The Armenians and the Poles — one might wonder what these two nations could possibly have in common, separated by almost a thousand miles geographically. However, despite distinct differences in ethnic, cultural and geographic areas, the Poles and the Armenians have had centuries of mutually friendly cooperation and spiritual kinship. Both nations faced similar national liberation struggles, both have a …
Continue ReadingDISCOVERER: DR. CASIMIR FUNK There is no question about it, all of us are addicted to the vitamin because of its beneficial advantages. And statistics have shown that 75 percent of all American families are also hooked onto a similar vitamin intake program. Now that I have you talking about vitamins, have you ever considered their origin? Have you ever questioned where …
Continue ReadingIf you are a playgoer, you have no doubt seen or heard the score from “Fiddler on the Roof”. One of the hit songs from the play is entitled, “Tradition”. Thinking it an appropriate subject for this week’s column, I have decided to more thoroughly attempt to explain the Polish ethnic culture — what it is and what it really …
Continue ReadingHere’s a fairy tale about the olden-time villages of Poland. Between the village of Antonje and the village of Dabrowka, between the dikes which keep back the waters of the Vistula, the San, and the Strachocka, there is a broad, wide-spreading lowland. The fields here form a chessboard, divided by boundary strips, over which run three winding and twisting dirt …
Continue ReadingAs you may well know, the second World War was simply a continuation of the 200 year struggle of the Polish people to preserve their national identity and regain their full independence. The Uprisings of 1779, 1830, 1840 and 1863 all ended in failure but continued to keep alive the idea of Poland’s national and cultural uniqueness. The “Great War” …
Continue ReadingEaster is back again. That traditional holyday that is so rich in Polish heritage is once again gracing our door steps. To this day, eggs are a major item at Easter. They are blessed, they are artificially-painted in many lovely and intricate patterns, and different sections of Poland are known for their individualistic design. In many of the homes windows …
Continue ReadingDance, costume, artwork, architecture, customs — all of these make up what has become Poland’s greatest national asset: Its Folk Culture. And, every tourist who enters Poland immediately becomes aware of this intoxicating attraction. A prime example are the Polish regional costumes, especially those from Cracow and the Tatra Mountains, that have long become among Polonia a symbol of Polish …
Continue ReadingSo, you’re planning to visit Poland this Summer. You expect to spend two weeks touring our Fatherland and you’ve heard that Krakow is a history laden city — but you wanted to brush up on your Polish history so that you could more fully appreciate your observations. Well, all I can do in this column is give you an inkling …
Continue ReadingNo doubt, you’ve read about some of the great women of Poland and America that I have written about from time to time. However, there is one lady that I am sure many of you probably do not know that she was Polish. Her stage name was POLA NEGRI — the well-known Hollywood actress of the 20’s — but her real name …
Continue ReadingWhen we take a book by an outstanding Polish writer and admire its richness and terseness of language, we never stop to think how young our literature really is. Outstanding works of Greek and Roman literatures were created many centuries ago. Meanwhile, the first written Polish sentence appeared only in the 12th century. We can find it in the so-called …
Continue ReadingImagine yourself to be in a Polish city on the afternoon of December 24th in the 1970’s…. As dusk approaches, the frantically busy streets are suddenly empty of all people except those few who must work in some essential service — police, bus drivers, health service personnel, etc. One feels an almost enchanted expectation as the blue-gray darkness descends and …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 12: “STANISLAUS AND THE CONFEDERATES” The first two years of the reign of Stanislaus Augustus were marked by introduction of a broad …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 11: “POLAND’S DECLINE: THE BEGINNING” By the peace treaty with Russia known as the Peace of Grzymultowski, concluded in 1686, Poland gave up …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 10: “GDANSK AND THE SWEDISH INVASION” Poland never played a major role on the Baltic and won no important or lasting success in the …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 9: TURKEY & VIENNA: TWO GREAT CAMPAIGNS After repulsing the invasion by Sweden and her allies and after the long drawn out war …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 8: “THE NOBLES AND THE MUSES” At the close of the 16th century there were about 650 towns in Poland. Only the biggest, …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 7: “DEMOCRACY & POLITICS – POLISH STYLE” The first king to be elected by the gentry in a free election was Henry …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 6: “Poland’s Golden Age” In the early 16th century learning and the arts flourished as never before. Polish artists …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 5: “Poland’s 15th Century Rulers and their Wars” In the 15th century, Polish history became increasingly involved in the …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 4: “THE GREAT WAR” For some years the Teutonic Knights harbored the illusion that they could break up the new ties linking …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 3: “CASIMIR THE GREAT” In 1333, the heritage to which Casimir (later called the Great), son of Ladislaus the Short, succeeded, …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 2: “MIESZKO and BOLESLAUS” Mieszko, son of Ziemomysl and grandson of Siemovit, was Poland’s first historical ruler whose name …
Continue ReadingA series focusing on the Poland of old, when warring tribes were common and kings were really tested by the mettle in their swords, the strength in their words, the philosophy of their politics, and the honor in their hearts….. PART 1: “BEFORE MIESZKO” The present territory of Poland coincides almost exactly with the area which in the middle of the second …
Continue ReadingTowards the end of the first half of the 19th century, western and central Europe became ripe for a general trial of strength between the forces of democracy and feudalism. Although greatly shaken by successive revolutions, namely the Great French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, the revolutions of July 1830 in France and in August the same …
Continue ReadingI wonder how many of you know about the commercial discovery of oil – how it all began and where. Well, it was late afternoon in a small village in Poland. The date was July 31, 1853. A small crowd of onlookers assembled in the main hospital in Lwow to witness an operation carried out by surgeon Zaorski on a Mr. …
Continue ReadingEaster is back again. That traditional holyday that is so rich in Polish heritage is once again gracing our door steps. To this day, eggs are a major item at Easter. They are blessed, they are artificially-painted in many lovely and intricate patterns, and different sections of Poland are known for their individualistic design. In many of the homes windows …
Continue ReadingOver the years I have spoken about some of our greatest patriots as well as some of the early Polish settlers who had come to America and distinguished themselves in various ways. My purpose in bringing all these historical facts to you is the hope that you will not only develop a sincere interest in your Polish heritage but also …
Continue ReadingAs most of you should know, the traditional Polish Easter seems to have made its major impact in the U.S. because of one custom. – The Easter Egg. The art of decorating Easter eggs is widespread throughout the whole of Poland, from Rzeszow region and Podhale (Tatra Region), Cracow region, Lowicz district and Kurpie, up to Bialystok region in the …
Continue ReadingDuring the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, Poland was not only the largest but also the most civilized and most powerful state in central and eastern Europe. And, not surprisingly, it evolved a Constitution which anticipated by 300 to 400 years the most modern ideas of democratic government. Interestingly, in the 18th century, the number of full citizens in Poland …
Continue ReadingOne of the most prominent features of recent Polish history is that so many men of talent were forced to leave Poland, to live and work in exile. This was particularly true in the 19th and early 20th centuries when Poland had ceased to exist as an independent country. Here are a few brief sketches of some of these outstanding …
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