What is Polska known for?

What is Polska known for?

In this post I will try to explain what the 16 different Polish states are known for.

Starting from the top right corner.

Ship - Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship - known for its shipyards in Szczecin. The Szczecin

shipyard (Stocznia Szczecińska Porta Holding S.A.) used to be a huge employer and one of the biggest shipyards in Europe.  The shipyard specialized in the construction of container ships, chemicals transport ships, multi-purpose ships and Con-Ro ships.




Strajk (Strike) - Pomorskie voivodeship - known for Lech Wałęsa and his Solidarity movement. The Solidarity movement was an opposition to the Polish People's Republic Government during the Soviet era in Poland. Gdańsk is the place where the 'illegal' Solidarity movement was founded.
Many strikes were organised by the Solidarity movement in the Gdańsk and Gdynia shipyards. The strikes were taking place over many weeks causing more and more pressure on the Socialist Government of Poland. As more and more people joined and supported the 'illegal' movement, including the pope John Paul II, the socialist government had to accept the conditions set by the Solidairty movement without negotiations. 

Yachts - Warminsko - Mazurskie voivodeship - know for thousands of lakes and rivers that attracts thousands of tourists a year. Many of Poles are chosing the Warminsko - Mazurskie voivodeship as their holiday destination as the resort can offer many attractions for young and old: surfing, yachting, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing are just some examples.

The biggest (Śniadrwy) and deepest (Mamry) lakes in Poland are also located in the Warminsko - Mazurskie voivodeship. 

Christ the King Statute - Lubuskie voivodeship - After Częstochowa, Kraków and Rokitno, Świebodzin is the fourth place that is visited by Polish Catholics. The statute was consutrcuted in 2006 and finished four years later. The figure is 33 metres tall, the crown is 3 metres tall, and along with its mound, it reaches 52.5 metres overall. The overall construction of the statute cost around  $1.5 million and all that came from 21,000 residents of Świebodzin. It is the tallest statue of Jesus in the world.

To Be Continued...

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

The Revolution - Facebook

REMEMBER THIS LADY!!!

Look at this lady - Let us never forget!
The world hasn't just become wicked...it's always been wicked.
The prize doesn't always go to the most deserving.

Irena Sendler
Died 12 May 2008 (aged 98)
Warsaw, Poland

During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a plumbing/sewer specialist.

She had an 'ulterior motive'.

She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews (being German).

Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids).

She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.

The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.

She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.

After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family.

Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.

Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize.

She was not selected.

President Obama won one year before becoming President for his work as a community organizer for ACORN

and

In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER

I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message.

I hope you'll consider doing the same...

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended.

This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated!

Now, more than ever, with Iran, and others, claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a myth'.

It's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

Logo Competition.

I would like to announce a wee logo competition for the blog and Twitter and Facebook pages: Poland the pride of Europe. Please send your logo entries to private mail. Prize for the winner.

Rozpoczynamy konkurs na logo bloga i strony Poland the pride of Europe. Wszystkie propozycje proszę wysyłać na priv. Nagroda czeka.

Я хотел бы объявить чуть-конкурс на лучший логотип для блога и Twitter и Facebook страниц: Польша гордость Европы. Пожалуйста, присылайте ваш логотип записей в личную почту. Приз для победителя.

Ich möchte ein kleines Logo-Wettbewerb für das Blog und Twitter und Facebook-Seiten bekannt geben: Polen der Stolz Europas. Bitte senden Sie Ihr Logo Einträge in private Post. Preis für den Gewinner.

10 cracking reasons to visit Kraków

Here is the link:

http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/europe/10-cracking-reasons-visit-krakow/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GlobalGrasshopper+%28GlobalGrasshopper.com%29

Польский Русский братство

Поскольку более 60% всех посетителей русском, я решил включить новую информацию на вашем родном языке.

http://www.rosjanie.pl/index_ru.html

Великий веб-сайт (на польском языке и русском), который обеспечивает некоторые фантастические сведения о Польше и ее наследия.

Since over 60 % of all visitors are Russian, I have decided to include some new information in your own language.

http://www.rosjanie.pl/index_ru.html

Great website (in Polish and Russian) that provides some fantastic information about Poland and its heritage.

