POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Poland Now and Then	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members

Polish Forums / Free Translation /

St Nicholas or Santa Claus?

page 1 of 2: 1 2 Next »

posts: 38

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Dec 27, 09, 16:57 #1
How would you translate into Polish: "Whom do you prefer -- St Nicholas or Santa Claus?"

BrutalButcherThreads: 1 Posts: 623 Joined: Nov 10, 09 ♂	Dec 27, 09, 17:35 #2
I know that the first part of it would be "kogo lubisz" XD You might say "Kogo lubisz...santa clausek alebo st Nicholasek"

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Dec 27, 09, 19:19 #3
In German wouldn't it be something like: "Wen hast du lieber -- Sankt Nikolaus oder den Weihnachtsmann?" In modern Polish it is somewhat tricker. Incidentally, have you heard of the German, Czech and Austrian campaign to create a "Weihnachtsmannfrei Zone (strefa bezsantaklausowa)"?

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Dec 27, 09, 19:20 #4
Polonius3: "Whom do you prefer -- St Nicholas or Santa Claus?" "Kogo wolisz Sw. Mikołaj czy Santa Claus?" And to answer it, there is no Santa Claus in Poland just Swięty Mikołaj.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Dec 27, 09, 19:54 #5
"Kogo wolisz Sw. Mikołaj czy Santa Claus?" is ungrammatical (no accusative) should read: ""Kogo wolisz Św. Mikołaja czy Santa Clausa?" Or maybe: Santę Clausa? (Grammarians, what say ye?) P.S. On a technical point: How does one get such illustrations or photos into a PF reply or new thread?

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Dec 27, 09, 19:58 #6
Polonius3: (Grammarians, what say ye?) I will leave that to the natives :) Polonius3: P.S. On a technical point: How does one get such illustrations or photos into a PF reply or new thread? Above the box you type into, above the Polish letters, there are 7 little boxes, copy the address of an image and paste it into the "image link box" (to the left of the youtube one).

ooshakThreads: - Posts: 35 Joined: Dec 27, 09 ♀	Dec 27, 09, 20:37 #7
Where I come from we used to have "Gwiazdor" as Santa, so it would be "Kogo wolisz -Gwiazdora czy Świętego Mikołaja?" But not many people use the word "gwiazdor" these days. It is silly though. We have StNicholas on the Dec6, and then again on 24? Must be confusing for the kids....

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Edited by: SeanBM Dec 27, 09, 20:43 #8
ooshak: We have StNicholas on the Dec6, and then again on 24? Must be confusing for the kids.... And didn't Poland used to have the Russian one, Dziadek Mroz?

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Edited by: Polonius3 Dec 27, 09, 23:27 #9
Thanks SeanBM for the technical advice which I followed (I think) but couldn't get any image into the box. After typing or pasting the www into the box does one hit enter or post message? Maybe you can lend a helping hand. This is the link: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2094952.html

♀

Dec 27, 09, 23:45 #10

Polonius3:

P.S. On a technical point: How does one get such illustrations or photos into a PF reply or new thread?

You'll get all the tips here:

http://www.polishforums.com/faq-feedback-23/guidelines-screen-shots-ot her-tips-posting-polishforums-com-34622/

In my region December 6 was not really eventful. Swiety Mikolaj would leave some candy under the pillow, if you were a good kid or a piece of a wooden stick, if you were not or the grades in school were below par...just a clue what's coming. Well, if you got the message and improved the findings under the tree would improve too.
The gifts under the Christmas tree was what counted and we anxiously waited for.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Dec 28, 09, 00:08 #11
Polonius3: technical advice which I followed (I think) but couldn't get any image into the box. After typing or pasting the www into the box does one hit enter or post message? Maybe you can lend a helping hand. It has to be a picture link. like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Ilja_Jefimowitsch_R epin_005.jpg

♂

Dec 28, 09, 00:29 #12

But the www given contains a picture. Does that meaa that a picture-containing www has to somehow be jpg-ised? Unfortuantely, I am your consummate technophobe. All that Gatesian digital-shmigital gibberish, jaypeggery, facebookery, skypes, snipes, reconfiguration, regurgitation and the remaining assorted clickery, e-gimmickry and e-gadgetry turn me off beyond anything you could possibly imagine. I use it all as little as I can get away with and prefer to keep a good barge-pole's length away from it all.

