The time has come to talk about Poland’s second most popular holiday: Easter. Easter Monday in Poland is not only a religious celebration, but a secular holiday enjoyed by the whole population! The Monday after Easter, called Easter Monday (or Smigus Dyngus Day in Poland), is full of Polish culture for you to discover with us.
At PolishPod101.com, we hope to make learning about Poland and the Polish language both fun and informative! And trust us: in Poland, Wet Monday is certainly fun!
1. What is Easter Monday in Poland?
On Wet Monday, Poland enjoys both a religious holiday and a day of fun!
The Easter Monday holiday in Poland is a family celebration; it is a joyful and colorful time of year, when people in Poland look forward to the upcoming spring. Further, it’s a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus; for those who are less religious, it’s a time to meet with their family, eat Easter breakfast together, have fun decorating eggs, and prepare special dishes.
2. When is Easter Monday?
The date of Easter Monday in Poland varies each year. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.
2019: April 22
2020: April 13
2021: April 5
2022: April 18
2023: April 10
2024: April 1
2025: April 21
2026: April 6
2027: March 29
2028: April 17
3. Reading Practice: How is Easter Celebrated in Poland?
What do Easter Monday Polish traditions look like? Read the Polish text below to find out, and learn why it’s often called Wet Monday (and find the English translation directly below it).
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Jedną z wielu tradycji jest przygotowanie święconki, czyli koszyczka, zwykle wiklinowego, z chlebem, jajkami, kiełbasą i chrzanem czy musztardą, przyozdobionego wiosennymi kwiatami i bukszpanem. Taki oto koszyczek niesiemy, w przeddzień Wielkanocy, do kościoła, gdzie zostaje on poświęcony przez księdza. W Niedzielę Wielkanocną zanim zasiądziemy do świątecznego śniadania wszyscy domownicy dzielą się święconką, życząc sobie szczęścia i pomyślności.
Czymś, co ściśle wiąże się z Wielkanocą, są pisanki. W Polsce istnieje wiele tradycyjnych metod ozdabiania czy też farbowania jajek, które przetrwały do dziś. Pisanki to dokładnie jajka, na których rysuje się wzory za pomocą rozgrzanego wosku i następnie zanurza w barwnikach. Kraszanki natomiast, to jajka gotowane w roślinnych wywarach. Niegdyś Kościół zabraniał spożywania jajek w Wielkanoc, jako, że było ono pogańskim symbolem nowego życia.
Tym, czego nie może zabraknąc na wielkanocnym stole, poza pisankami, są wszelkiego rodzaju potrawy wykorzystujące jajka, żurek, biała kiełbasa, pasztet, najlepiej jeśli domowej roboty, oraz pascha, mazurek i babka. Sam stół jest zawsze przyozdobiony zajączkami, kurczaczkami, baziami, narcyzami, tulipanami i innymi wiosennymi kwiatami.
W Polsce kolorowe jajka nie służą tylko do ozdoby, ale również do zabawy. Prawdopodobnie najpopularniejsza gra polega na stuknięciu jednym z końców jajka o koniec jajka przeciwnika. Ten, którego jajko nie pęknie jest zwycięzcą i zabiera jajko przegranego. Walka trwa aż oba końce jajka pękną. Każde wygrane jajko należy zjeść na szczęście.
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One of the many traditions is to prepare the swieconka, which is a basket usually made of wicker, filled with bread, eggs, sausage, and horseradish or mustard, and decorated with spring flowers and boxwood. On the day before Easter, we carry these baskets to the church, where they are blessed by the priest. On Easter Sunday, before we sit down to a festive breakfast, all household members share the blessed food and wish each other happiness and prosperity.
One thing that is closely associated with Easter is pisanki (“Easter eggs”). In Poland, many traditional methods of decorating and dyeing eggs have survived to this day. Pisanki are eggs that have patterns drawn on them with molten wax and are then immersed in dye. Kraszanki, on the other hand, are eggs that are boiled in a dye made from plants. In the past, the Church forbade the eating of eggs during Easter, as they were a pagan symbol of a new life.
One thing that can’t be missing from the Easter table, besides Easter eggs, are a few different kinds of dishes, which include eggs, sour rye soup, white sausage, pate (which is best if homemade), as well as pascha, mazurek and babka (which are both cakes). The table itself is always decorated with bunnies, chicks, catkins, narcissus, tulips, and other spring flowers.
In Poland, colored eggs are not just used for decoration, but also in games. Probably the most popular game is to tap one end of your egg against the end of an egg belonging to the opponent. The person whose egg does not break is the winner and takes the egg of the loser. The fight continues until both ends of the egg break. Each egg that has been won needs to be eaten for good luck.
