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Tuesday, 21 August 2012

FOLK WEDDINGS


Polish Wedding Traditions
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Traditional Rebraiding of the Polish Bride's Hair
The night before a girl in Poland hears her wedding bells, her mother and female relatives redo her customary single maidenly braid into two. This traditional wedding hair style symbolizes the new step the bride-to-be is taking into marriage.
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Polish Wedding Reception
The reception celebration usually includes lively polka music and dancing. If a Polish bride can drink from her glass of wine, and not spill a drop, she is considered lucky.
The "money dance" is always popular at a traditional reception in Poland. Guests pin money to the bride's wedding dress to buy a dance from her. The newlyweds might put these gifts of cash towards their honeymoon expenses. More traditionally, the maid of honor wears an apron and collects the money given by the guest to dance with the bride. After all the guests have danced with the bride, they form a tight circle around her, and the groom tries to break through the circle while the guests try hard to keep him out. Once he breaks through, he picks up his bride and carries her away from the wedding reception. The money collected during the dance is sent with them to spend on their honeymoon.
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At the wedding reception, the bride will dance with her father, whilst a relative holds out an apron. Guests who place money in the apron win the opportunity to dance with the bride. After a time, the groom will throw in his wallet, thus surpassing all the other contributions. He will then whisk away his new wife on their honeymoon.
The sharing of bread, salt and wine is an important feature of weddings in Poland. The parents of the newly married couple will present them with rye bread, lightly sprinkled with salt, and a glass of wine. The bread represents the hope that the bride and groom will never go hungry. The salt is a reminder that life may be difficult at times, but that they will learn to cope. The wine symbolizes the desire that the couple will never go thirsty, and that their lives will be filled with health and happiness.
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The removal of the bridal veil, known as the oczepiny ceremony, is another traditional element of a Polish wedding day. The bride's veil will be removed as she enters the reception hall, signifying the end of her maidenhood and her transition to a married woman. A funny hat will be placed on the groom's head, representing the wish that the marriage will be full of happiness and laughter.
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The pictures below show the Łowicz region folk wedding that the Comenius group attended during the last meeting in Poland in May 2012.









CHILDREN'S DAY


Children’s Day in Poland

Children’s Day is celebrated as International Children’s Day in Poland. Known as Międzynarodowy Dzien Dziecka in Polish, this special occasion is marked on June 1st every year. Since its introduction in Poland in 1952, the occasion has been easily adopted by the adults and kids and is largely celebrated in schools and other public institutions. The activities held on this day are dedicated to the children. It is great time for enjoyment, joyfulness and enthusiasm.

Children’s Day Celebrations In Poland

Though the occasion is a holiday for kids, they attend school not to study but to enjoy the festival to the fullest. Special programs and activities pertaining to the festival are organized for the kids in schools. Some of them include outdoor plays and field trips. The entire first week of June is engaged in different festivities for the kids.
Celebrations usually include delivering of speeches on children’s rights and well being. Various programs are telecasted on the television and parties are organized, especially for the kids on this day. Visits to cinemas and theaters are also organized by the schools. Parents purchase numerous small gifts, usually sweets, and present them to their children.
Recently, Children’s Day celebrations in Poland have started special sessions in the Polish government. On this special day in the capital city of Warsaw, the Parliament is run by the children, instead of the regular Members of Parliament (MPs). Different debates are held on various matters every year - children’s rights and education, and other general matters like war, peace or tolerance.
For this occasion our students prepared some works which we are happy to show here.
















Friday, 17 August 2012

ARTS AND CRAFT WITHIN THE PROJECT

All our participants in the "Ethno Treasure Hunt" project, either students or teachers from 6 partner countries, have talents and skills for creating something ravishing basing on the folk motifs. Just look at what their hands have done and admire their beauty. I am sure they can be inspiration for you as well. And if somebody ever tells you that you haven't got a talent, maybe you can discover it here and try to make something similar?