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06 ♀	Edited by: Eurola Dec 28, 09, 00:58 #13
The technological gibberish is not so bad, just needs some practice.

♂

Edited by: SeanBM Dec 28, 09, 01:13 #14

Polonius3:

Does that meaa that a picture-containing www has to somehow be jpg-ised?

I don't know.
I usually post from google images or wiki but the page I post as an image shows only the image, no text or anything else around it.

Polonius3:

All that Gatesian digital-shmigital gibberish, jaypeggery, facebookery, skypes, snipes, reconfiguration, regurgitation and the remaining assorted clickery, e-gimmickry and e-gadgetry turn me off beyond anything you could possibly imagine. I use it all as little as I can get away with and prefer to keep a good barge-pole's length away from it all.

Hahaha, yeah, I am a bit the same, I have learned a lot about using computers from this forum and asking the questions you are asking now.

Eurola:

The technological gibberish is not so bad

Ah it is, I can't for the life of me understand why it is made so difficult.
Error in 535, tells me nothing at all, might as well just tell me it doesn't feel like working.

I think we have reverted back to the days of old, like in Greek classical period.
Where they had the oracle at Delphi (the computer) blabbering gibberish (error in 353) and the high priests (IT guys) would have to decipher the gibberish to the king (me:)

And to answer your next question, yes in all my imaginings I am King :)

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Dec 28, 09, 08:11 #15
Getting back to the original topic, in view of my failure to get an image onto the PF, anyone interested can simply visit: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2094952.html

♂

Edited by: SeanBM Dec 28, 09, 11:51 #16

1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, with Clement Clarke Moore, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus

wiki

Anti-Santa campaigners claim Father Christmas was invented by Coca-Cola and detracts from the true spirit of the festive season.

From Polonius3's link.

I also heard it was coca cola that invented the modern day Santa Claus but it seems that this is not the full truth, look at wiki.

Images change over time and more importantly for this campaign, icons and symbols change their meanings over time.

But lets face it, when we look at the modern day Santa, do you really think of coca cola? I don't and I certainly don't think kids do either.

I think these people have too much time on their hands and worry too much. Campaigns like this are a waste of time, as it does not change much whether Santa looks like that or not. The focus should be on their own families this time of year.

Polonius3:

in view of my failure to get an image onto the PF

I googled "anti-santa" in images and it came up with the image you wanted to post.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Dec 28, 09, 16:44 #17
If it focuses only on the garb, then it makes no difference how the Chrsitmas gift-giver looks. But if we delve a bit deeper into the essence of things. Santa encourages consumption and has turned Christmas into one big shopping-crazed Greedfest, whilst St Nicholas symbolises anonymous altruism and encourages compassion. Is there anyone who believes there is too much altruism the world today?!

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,955 Joined: May 17, 07 ♂	Dec 28, 09, 17:04 #18
It is Jezisek.Deal with it.

MagdalenaThreads: 5 Posts: 1,389 Joined: Aug 15, 07 ♀	Dec 28, 09, 17:26 #19
southern: It is Jezisek.Deal with it Exactly! Saint Nicholas brings small gifts on the 6th, and Ježíšek, with the help of a couple of angels, brings more gifts on the 24th. :-D This is called division of labour!

asikThreads: 2 Posts: 547 Joined: Feb 17, 09 ♀	Edited by: asik Dec 28, 09, 23:38 #20
St. Nicholas in Polish we call Święty Mikołaj-presents from him on the 6th of December and Santa Claus in Polish is Gwiazdor- presents on the 24th of December. Dziadek Mróz it's a Polish name of Russian's kind of Santa Claus. southern: It is Jezisek.Deal with it. Not a Polish name at all.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Dec 29, 09, 04:41 #21
Ježíšek is Czech for Baby Jesus or the Christ Child (German: Christkind). In Polish it is Dzieciątko Jezus who bring 24th Dec. gifts in tradition-minded Polish families. Sometimes referred to also as Aniołek or Gwiazdka.

♀

Edited by: asik Dec 31, 09, 04:19 #22

Polonius3:

Ježíšek is Czech for Baby Jesus or the Christ Child (German: Christkind). In Polish it is Dzieciątko Jezus who bring 24th Dec. gifts in tradition-minded Polish families. Sometimes referred to also as Aniołek or Gwiazdka.