4. Additional Information: Onion Skins
What is the most popular, traditional way of coloring eggs for Easter these days?
The most popular natural dye that eggs are boiled in to achieve the desired color, is one made of onion skin, which usually needs to be collected a long time before Easter. This dye gives the egg shells a beautiful golden-brown color.
5. Must-know Vocab
Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Easter Monday in Poland!
To hear each word pronounced, check out our Polish Easter Monday vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio of its pronunciation.
Conclusion
What do you think about Wet Monday in Poland? Does your country have similar (or different) Easter celebrations? Let us know in the comments!
To learn more about Polish culture and the language, visit us at PolishPod101.com. We offer an array of insightful blog posts, free vocabulary lists, and an online community where you can discuss lessons with fellow Polish learners. By creating a Premium Plus account, you can also take advantage of our MyTeacher program, and learn Polish one-on-one with your own personal Polish teacher!
With enough hard work and determination, know that your Polish skills will improve tremendously. And PolishPod101.com will be here with you every step of the way!
In Poland, Women’s Day began to be celebrated on a large scale until after the Second World War. It has been skilfully used by the socialist governments to promote the image of a woman, as the leading lady of work, who through effort and dedication supports her country.
In those years, it was a mandatory day of celebration in workplaces and schools. Women would receive carnations and other products that were generally difficult to find back then, such as tights, towels, or coffee.
As you can see, International Women’s Day is an important holiday steeped in the country’s culture. Learn even more about this holiday with PolishPod101.com!
1. What is International Women’s Day in Poland?
Taking place on 8 March, Women’s Day in Poland is essentially a day to celebrate and honor women for their achievements. International Women’s Day in Poland is both a day of gift-giving and of prompting greater respect for women in general, and is a holiday taken fairly seriously in Poland.
In Poland, International Women’s Day has historical and social implications that make it a widely observed holiday. Learn more about Women’s Day in Poland below.
2. When is it?
Each year in Poland, International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8.
3. How is International Women’s Day Celebrated in Poland?
Read the Polish text below to find out how Women’s Day in Poland is celebrated. You can find the English translation directly below it.
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Tradycja obdarowywania kobiet drobnymi upominkami czy kwiatami zachowała się do dziś. Obecnie najpopularniejszym prezentem jest tulipan. Kiedy kobiety spotykają mężczyzn w ten dzień, niezależnie od tego czy jest to szef, współpracownik, kolega czy tata, zwykle mogą liczyć na symbolicznego tulipana. Jest to bardzo miły gest, nie praktykowany jednak przez wszystkich. Niektórzy uważają bowiem Dzień Kobiet za socjalistyczny przeżytek i nie obchodzą go.
W miastach co roku organizowane są specjalne imprezy z myślą o kobietach. Można więc spędzić ten dzień trochę inaczej niż zwykle i wybrać się na jeden z licznych koncertów czy spektakli wystawianych tylko dzień 8 marca. Wiele centrów handlowych organizuje warsztaty, przeróżne pokazy, np. makijażu, kąciki z poradami od stylistów czy ekspertów w dziedzinach zdrowia i urody, królują również konkursy i szansy na wygranie bonów towarowych.
Często w większych miastach można spotkać młodych mężczyzn z naręczami tulipanów wręczajacych je nieznajomym kobietom na ulicach. Nierzadko takie akcje organizowane są również przez telewizje lub stacje radiowe.
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The tradition of giving women little gifts or flowers has survived to this day. Today, the most popular gift is the tulip. When women meet men on this day, regardless of whether it is their boss, colleague, friend, or father, they can usually count on receiving a symbolic tulip. It is a very nice gesture, but not practiced by all. Some people think that Women’s Day is a socialist hangover so they do not celebrate it.
Each year, in the cities, special events are organized with women in mind. So you can spend this day a little differently than usual and go to one of the many concerts or performances held only on March 8. Many shopping centers organize workshops and a variety of shows, such as make-up shows, booths with tips from stylists, or advice from experts in the fields of health and beauty. There are also plenty of contests and chances to win shopping vouchers.
Often in larger cities, you can find young men with bunches of tulips, handing them out to women on the streets. It’s fairly common for these events to be organized by television or radio stations as well.
4. Additional Information
Women’s Day was a public holiday in Poland during the Polish People’s Republic (PRL), but since 1993 it has not been. However, this doesn’t change the fact that this is an opportunity to spend the day a little differently than usual.
5. Must-know Vocab
Here’s some vocabulary you should know for International Women’s Day in Poland!
We hope you enjoyed learning about Polish International Women’s Day with us. Does your country celebrate International Women’s Day or another holiday celebrating and respecting women? Let us know in the comments!
