In a strongly Catholic country like Poland, Christmas and Easter celebrations play a very important role. One might argue that for the most religious Poles Easter is actually the most important holiday. But our Easter traditions are cherished by people irrespective of their religious view. No wonder. After all, it is such a colorful and […]
In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, some people are wondering whether it is safe to travel to Poland and asking about the effect that the war has on our country. With a lot of misinformation abundantly shared on social media, getting a true image of the situation may be difficult, so here’s a […]
Visiting Poland and not having a taste of Polish vodka is like visiting Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. It simply doesn’t count 😉 This transparent liquid with high alcohol percentage has been a traditional element of parties and celebrations for centuries; the formula and the production process have been mastered to such a […]
Toruń is known as the city of gingerbread and Nicolaus Copernicus, but it is also an important communication center and one of the Hanseatic cities. Its architecture reflects western influences. For many years it was inhabited by members of the Teutonic Order, and traces of the former wealth of the city can be found in […]
Lublin is a bit off-the-beaten-path on the touristic map of Poland. Most foreign travelers focus on visiting Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk, as they often have limited time for sightseeing. But if you can spend a bit more time in Poland, or are more into finding all the pearls and gems many people miss, then you […]
The extreme south-eastern part of Poland, the Bieszczady Mountains, is considered to be one of the wildest regions of Poland, offering stunning views and bears, wolves and European bisons wandering around. Nowadays Bieszczady are becoming a more and more popular tourist destination, especially among hiking enthusiasts. But has it always been such a wild place? […]
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is the symbol of the sovereignty of the Polish state. It used to be the seat of the Polish kings, it is where the meetings of the Polish Sejm were held, and it witnessed many historic events. Both laudable, like the homage paid by the tsar of Russia to the […]
On the first Thursday of December people gather around the Adam Mickiewicz monument for the annual szopki krakowskie contest. Szopki are beautiful and unusual Nativity scenes with a Polish twist to them. They're made of wood, plywood, cardboard and decorated with colorful tinfoil. Making szopki is a tradition that dates back to the 19th century […]
STEP ONE: COLLECT INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS 1. Basic information To begin with, identify at least one family member that was born in Poland. Write down everything you know about this person: their name their place of birth (at least the region/area) their date of birth (at least estimated) their faith 2. Documents Collect and make […]
We, humans, have this urge to know where we are from and where we are going. To understand who we are and to know our roots. Sooner or later, many of us may want to learn more about our ancestors, and discovering their stories often becomes a fascinating experience. What if the traces of your […]
How long has it been since you finished school? Today we can all feel as if we were students again and take a peek into the Polish classroom. All the more so as the Polish education system is undergoing structural changes, with a reform being implemented between the school years 2017/2018 and 2022/2023. Let us […]
If you think that Poland is homogeneous in terms of culture and religion, you’ll be surprised. People of different faiths, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, and Muslims, have lived here for centuries. A distinctive place where these religions mix is Podlasie, a region located in the north-east of Poland, near the border with Belarus. It is […]