In Poland from what I recall we've never had presents from "Jezusek" (that's a Polish version) . On the 24th December our presents were always from the Gwiazdor (comes from gwiazda and means star a symbol/sign to begin a Christmas Eve dinner and a sign to celebrate birth of Jesus).
For Christians, Jesus is not a symbol for presents, the star- gwiazda is.

gwiazda/ gwiazdka - a star/ little star
Gwiazdka - Boxing Day/ 24th December/ present's evening in Poland
Gwiazdor - Santa Claus

On the 6th December we used to have a presents at the local church and from Św. Mikołaj (St. Nicholas).

♂

Dec 31, 09, 13:04 #23

Polonius3:

Santa encourages consumption and has turned Christmas into one big shopping-crazed Greedfest, whilst St Nicholas symbolises anonymous altruism and encourages compassion. Is there anyone who believes there is too much altruism the world today?!

I understand your point, if this is the season of good will then we should crucify the inventor.
I do not think that Santa has that much to do with it and it wouldn't change much if we made him look differently.

LAGirlThreads: 13 Posts: 598 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♀	Dec 31, 09, 20:26 #24
St Nicholas was a good person. I wish Santa was real that would be nice.

♀

Jan 2, 10, 22:37 #25

Saint Nicholas or Święty Mikołaj was a real person who lived in Asian coast more than fifteen hundred years ago. He was a Bishop, he preached about how "God's creations" are gifts to us (that we take for granted, especially nowadays because of man's invention of the computer world), the birth of Jesus as God's greatest gift, and how "God's gifts" can be found within people when people perform good deeds to each other. Saint Nicholas performed many good deeds within his life: he rescued shipwrecked sailors, saved three women from slavery, saved two young students from cannibalism, and gave small gifts to orphan children...these are some noted things that he did.

asik:

St. Nicholas in Polish we call Święty Mikołaj-presents from him on the 6th of December and Santa Claus in Polish is Gwiazdor- presents on the 24th of December.

Magdalena:

Saint Nicholas brings small gifts on the 6th, and Ježíšek, with the help of a couple of angels, brings more gifts on the 24th. :-D

ooshak:

But not many people use the word "gwiazdor" these days. It is silly though. We have StNicholas on the Dec6, and then again on 24? Must be confusing for the kids....

Saint Nicholas died on December 5th (perhaps 6th), 343 A.D. In Europe Saint Nicholas Eve in celebrated on that day, Dec. 5, but in Poland Święty Mikołaj is celebrated on Dec. 6th.
After his death, the ghost of Saint Nicholas appeared on countless Dec. 24ths, in the sky's, neer peoples roofs, to communicate the message of the Holy Spirit about the birth of Jesus "the gratest gift from God!" Not to spread gifts and throw them down the chimneys! (This Idea was misinterpreted by many pesants who seen the ghost and this is how the Santa Claus legent originated).
So, just to make things clear, Christmas in about God's Love: the birth of Jesus as greatest gift from God to us. God chose the spirit of Saint Nicholas to spread his message, the spirit of Christmas, (not to spread presents!) Because St Nicholas preached the truth which God was pleased with:'you can find God, his gifts and love in Humans good deeds',(and because many humans claimed they can't believe in what they can't see), so he merged a piece of him self with flesh: Jesus.

Eurola:

In my region December 6 was not really eventful. Swiety Mikolaj would leave some candy under the pillow, if you were a good kid or a piece of a wooden stick, if you were not or the grades in school were below par...just a clue what's coming. Well, if you got the message and improved the findings under the tree would improve too.

That's how it was in my region to.

Polonius3:

"Kogo wolisz Sw. Mikołaj czy Santa Claus?"

Well Santa Clause is just a form of many legends. Any guy can be a Santa Clause really, and he's not only thick, I bet Santa Clause comes in many sizes.

http://miasmaticreview.mu.nu/mt-static/Pick-A-Santa%20Sexy%20Santa%20Men.jpg

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Jan 3, 10, 11:57 #26
Isn't Gwaizdor largely limited to Wiekopolska and parts of Kujawy -- areas once under Prussian rulel? Gwiazdor was a translation of the Prussian Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man) created by the Bismarck regime to crush both German Catholic and Polish traditions such as Sankt Nikolaus (St Nicholas) and Christkindl (Baby Jesus).