To learn more about Polish culture and the language, visit us at PolishPod101.com! We offer an array of insightful blog posts, free vocabulary lists, and an online community to discuss lessons with fellow Polish learners. You can also check out our MyTeacher program if you’re interested in a one-on-one learning experience with your own personal Polish teacher.
Until next time, we wish you success as you continue in your studies. Know this: Your hard work and practice will pay off big and you’ll be speaking Polish like a native before you know it!
It really is fascinating how a single holiday celebrated across different countries can vary so much, and how a country’s culture influences these nuances. For instance, Fat Thursday (or Tłusty Czwartek) could also be called Polish Donut Day in Poland while in Greece it’s more of a meat fest. Polish Americans often celebrate the day on Tuesday instead of Thursday though.
At PolishPod101.com, our goal is to help you grasp the Polish culture and master its language all while having fun. In this article, we’ll be going over Fat Thursday’s Polish history as well as
what Fat Thursday Polish traditions look like. By learning about this holiday, you’ll be getting a better understanding of Poland and its customs, thus enabling you to more effectively learn the language.
Let’s get started!
1. What is Fat Thursday in Poland?
In Poland, Fat Thursday is not a national holiday, but that doesn’t prevent people from celebrating, and once again they do so with food! If you were to give this day another name, it would be Donut Day, or dzień pączka.
Fat Thursday is the Thursday before Lent, which a period of fasting and abstinence. It’s a common habit in many countries to hold gluttonous and entertaining holidays before Lent like this, and in Poland this means eating Polish donuts and other sweets until you’re stuffed! (Best to get your fill while you can!)
2. When is Fat Thursday?
The date of Fat Thursday varies by year, and is considered a “moveable feast,” as it depends on the dates of Easter and Lent. Fat Thursday takes place the Thursday before Lent begins. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years:
2019: February 28
2020: February 20
2021: February 11
2022: February 24
2023: February 16
2024: February 8
2025: February 27
2026: February 12
2027: February 4
2028: February 17
3. How is Poland’s Fat Thursday Celebrated?
In short: Donuts, donuts, and more Polish donuts!
Fat Thursday ends the Carnival or karnawał—a time when masquerade balls take place in Poland, for both adults and children. This is the last day before Easter that people can take the liberty of stuffing themselves. Immediately after Fat Thursday, Lent begins.
As you may have guessed, Fat Thursday is a day of gluttony, or obżarstwo, but not just any kind of gluttony! This day is defined by donuts, called pączki. Donuts are made in cake shops in much, much greater amounts than usual. Supermarket shelves bend under the weight of different types of donuts, of which the Polish version don’t have holes in the middle. The most common type of donut is covered with icing sugar and has a strawberry or rose jam filling.
Besides eating them, Polish people also like to give them to other people. For example, the boss at work usually buys donuts for his or her employees, while the employees buy donuts for their colleagues. If you’re going to meet your friends on this day, buy a donut for everyone, because you’ll surely be getting one somewhere along the way!
4. Reading Practice: Polish Donuts
When we said “gluttony” earlier, we weren’t kidding. Read the Polish text below to find out how many donuts are consumed in Poland on Fat Thursday, and about the unique Polish pastry called angel wings (you can find the English translation just below it).
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Drugim bardzo popularnym elementem, tym razem domowej roboty, są faworki. Jest to jedyny dzień w roku, kiedy smażymy faworki, bo wymagają dużo pracy, a zjada się je w mgnieniu oka!
W Polsce uważamy, że każdy, ale to każdy, bez wyjątku musi zjeść przynajmniej jednego pączka. Statystyki mówią, że w Tłusty Czwartek zjadamy ponad 10 milionów pączków, co daje nam średnio 2,5 pączka na osobę.
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Another very popular element—homemade this time—are angel wings. This is the only day of the year that we make angel wings because they require a lot of work, and we eat them in the blink of an eye!
We believe in Poland that everyone, literally everyone, without exception, must eat at least one donut. Statistics show that we eat more than ten million donuts on Fat Thursday, which averages out to 2.5 donuts per person.
5. Must-know Vocab for Tłusty Czwartek
In order to celebrate Fat Thursday in Poland, there’s some basic vocabulary you should know. Be sure to study this list as much as you need to!
Tłusty Czwartek — Fat Thursday
cukiernia — confectionary store
cukier puder — castor sugar
faworki — Angel wings
lukier — icing
objadać się — stuff oneself
pączek — doughnut
pączek z dżemem różanym — doughnut with rose jam
święto ruchome — moveable feast
smażyć na głębokim tłuszczu — deep fry
kaloria — calorie
Wielki Post — Lent
smakołyk — goody
To hear the pronunciation of each word, check out our Polish Fat Thursday vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio of its pronunciation.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about how people in Poland celebrate Fat Thursday, let us know what you think about this holiday. Is there a similar holiday in your own country?