Death of President Kaczynski Stuns the Nation

(Text obtained from infoplease.com) 

President Kaczynski, his wife, and dozens of high-ranking government officials were killed on April 10, 2010, when their plane crashed in the Katyn Woods in Smolensk, Russia. The group was headed to a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre, in which more than 20,000 elite Polish troops were killed by members of the Soviet secret police during World War II. A total of 96 people perished in the crash, including Poland's deputy foreign minister, 12 members of Parliament, the chiefs of the army and the navy, and the president of the national bank. Despite the shocking and devastating turn of events, the officials who stepped in to ease the transition were praised for their composure and professionalism in the face of crisis. Bronislaw Komorowski, the leader of the lower house of Parliament, assumed the role as acting president.

The symbolism of the timing and site of the catastrophe cannot be ignored. The Katyn massacre remains a contentious issue between Poland and Russia. Just days earlier, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin became the first Russian leader to honor the Polish victims.

Kaczynski's twin brother and former prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, ran for president against Bronislaw Komorowski of the governing Civic Platform party. Komorowski took both the first and second rounds of the election and was sworn in as president in July.

Parliamentary elections in Oct. 2010 saw Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party win plurality over Jaroslaw Kaczynski and the Law and Justice party. The center-right Civic Platform took 39% of the vote, with 30% going to the conservative challenger, the Law and Justice Party. With the win, the Civic Platform became the first Polish party to win two consecutive terms since communism's fall in 1989.

Four consecutive days of protests in Warsaw beginning Sept. 11, 2013 put more pressure on the weakened government of Donald Tusk and his Civic Platform (PO) party. Organized by unions, the protests were one sympton of growing discontent with the center-right government in Poland over issues including the pension system, euro entry, and economic policy. The real necessity for a coalition government loomed large for the next parliamentary elections in 2015.

Presidential Elections - current popularity levels

Presidential Elections 2015

7 per cent of people who want to take part in the presidential elections intends to vote for Bronislaw Komorowski. 17 per cent declared their support for Andrzej Duda - according to the February poll by TNS Poland.

In February, compared to the month before the survey, Bronislaw Komorowski lost 5 percentage points of support, and the Law and Justice party candidate (Andrzej Duda) gained 5 percentage points of support.

On the Democratic Left Alliance candidate Magdalena Ogórek can expects around 6 percent whereas the Polish Peasant Party candidate Adam Jarubas has around of 4 percent of support.


1 percent. respondents said they will vote for for Janusz Palikot (Your Movement) (a decrease of 1 percentage point.), Janusz Korwin-Mikke (Korwin) (a decrease of 2 percentage points.), Anna Grodzka (Green Party) and Paul Kukiz (nonpartisan).

22 percent of people do not know who they will vote in the May presidential elections. 'That's 20% of Poles that I am going to fight for and win' - said Duda.

Nearly 60 percent of Polish declared to take part in the elections. definitely go for elections

The 12 percent declared that they are unlikely to go, and 10 per cent reported certainly not going to the polls. 7 per cent respondents are not too sure whether they will take part in the vote.

Polish TNS survey conducted on 13-18 February 2015 nationwide. Representative sample of 966 Polish residents aged 18 years and older.

The candidates: from top left Janusz Korwin - Mikke (KORWIN), Adam Jarubas (PSL - People's Peasant Party), Marian Kowalski (RUCH NARODOWY - National Movement), Andrzej Duda (PiS - Law and Justice), Magdalena Ogórek (SLD - Left Democratic Alliance), Anna Grodzka (ZIELONI - Green), Janusz Palikot (Twój Ruch - Your Movement), Bronisław Komorowski (PO - Civic Platform).

Who do you think is going to win the 'battle' to the Presidential Palace ?

Stanisław Lesisz

Bardzo wzruszający wiersz ułożony przez pana Stanisława Lesisza. 

Wiersz człowieka, który walczył o niepodległość naszego kraju. 78 letni kombatant. Nie może przeżyć tego co się dzieje w naszym kraju. Chce, żeby jego wnuki i prawnuki miały godny byt. 

Dlaczego takich w Polsce jest coraz mniej?

The symbols of Poland

According to the Polish Constitution, the symbols of Poland are: The coat of arms (left), the Polish flag (white on top and red on bottom), and the national anthem of Poland (Mazurek Dąbrowskiego).