♂

Jan 3, 10, 14:18 #27

Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus are one and the same. The habit of celebrating Saint Nicholas comes from the Low Countries, where it has been celebrated for nearly 1000 years. In NL the main day is on the 5th of December, in Belgium, certain parts of Northern Germany and Northern France it's celebrated on the 6th.

Santa Claus came into in existance in the 1500's. Willem Barentz, a Dutch explorer, was looking to find a way to India through the Arctic Ocean. When he got stuck on the Russian island of Nova Zembla, he had to spend the whole winter there. On the 5th of December, he wanted to keep the tradition of Saint Nicholas (then a feast for adults and children alike - unlike nowadays, where it's mainly for kids) alive. So they wanted to dress up one of his crew-members as Saint Nicholas. They didn't have a Saint Nicholas suit, so they made a make-shift suit. It looked like the current day's Santa Claus suit, only in green. Santa Claus was born (Saint Nicholas is in Dutch often derived as Sinterklaas, compare Santa Claus with that)
Other societies later on took over this suit and habit. Santa Claus maintained his green costume until the rise of Coca Cola. Coca Cola made Santa Clause red as it fitted better with their own colours. They didn't invent Santa Claus, they just made him red for marketing purposes.

>^..^<

M-G (at least, that's how I learned it at school)

polishmamaThreads: 5 Posts: 300 Joined: Dec 2, 10 ♀	Dec 6, 10, 19:36 #28
http://polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/2010/12/dzien-sw-mikolaj-or -st-nickolas-day.html I just wrote a blog entry about typical Polish celebrations for today, Dzien Sw. Mikolaj, or Feast of St. Nickolas. In Poland, there is no Santa Claus, there is only Swiata Mikolaj, or in English St. Nickolas, and the traditions are very different from American...

♂

Dec 6, 10, 22:57 #29

I understand that the beer-bellied oversized elf Sandy Klutz (Santa Claus), the character that has turned CVhristmas into one big shopping spree, has taken over in Poland. If 700 bikers dressed as Święty Mikoaj turn up in Gdańsk, they all wear the red elf suits. The same is in shops and on TV, in adverts and on the net. And Polish kids afre being constantly brainwashed with the Lapland and reindeer nonsense.There is one main difference. Poles are the only nation who use the term Saint Nicholas (Święty Mikołaj) to mean Santa Claus. The Dutch call Santa Krisman or Kresman (MareGaea correct me if I'm wrong), and some Dutch towns actually forbid his appearance before 6th Dec. In Germany people know the difference between der Weihnachstmann (Santa) and the bishoplike Sankt Nikolaus. In Austria, Santa is actually banned from Vienna's traditional Christmas market (Christkindlmarkt). In France too, there is Père Noël (Santa) and Saint-Nicolas. Even Russia differentiates between Died Moroz (Grandpa Frost or the Soviet-style Santa) and Sviatoy Nikolai. Only US-aping Poland remains in the dark.

♀

Edited by: asik Dec 16, 10, 00:24 #30

Polonius3:

I understand that the beer-bellied oversized elf Sandy Klutz (Santa Claus), the character that has turned CVhristmas into one big shopping spree, has taken over in Poland.

If you ever lived in Poland and if you ever celebrated Christmas in Poland

then you shouldn't be surprised about this big shopping spree before Christmas as it was always like that. It didn't start yesterday .
Only people from different religion or atheists didn't celebrate Christmas so they didn't need to buy all that stuff for the season.

In Poland we always had our own Santa Claus and his name is GWIAZDOR. .
The name comes from gwiazda which means star.
Saint Nicholas in our Polish language is named Święty Mikołaj .

When Poland joined UE it'll become more popular to use Santa Claus instead of Św. Mikołaj or Gwiazdor in Poland because of many Poles travelling to and back between Poland and the English speaking country. It's just some Poles laziness not to use Polish names.

page 1 of 2: 1 2 Next »

Home / Free Translation /

Unanswered [this forum] | Similar

Similar discussions:

a z jakiej okazji jest Ci tak bardzo milo ?

Can anyone help me with a new years greeting pls?

Random: South Americans living in Poland, going to teach English and Spanish.

Only registered and logged-in users may post here. Please log in or register.

59 [Guests - 37 / Members - 22] users on live forums now

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 13:47 / May 26
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com