To learn more about Polish culture and the language, visit us at PolishPod101.com. We offer an array of insightful blog posts, free vocabulary lists, and an online community where you can discuss lessons with fellow Polish learners. You can even download our MyTeacher app for a one-on-one learning experience with your own personal Polish teacher.
We hope you enjoyed learning about Fat Thursday. Continue brushing up on your vocabulary and stay tuned for more Polish holiday articles. You’ll be a master at the Polish language before you know it! (And treat yourself to a doughnut or two to celebrate!)
Learn all the Polish New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join PolishPod101 for a special Polish New Year celebration!
Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March – December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated.
So, how do you say Happy New Year in Polish? Let a native teach you! At PolishPod101, you will learn how to correctly greet your friends over New Year, and wish them well with these Polish New Year wishes!
Like in many other countries, in Poland the New Year starts on the first day of January. But for Poles, the night preceding this day is the more important one. This is because it’s New Year’s Eve! Across the country, people host loud parties and banquets, which include lots of good food and drinks shared with a group of friends and family, of course.
Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question-
What do Polish people call the night before the first day of the New Year in Polish?
If you don’t already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep reading.
Poles always celebrate New Year’s Eve quite noisily. There’s a legend explaining why this is so. According to an ancient prophecy, at midnight on the night of the turn of the 10th century the Leviathan, or Lewiatan, imprisoned by Pope Sylvester, was to wake up and destroy the world, spewing sulfur and fire. But, when the deciding moment came, the Leviathan didn’t break free, and, filled with joy, the people poured out into the streets, dancing, singing and drinking wine. Thus began the tradition of noisy, happy celebrations.
Just as in the legend, today Poles continue to celebrate the occasion with much grandeur. Throughout the evening on New Year’s Eve, also called wigilia Nowego Roku, Poles organized dance parties, gala dinners, house parties, and outdoor events in cities where people can enjoy free music played by the biggest stars in Polish music and cabaret.
The largest events are held on the Constitution Square in Warsaw, or Plac Konstytucji w Warszawie, and in the Cracow Main Market Square, or Rynek Główny w Krakowie, where the number of participants can reach as many as 20,000.
And at exactly midnight, or północ, the whole nation lights up as bright as day. People welcome the New Year with champagne and fireworks, setting them off not only at outdoor events organized by the city, but also in the streets in front of their houses. All across Poland people come outside to admire the fireworks, called fajerwerki, shimmering all around. Phones are constantly ringing, because everyone wants to call all their friends and family and be the first one to wish them a Happy New Year.
Did you know that Poles love offering good wishes to each other at every opportunity? If you go outside to watch fireworks, don’t be surprised if strangers hug you and tell you “Happy New Year!”, which in Polish is Szczęśliwego nowego roku!
Now it’s time to answer our quiz question-
What do Polish people call the night before the first day of the New Year in Polish?
They call it Sylwester. Do you remember the story about Leviathan the evil monster?
The pope named Sylvester I was the one who imprisoned the monster, and thus this day was named after him.
Happy New Year!
Szczęśliwego nowego roku!
2. Must-Know Polish Words & Phrases for the New Year!
1- Year
rok
This is pretty self-explanatory. Most countries follow a Gregorian calendar, which has approximately 365 days in a year, while in some cultures, other year designations are also honored. Therefore, New Year’s day in Poland could fall on a different day than in your country. When do you celebrate New Year?
2- Midnight
północ
The point in time when a day ends and a new one starts. Many New Year celebrants prefer to stay awake till midnight, and greet the new annum as it breaks with fanfare and fireworks!
3- New Year’s Day
Nowy Rok
In most countries, the new year is celebrated for one whole day. On the Gregorian calendar, this falls on January 1st. On this day, different cultures engage in festive activities, like parties, parades, big meals with families and many more.
4- Party
impreza
A party is most people’s favorite way to end the old year, and charge festively into the new one! We celebrate all we accomplished in the old year, and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.
5- Dancing
taniec
Usually, when the clock strikes midnight and the New Year officially begins, people break out in dance! It is a jolly way to express a celebratory mood with good expectations for the year ahead. Also, perhaps, that the old year with its problems has finally passed! Dance parties are also a popular way to spend New Year’s Eve in many places.
6- Champagne
szampan
Originating in France, champagne is a bubbly, alcoholic drink that is often used to toast something or someone during celebrations.