According to legend, the view extending wings of an eagle against a red sky of the sunset had lead founder of the state Polan, Lech, to settle in Gniezno (the first Polish settlement). Since then, the eagle has been used on coins, stamps, flags and shields by all Polish monarchs and leaders. There was a change, however, to the coat of arms after the war when the communists where in power in Poland. The golden crown was removed for over 40 years to remove the 'symbol of monarchy'. The crown was restored in 1989 as a result of political transformation in Poland that was led by Lech Wałęsa, the Solidarity leader. 

The Polish flag colours were always white and red. White on top and red on the bottom. Although, the flag was being used for centuries, the current flag colours and sizes were established in 1918, after Poland regained its independence from Prussia, Russian and Austria. Since then, the falg of Poland was used by all leaders even during the communist era (1945 - 1989). May 2nd is has been established as the official day of the Polish Flag. Poles around the world hung their flags outside the windows as a sign of respect to Poland. 

There are many states and countires with a similar flag to the Polish flag. These include: Czech Republic (Bohemia) as the land, Czechoslovakia, Upper Austria, Cantabria, Thuringia, Tyrol, Monaco, Indonesia and Vienna.

The Polish National Anthem of Poland, Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (named after Jan Henryk Dąbrowski), was written by a politician and a soldier Józef Wybicki. Mazurek Dąbrowskiego has been written for the Polish Legions in Italy (7 thousand military formation created after the Third Partition of Poland). The legions were created by Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, a Polish general who led the soldiers to the Polish Independence. For the first time, Mazurek Dąbrowskiego has been song on 20 July 1797. The Mazurek Dąbrowskiego was officially adopted in 1926 as the official Anthem of Poland.

Here is the Anthem is full.

Current official lyrics

English translation

Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, Kiedy my żyjemy. Co nam obca przemoc wzięła, Szablą odbierzemy. Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski, Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski. Za twoim przewodem Złączym się z narodem. Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę, Będziem Polakami. Dał nam przykład Bonaparte, Jak zwyciężać mamy. Marsz, marsz... Jak Czarniecki do Poznania Po szwedzkim zaborze, Dla ojczyzny ratowania Wrócim się przez morze. Marsz, marsz... Już tam ojciec do swej Basi Mówi zapłakany — Słuchaj jeno, pono nasi Biją w tarabany. Marsz, marsz...

Poland has not yet perished, So long as we still live.What the alien force has taken from us, We shall retrieve with a sabre. March, march, Dąbrowski, From the Italian land to Poland. Under your command We shall rejoin the nation. We'll cross the Vistula and the Warta, We shall be Polish.Bonaparte has given us the example Of how we should prevail. March, march... Like Czarniecki to Poznań After the Swedish occupation, To save our homeland, We shall return across the sea. March, march... A father, in tears, Says to his Basia Listen, our boys are said To be beating the tarabans. March, march...

Józef Wybicki

The National Anthem

General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski 

Thanks for your verbal feedback

Since I have been asked by few people to provide some information on the symbols of Poland, I am going to produce a wee post on the 3 symbols: the coat of arm, the flag and the national anthem...

Ash Wednesday in Poland - the start of lent.

Polish Catholics are getting ready to attend Ash Wednesday masses at their parishes as the lent commences. In Poland, Ash Wednesday is a first day of a 40 day lent that finishes on the Easter Sunday. On Ash Wednesday Poles are not allowed to consume meat and drink alcohol. Those who are over the years of 14 and below 60 are restricted to 3 meals on that day. Every Catholic is oblidged to attend a mass on that day as it is a holiday of obligation.





A short video shows how Ash Wednesday looks like in Poland. Its quite different from the Catholic Church in Scotland. In Poland, the Ash is being situated on the top of the head whereas in Scotland the Ash is dispersed with Holy water and is applied to the forehead.

As well as fasting on Ash Wedensday, every friday of Lent and the Paschal Triduum, Polish Catholics are being encouraged by the Church to pray more, attend masses regularly, be more generous to the poor, and to give up something that they like e.g. chocolates, alcohol, smoking, etc. What I have realised from living in Scotland is that, although in Poland the Catholics are being encouraged to donate money to the poor majority are reluctant to do so ... whereas in Scotland the church is encouraging the Catholics to be more generous AND provides the "wee boxes', which I personally found really good. By giving up on chocolates and kebabs I am saving money which are going into the 'wee box'. In that way I can collect as much as 5 pounds in a week.

I would like to know your Lent 'good deeds' maybe I could learn borrow some new ones as the one I am doing are a bit obsolete in a way ... Please use the comment box below and fill me in with ur own good deeds.