What are common Polish character traits?

Hello! I found this site after doing some genealogy homework for my son. My husband's ancestors (about 5 generations back) were from Poland and my mother immigrated here (USA) from Poland. Since moving to America, they assimilated into American society, as was the custom of all immigrants prior to it being acceptable to have pride in your heritage. I often wonder about Poland and how Polish I am, or has it eroded away with the mix of Dutch and Irish from my father. Please introduce yourself, and tell me about yourself and character. Thank you!

Hmmm role reversal... kinda kinky lol


I'm becoming Americanized every day... I came here when I was 9 and now am 26... I still consider myself Polish but everyone else thinks I'm just another american mutt.

Like all European countries, we are far more laid back, loving, caring, and overall more open than our American counterparts.

That really makes a lot of sense. Now I know why I feel so at home when I am in Hawai'i. VERY laid back people. The unofficial saying goes "Maximum pleasure from minimal effort"

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Hawaii... been a long time since I've been there!


Love the volcano ash beaches!

Well, I will try to help out.

My name is patricia.

my Parents are all polish. both deceased, I can tell you from experience, some things
were passed down, some not, but one thing that sticks heavy is the food, always
alot of it, and plenty to feed a army,. and hospitality to family and friends, my
Friends loved coming to my house, they would say, your mom is the best cook and
she would feed everyone. and from what I understand, my sister telling me, our
grandmothers, both sides, both loved to share their meals, and the famous
saying was " come in, have you ate yet?" dont know what that is in polish how to
type it, but that was how both grandmothers were. and there is also another thread
on here that says Polish mothers do overdress their children, its true, we do, I do
but its easier to take clothing off to cool down then to not have enough clothing
to stay warm with once the temp changes and its freezing out..

These are all great posts. I also checked out some of those Polish driving videos...OMG, now it all makes sense!

We be funneh

and stubborn......

Polish people

stubborn like Ox and drink like fish

very stubborn

sarcastic

TRUE!
Took my Polish fiance to a horse auction and they served BBQ's and hot-dogs. The guy was hungry but he was stubborn because that's unhealthy American food. He said he's disgusted just looking at them Americans eat. Hahaha. I'll have to teach him a thing or two...
Took some another Polish friend to a concert where they served American food...the same thing. The woman was hungry but wouldn'd touch American food. She says she's not used to it. Well, hello!!!! You're in a different country!!! Try some of their foods!!! Don't be so stubborn!!!
Stubborness. The number one Polish trait!

OH! OH! OH! And complainers!!!!! They complain about any tiny little thing!!!! All day long complain!!!!
Two older Polish women were sitting on the plane behind me. They didn't like the movie they were showing (Night in the Museum). They complained why they are showing that, they should be showing something else, she said we should all open our windows because nobody's watching it. Complained about the food, the plane, the window, the seat. Geez!!!!
In Poland you talk to someone. First thing they do is complain. Took a drive on a horse carriage through the national forest. The guy complains that there is wood laying there. The goverment should pick it up and sell it and not let it rot. Anything and everything they complain day and night.

Krysia, you're so on the spot. Both, stubborn and constantly complaining.

I'd also add moody.

But there are also good things about us!!!! Really.

like very, very inventive

One more. They do steal. You have to lock your cars, roll up the windows and cover stuff inside because they will steal anything and everything to make money.

wow, now you're lashing out, are you having a bad day?

There are many, many, many very good traits about Polish people!!!!!! They are excellent cooks, they can make something out of nothing, great hospitality, big hearts, very welcoming and loving, they will help you if lost, very caring and loving, very hard-working!!!
I was staying with my fiances family for a few days and they get up early and go work in the fields all day. They grow strawberries and they weed them all day, by the end of the day they are so tired. Polish people are very hard and good workers.

get it out Krysia!

Nope. Not yet. Looks like another sunny day out there.

And while I'm at it...they think they know everything.
Speaking from experience, my Polish fiance says the virus-program I have is not the best, they got better ones in Poland, the apples I like are not the best, they got better ones in Poland, etc.
They know everything.

the GF he has in America isn't the best, he has a better one... <ahem> Perhaps not.

And now, the one we've been waiting for. <clears throat>

The winner of Miss Generalisation' 2007 goes to..

Well, lets see which traits I have seen today that would fit "POLISH" traits by genetics, and not generalizations of ALL PEOPLE

Stubborn? No, not one person in my whole family (even family who immigrated) can hold a grudge, and food? If it's gross we won't eat it...nothing to do with American/Polish type food, it seems that the foods available just weren't appealing.

Complainers? Ok okay, guilty as charged. Hehehehe!

Oh, I do have an affinity to strawberries! I have a nice row of them in my front yard. I planted them strictly for the foliage, and wound up with pounds upon pounds of strawberries! I've made great jams and preserves with them. My best recipie involves vanilla and almond extracts.

I think the mention of "Poland has better -this or that-" is just national pride and maybe even teasing. My family loves to tease like that. Kinda like when my Auntie Jane said to my mom in an urgent manner "Krysia! Did you hear the latest?!" and my mother was all concerned..."No? What?!" my auntie said "I'm the greatest" the both laughed and my mom rolled her eyes. LOL I think Polish people have a great sense of humor and love to laugh...maybe more than other cultures?

This is totally untrue. At least genetically. My family are the most honest people I know. If we see someone drop cash, we'll even hand it back to them. To be even more candid, to steal and then sell something is just too much bother- it's easier to just work a little bit harder to earn it legally. Thank you very much.

I don't think this is genetically true either. Could it possibly be their method of self medication for the conditions they live in? IMO, it is common for those in poverty to use drugs or alcohol to lessen pain-mental and physical. While it is true that Poland has an alcoholism problem (admittedly so at that) the economics is in direct correlation to the areas with the highest rates. Yes, I wish I had a URL for you on that, but it was an assessment on a culmination of short paragraphs over several sites that I had visited in the last few days.

Maybe that KNOW-IT-ALL thing is genetic...because it surely looks like I've been displaying that right now. LOL

Anielka ,

a Pole is mad when hungry

i must eat before i go "podbijac swiat"

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Polish people have traits that were brought on by years of foreign rule :

cwaniak (sly, hustler) and kombinator (schemer)

these traits can be bad or good

people in australia think im negative when i complain, but im just a complainer.

Laid back, melencholy, sarcastic, sly, resourceful, clever/smart, critical of things around him, jealous...

my parents complains a lot, and always have to refer to Poland for everything. "In Poland we did things like this..." "In Poland we never did that" "In Poland......."

OK, as I read through all this I thought of other nationalities I've known and I think people are people no matter where they are from. The thing is, Polish people living in Poland are just so, those who live elsewhere may be very similar if they still tightly hold on to their community or because due to their age they prefer to stick to how they are. Then you have those that go out of the community more and more, or completely, and might very much change with time. The younger they are the more likely the distance from the so-called Polish characteristics. Assimilation at work, I guess. This is why Anjelkake's question is so interesting. Yeah, what is it genetically? Is it anything at all? Hey I know some stubborn, food-pushing non-Poles LOL

lol. As if Australians never complain!!!! yeah right! :D