7- Fireworks
fajerwerk
These are explosives that cause spectacular effects when ignited. They are popular for announcing the start of the new year with loud noises and colorful displays! In some countries, fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits. In others, the use of fireworks is forbidden in urban areas due to their harmful effect on pets. Most animals’ hearing is much more sensitive than humans’, so this noisy display can be very frightful and traumatising to them.
8- Countdown
odliczanie
This countdown refers to New Year celebrants counting the seconds, usually backward, till midnight, when New Year starts – a great group activity that doesn’t scare animals, and involves a lot of joyful shouting when the clock strikes midnight!
9- New Year’s Holiday
przerwa noworoczna
In many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday – to recuperate from the party the previous night, perhaps! Families also like to meet on this day to enjoy a meal and spend time together.
10- Confetti
Konfetti
In most Western countries, confetti is traditionally associated with weddings, but often it is used as a party decoration. Some prefer to throw it in the air at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
11- New Year’s Eve
Sylwester
This is the evening before New Year breaks at midnight! Often, friends and family meet for a party or meal the evening before, sometimes engaging in year-end rituals. How are you planning to give your New Year greetings in 2018?
12- Toast
toast
A toast is a type of group-salutation that involves raising your glass to drink with others in honor of something or someone. A toast to the new year is definitely in order!
13- Resolution
postanowienie
Those goals or intentions you hope to, but seldom keep in the new year! Many people consider the start of a new year to be the opportune time for making changes or plans. Resolutions are those intentions to change, or the plans. It’s best to keep your resolutions realistic so as not to disappoint yourself!
14- Parade
parada
New Year celebrations are a huge deal in some countries! Parades are held in the streets, often to celebratory music, with colorful costumes and lots of dancing. Parades are like marches, only less formal and way more fun. At PolishPod101, you can engage in forums with natives who can tell you what Polish New Year celebrations are like!
3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions
So, you learned the Polish word for ‘resolution’. Fabulous! Resolutions are those goals and intentions that we hope to manifest in the year that lies ahead. The beginning of a new year serves as a good marker in time to formalise these. Some like to do it in writing, others only hold these resolutions in their hearts. Here are our Top 10 New Year’s resolutions at PolishPod101 – what are yours?
Learn these phrases and impress your Polish friends with your vocabulary.
1- Read more
Więcej czytać.
Reading is a fantastic skill that everyone can benefit from. You’re a business person? Apparently, successful business men and women read up to 60 books a year. This probably excludes fiction, so better scan your library or Amazon for the top business reads if you plan to follow in the footsteps of the successful! Otherwise, why not make it your resolution to read more Polish in the new year? You will be surprised by how much this will improve your Polish language skills!
2- Spend more time with family
Spędzać więcej czasu z rodziną.
Former US President George Bush’s wife, Barbara Bush, was quoted as having said this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent.” This is very true! Relationships are often what gives life meaning, so this is a worthy resolution for any year.
3- Lose weight
Schudnąć.
Hands up, how many of you made this new year’s resolution last year too…?! This is a notoriously difficult goal to keep, as it takes a lot of self discipline not to eat unhealthily. Good luck with this one, and avoid unhealthy fad diets!
4- Save money
Oszczędzaj pieniądze.
Another common and difficult resolution! However, no one has ever been sorry when they saved towards reaching a goal. Make it your resolution to save money to upgrade your subscription to PolishPod101’s Premium PLUS option in the new year – it will be money well spent!
5- Quit smoking
Rzucić palenie.
This is a resolution that you should definitely keep, or your body could punish you severely later! Smoking is a harmful habit with many hazardous effects on your health. Do everything in your power to make this resolution come true in the new year, as your health is your most precious asset.
6- Learn something new
Nauczyć się czegoś nowego.
Science has proven that learning new skills can help keep brain diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay! It can even slow down the progression of the disease. So, keep your brain healthy by learning to speak a new language, studying towards a qualification, learning how to sew, or how to play chess – no matter how old you are, the possibilities are infinite!
7- Drink less
Mniej pić.
This is another health resolution that is good to heed any time of the year. Excessive drinking is associated with many diseases, and its effect can be very detrimental to good relationships too. Alcohol is a poison and harmful for the body in large quantities!
8- Exercise regularly
Regularnie ćwiczyć.
This resolution goes hand-in-hand with ‘Lose weight’! An inactive body is an unhealthy and often overweight one, so give this resolution priority in the new year.
9- Eat healthy
Zdrowo jeść.
If you stick with this resolution, you will lose weight and feel better in general. It is a very worthy goal to have!
