum - equivalent to grades 7-9, liceum - senior grades (10-12). Each of these schools is separated from the previous one, often located in a different building, and the student, when moving to the next class, has to change not only the place, but also the team. This seems to have been done so that the older classes do not offend the younger children.
86. Children in Polish schools feel more free than in our country, there is no compulsory school uniform, they often wear changeable house slippers. Due to the lack of a sufficient number of benches in the corridors, during breaks, a picture of schoolchildren sprawled on the floor among the rubble of backpacks is often observed. Teachers of the old school, as expected, are called the lack of discipline.
87. An analogue of the graduation ball in Poland is called "stodnevka" and is organized one hundred days before the final exams (matura). The obligatory first dance is the polonaise. Poland is the only country where you participate in such a ball even before graduation.
88. In the last grades of school, students take additional classes with tutors, often in English, even if it is not needed for admission. To get a job, the language is required even from middle managers, so the level of English among urban youth is quite high.
89. Poles enter higher educational institutions from the age of 18–20. The student academic year, unlike the school year, begins in October. Higher education in Polish, including for foreigners, is free in many universities, which attracts foreign students, especially from Belarus and Ukraine, but one can only hope for a scholarship in rare cases.

90. It's hard to reproach every Pole with an excess of politeness and excessive culture, but being squeezed in the middle of the bus, do not worry that you will pass your stop - half the bus will come out to let you through. After a meal, it is customary to say thank you to everyone, not even the hostess for the prepared dishes, but the interlocutors for the company.
91. In Warsaw, wherever you go, you will stumble upon a theater everywhere. There are definitely more theaters than cinemas. According to the Polish Wikipedia, there are 47 theaters in the capital and only 36 cinemas, there are no circus buildings. In other cities, the trend continues.
92. In Poland, few have heard of Barbara Brylskaya, she is definitely not among the top ten Polish actors. But the diminutive form of the name Barbara sounds very cute - Basya.
93. All films in the cinema, except for cartoons, are shown without dubbing with subtitles. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons for the good knowledge of English among the masses.
94. The price of tickets at the cinema is the same regardless of the place, you just buy what you like from the free ones.
95. For the use of public television and radio, Poles have to pay about 200 zlotys a year, but most do not pay because payment is not mandatory. They say that in this case, they can come to you at any time to check if you are watching TV and fined.
96. Relatively cheap cable Internet can be obtained upon signing a contract for at least a year, otherwise it will be three times more expensive. Technical support services here are simply terrible, it is impossible to get through, and if you get through, you rarely get intelligible information. Mobile Internet and telephone communications are inexpensive, and when you change the operator, the old number remains with you.
97. The queue at the post office, in banks, government agencies is usually electronic by numbers, there is enough bureaucracy, but it looks quite mild: when filling out forms, up to 5 corrections are allowed, officials do not yell and do not pretend to be the navel of the earth. Although residents of Western Europe say that too many people work here in places where they would have had a machine gun long ago.
98. Poland is a country where many things are forbidden. It is forbidden to drink alcohol in public places, it is closely monitored by the police, the fine is 100 zlotys (about 1000 rubles). And for drinking on the go, the fine is higher.
99. Most Poles are very patient guys, because you have to wait a lot at traffic lights. For crossing a red light on a zebra, you need to pay 100-200 zlotys, outside a pedestrian crossing 50, but for crossing the road in the wrong place, only 30.
100. In parallel with the usual male and female silhouette to indicate a toilet, Poland uses its own icons: a triangle for “M” and a circle for “F”. Try to comprehend the deep symbolism of this yourself.