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...

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.