10- Study Polish with PolishPod101
Uczyć się języka polskiego z PolishPod101.com
Of course! You can only benefit from learning Polish, especially with us! Learning how to speak Polish can keep your brain healthy, it can widen your circle of friends, and improve your chances to land a dream job anywhere in the world. PolishPod101 makes it easy and enjoyable for you to stick to this resolution.
4. Inspirational New Year Quotes
Everyone knows that it is sometimes very hard to stick to resolutions, and not only over New Year. The reasons for this vary from person to person, but all of us need inspiration every now and then! A good way to remain motivated is to keep inspirational quotes near as reminders that it’s up to us to reach our goals.
Make decorative notes of these in Polish, and keep them close! Perhaps you could stick them above your bathroom mirror, or on your study’s wall. This way you not only get to read Polish incidentally, but also remain inspired to reach your goals! Imagine feeling like giving up on a goal, but reading this quote when you go to the bathroom: “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” What a positive affirmation!
5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes
Still undecided whether you should enroll with PolishPod101 to learn a new language? There’s no time like the present to decide! Let the following Language Learning Quotes inspire you with their wisdom.
As legendary President Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” So, learning how to say Happy New Year in Polish could well be a way into someone special’s heart for you! Let this year be the one where you to learn how to say Happy New Year, and much more, in Polish – it could open many and unexpected doors for you.
6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages
Here’s a lovely bonus for you! Why stop with Polish – learn how to say Happy New Year in 31 other languages too! Watch this video and learn how to pronounce these New Year’s wishes like a native in under two minutes.
7. Why Enrolling with PolishPod101 Would Be the Perfect New Year’s Gift to Yourself!
If you are unsure how to celebrate the New Year, why not give yourself a huge gift, and enroll to learn Polish! With more than 12 years of experience behind us, we know that PolishPod101 would be the perfect fit for you. There are so many reasons for this!
Custom-tailored Learning Paths: Start learning Polish at the level that you are. We have numerous Learning Pathways, and we tailor them just for you based on your goals and interests! What a boon!
Marked Progress and Fresh Learning Material Every Week: We make new lessons available every week, with an option to track your progress. Topics are culturally appropriate and useful, such as “Learning how to deliver negative answers politely to a business partner.” Our aim is to equip you with Polish that makes sense!
Multiple Learning Tools: Learn in fun, easy ways with resources such 1,000+ video and audio lessons, flashcards, detailed PDF downloads, and mobile apps suitable for multiple devices!
Fast Track Learning Option: If you’re serious about fast-tracking your learning, Premium Plus would be the perfect way to go! Enjoy perks such as personalised lessons with ongoing guidance from your own, native-speaking teacher, and one-on-one learning on your mobile app! You will not be alone in your learning. Weekly assignments with non-stop feedback, answers and corrections will ensure speedy progress.
Fun and Easy: Keeping the lessons fun and easy-to-learn is our aim, so you will stay motivated by your progress!
Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Polish? PolishPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Polish Christmas phrases!
Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Polish speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and vocabulary, PolishPod101 will teach you the most important ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Polish!
Let’s talk about the greatest and most important holiday in Poland: Christmas Eve. For this occasion, Poles typically return to their parents’ homes, and have a sit-down dinner with their families, gorging on various dishes prepared specially for this occasion. People also frequently decorate Christmas trees, called choinka, and exchange presents.
Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question-
In some regions of Poland people receive presents from someone other than Santa Claus. Who is it?
If you don’t know already, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep reading.
Christmas Eve has always been a special day in Poland when extraordinary things are known happen. In the past many superstitions existed, for example some believed that on this day the spirits of the dead, or dusze zmarłych, would visit their families, that the water in local wells might turn into honey or wine, and that animals would speak with human voices. It was also recommended to have a bath in the river on the morning of Christmas Eve to ensure one’s health and vitality for the following year.
Today, Christmas Eve is still a special and magical day in a way, and is celebrated by most people, not just those who are religious. There are many traditions that have survived to this day, and one of the most important is to prepare at least twelve different dishes for Christmas Eve dinner. Fish, or ryba, is the most common, prepared in various forms, such as baked, stewed, and jellied, and other common dishes including groats and cereals, salads and nuts. If you spend Christmas in Poland, other than fish dishes you must try borscht or barszcz and dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms called pierogi z kapustą i grzybami. Another famous dish is poppy seeds with honey and boiled grain, called kutia, or if you use bread instead of grains, makówka. And let’s not forget about other sweets like gingerbread or poppy-seed cake.
Another tradition is to share the Christmas wafer, or opłatek, before dinner. Each guest gets a piece of this beautifully decorated wafer and submits wishes to the other guests, one by one, breaking the wafer piece by piece. It is a very beautiful tradition because people don’t wish anything for themselves, but only for others.
Listeners who are familiar with Christmas will most likely know the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the Three Wise Men, who followed a star to arrive at Jesus’s manger. Based on the events of this story, if the sky is clear on the evening of Christmas Eve, in many Polish homes people will sit down to dinner only after the first star appears in the night sky.
Now it’s time to answer our quiz question-
In some regions of Poland, people receive presents from someone other than Santa Claus. Who is it?
In several regions of Poland, like Kaszuby, Kujawy and Greater Poland, the one who brings gifts for well-behaved children is Father Christmas, called Gwiazdor. But if someone was naughty, both of them—Santa Claus and Father Christmas—leave a wooden stick under the Christmas tree instead of a gift.
2. Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season
1- Merry Christmas!
Wesołych Świąt!
Do you know how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Polish? Learn here how to pronounce it perfectly! ‘Merry’ means to be joyful, to celebrate and generally be in good spirits. So, with this phrase you are wishing someone a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s birth!
2- Happy Kwanzaa!
Szczęśliwego Kwanzaa!
Surprise your African-American, or West African native friends with this phrase over the Christmas holidays! Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious celebration, starting on Dec 26th each year. It has its roots in African American modern history, and many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas!
3- Have a happy New Year!
Szczęśliwego nowego roku!
In countries where Christmas is not officially celebrated, but a Gregorian calendar is observed, this would be a friendly festive-season wish over New Year.
4- Happy Hanukkah!
Szczęśliwej Chanuki!
Hanukkah is the beautiful Hebrew festival over November or December each year. It is also called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish freedom of religion.
5- Have a great winter vacation!
Udanych ferii!
This is a good phrase to keep handy if someone doesn’t observe any religious festival over the Christmas holidays! However, this will only be applicable in the Northern hemisphere, where it is winter over Christmas.
6- See you next year!
Do zobaczenia w przyszłym roku!
Going away on holiday over Christmas season, or saying goodbye to someone about to leave on vacation? This would be a good way to say goodbye to your friends and family.
7- Warm wishes!
Gorące życzenia!
An informal, friendly phrase to write in Polish Christmas cards, especially for secular friends who prefer to observe Christmas celebrations without the religious symbolism. It conveys the warmth of friendship and friendly wishes associated with this time of year.
8- Happy holidays!
Wesołych świąt!
If you forget how to say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in Polish, this is a safe, generic phrase to use instead.
9- Enjoy the holidays!
Cieszyć się wakacjami!
After saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in Polish, this would be a good phrase with which to wish Christmas holiday-goers well! It is also good to use for secular friends who don’t celebrate Christmas but take a holiday at this time of the year.
10- Best wishes for the New Year!
Wszystkiego najlepszego w nowym roku!
This is another way of wishing someone well in the New Year if they observe a Gregorian calendar. New Year’s day would then fall on January 1st.
3. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
Christmas is associated with many traditions and religious symbols in multiple countries across the world. It originated centuries ago in the West with the birth of Christianity, and the celebrations are often embedded with rich cultural significance. So, by now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Polish! Next, learn pertinent vocabulary and phrases pertaining to Christmas, as well as how to pronounce them correctly. At PolishPod101, we make sure you sound like a native speaker!
1- Christmas
Boże Narodzenie
This is the Polish word for ‘Christmas’. Most happy Christmas wishes in Polish will include this word!
2- Snow
śnieg
In most Northern-hemisphere countries, Christmas is synonymous with snow, and for Christmas, the snowman is often dressed as Santa Claus.
3- Snowflake
płatek śniegu
Snowflakes collectively make up snow. A single snowflake is small, white, light like a feather and icy cold! When put under a microscope, the snowflake reveals itself to have the most beautiful, symmetrical patterns. These patterns have become popular Christmas decorations, especially in Western countries.
4- Snowman
bałwan
As you guessed – a snowman is only possible to build if it is snowing! What a fun way to spend Christmas day outside.
5- Turkey
indyk
Roast turkey is the traditional main dish on thousands of lunch tables on Christmas day, mainly in Western countries. What is your favorite Christmas dish?
6- Wreath
wieniec świąteczny
Another traditional Western decoration for Christmas, the wreath is an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Many families like to hang a Christmas wreath outside on their houses’ front doors.
7- Reindeer
renifer
Reindeer are the animals commonly fabled to pull Santa Claus’ sled across the sky! Western Christmas folklore tells of Father Christmas or Santa Claus doing the rounds with his sled, carrying Christmas presents for children, and dropping them into houses through the chimney. But who is Santa Claus?
8- Santa Claus
Święty Mikołaj
Santa Claus is a legendary and jolly figure originating in the Western Christian culture. He is known by many names, but is traditionally depicted as a rotund man wearing a red costume with a pointy hat, and sporting a long, snow-white beard!
9- Elf
elf
An elf is a supernatural creature of folklore with pointy ears, a dainty, humanoid body and a capricious nature. Elves are said to help Santa Claus distribute presents to children over Christmas!
10- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolf czerwononosy renifer
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a Christmas song based on an American children’s story book with the same name. Rudolph is one of Santa’s reindeer. The song became more famous than the book, and can still be heard playing in many shopping malls over Christmas time across the globe!
11- North Pole
Biegun Północny
The cold North Pole is where Santa Claus is reputed to live with his reindeer!
12- Sled
sanki
A sled is a non-motorised land vehicle used to travel over snow in countries where it snows a lot, and is usually pulled by animals such as horses, dogs or reindeer. This one obviously refers to Santa’s sled! Another word for sled is sleigh or sledge.
13- Present
prezent
Gift or present giving is synonymous with Christmas Eve and the greatest source of joy for children over this festive time! This tradition signifies that Christ’s birth was a gift to mankind, but not all people who hand out presents over Christmas observe the religious meaning.
14- Bell
dzwon
On Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, many religious celebrants enjoy going to church for a special sermon and Christmas rituals. The start of the sermon is often announced with bells or a bell, if the church has one. For this reason, the sound of ringing bells is often associated with Christmas Day.
15- Chimney
komin
The chimney is the entrance Santa Claus uses to deliver children’s presents on Christmas Day, according to folklore! Wonder how the chubby man and his elves stay clean…?!
16- Fireplace
kominek
In most countries where it snows, Christmas is synonymous with a fire or burning embers in houses’ fireplaces. Families huddle around its warmth while opening Christmas presents. Also, this is where Santa Claus is reputed to pop out after his journey down the chimney!
17- Christmas Day
Boże Narodzenie
This is the official day of commemorative celebration of Christ’s birth, and falls each year on December 25.
18- Decoration
dekarocja
Decorations are the colourful trinkets and posters that make their appearance in shops and homes during the Christmas holiday season in many countries! They give the places a celebratory atmosphere in anticipation of the big Christmas celebration. Typical Christmas decorations include colorful photographs and posters, strings of lights, figurines of Santa Claus and the nativity scene, poinsettia flowers, snowflakes and many more.
19- Stocking
skarpetka
According to legend, Santa Claus places children’s presents in a red stocking hanging over the fireplace. This has also become a popular decoration, signifying Christmas.
20- Holly
ostrokrzew
Holly is a shrub native to the UK, and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It is characterised by glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries. Ironically, its significance for Christmas relates to Christ’s crucifixion and suffering rather than his birth. However, the leaves’ distinctive shape and image have become popular Christmas decorations.
21- Gingerbread house
domek z piernika
According to legend, the gingerbread house synonymous with Christmas is related to Christ’s birth place, Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means ‘House of Bread’. Over centuries, it has become a popular treat over Christmas time in many non-religious households as well.
22- Candy cane
laska świąteczna
According to folklore, Christmas candy canes made their appearance first in Germany in the 16th century. A choir master gave children the candy canes to suck on in church in order to keep them quiet during the Christmas sermon! Apparently, the candy is shaped like a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus. Today, like gingerbread houses, they are still a popular sweet over the festive season!
23- Mistletoe
jemioła
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on certain trees. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the mistletoe has magical powers, and could protect a household from evil if hung above a door during December. The belief didn’t last but the habit did, and the mistletoe is another popular Christmas decoration!
4. Twelve Days of Christmas
Wow, you’re doing extremely well! You know how to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Polish, and you learned pertinent vocabulary too! The Twelve Days of Christmas is not very well known in modern times, so, you’re on your way to becoming an expert in Christmas traditions and rituals. Well done!
The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a traditional festive period of 12 days dedicated to celebrate the nativity of Christ. Christmas Day is, for many who observe Twelvetide, the first day of this period.
‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is also a popular Christmas song about a series of gifts given on each day of Twelvetide. According to experts, these gifts were created as a coded reference to important symbols in the Christian church. Here is a list of those gifts mentioned in the song! Do you recognise them?
5. Top 10 Christmas Characters in American Culture
This is fantastic, you know how to explain almost everything about Christmas in Polish! However, do you know the most popular Christmas characters in American culture? Your knowledge will not be complete without this list.
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So, this Christmas, why don’t you give yourself a present and enroll in PolishPod101? Or give an enrollment as a present to a loved one. It will be a gift with benefits for a whole lifetime, not just over Christmas!
