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Birthday traditions in Poland


eryka 1 | 1
29 Aug 2007 #1
I'm wondering if there are special birthday traditions and games that are popular in Poland. Especially one's suited for 4 year olds.

thank you!
Zosiu 1 | 3
18 Jun 2010 #2
Polish first birthday traditions? Or birthday traditions in general..

My son is about to turn one and I was wondering about any Polish first birthday traditions that might be nice for his special day. He is half Polish as my husband is Polish and I know of a few, but if anyone has any ideas or special local customs I would like to hear them.

Thanks
f stop 25 | 2,507
18 Jun 2010 #3
To me, one of the nicest Polish traditions is celebrating namedays, not birthdays.
Polonius3 994 | 12,367
19 Jun 2010 #4
You probably know the one where the 1-year-old is placed on the floor surrounded by a vodka glass, book, rosary and banknote. What he/she reaches for first is said (cum grano salis) to predict what he/she will do in life:

vodka glass = toper
book = scholar
rosary = priest or nun
banknote: financier, banker, person of wealth.
anoe - | 2
5 Aug 2011 #5
Merged: Polish Birthday Traditions & Ideas

I'm throwing my Aunt a birthday party next year and I would like it to be Polish themed. She has been in the United States for 8 years now and she feels like she's losing her culture. I want to surprise her by having many different Polish birthday traditions, decorations, and food & drinks. I have the food pretty much set, but I'm lost when it comes to the traditions and decorations. Thank you so much!!
Des Essientes 7 | 1,290
5 Aug 2011 #6
You need to sing Sto Lat it is the traditional Polish birthday song that expresses the wish that the person whose birthday it is become a centenarian.
niet
5 Aug 2011 #7
For sake of tradition, don't forget a big name-day celebration - more cultured than b'day
SzwedwPolsce 11 | 1,594
5 Aug 2011 #8
I'm lost when it comes to the traditions and decorations.

There are no traditions of birtday celebration in Poland. Because traditionally birthdays have not been celebrated. People have started to celebrate birthdays recently.

Traditionally it is the name-day that is celebrated.
Seanus 15 | 19,674
5 Aug 2011 #9
Swede, that's not strictly true. It's a tradition for them to pay for their own drinks. It works out better for them as they don't need to pay for the drinks of their friends on their birthdays. It's observed here.
grubas 12 | 1,384
5 Aug 2011 #10
There are no traditions of birtday celebration in Poland. Because traditionally birthdays have not been celebrated. People have started to celebrate birthdays recently.

Really???Where did you get this information from?
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
5 Aug 2011 #11
There are no traditions of birtday celebration in Poland. Because traditionally birthdays have not been celebrated

Sto lat, sto lat, niech zyje zyje nam.

Birthdays are celebrated. Just that ladies if a certain age tend to prefer their name day.
Wroclaw 44 | 5,379
5 Aug 2011 #12
Just that ladies if a certain age tend to prefer their name day.

but will accept gifts and praise on their birthdays
Seanus 15 | 19,674
5 Aug 2011 #13
Oh, of course, Wrocław :) :) They tend to take 10 candles off the cake ;)
anoe - | 2
5 Aug 2011 #14
Because she feels like she's losing her culture... what Polish traditions or customs and decorations are there that I can incorporate into the party? I want her to feel "home" Are there special occasion drinks or food?? Should I decorate with the colors of the Polish Flag? Do I serve an actual birthday cake or is there another pastry that she would have eaten on her birthday/name day? Thank you for all of your answers :)
justneedhelpthx
3 Sep 2011 #15
Hey im half polish and i have to do a report on polish birthday traditions... any ideas?
beckski 12 | 1,617
3 Sep 2011 #16
Are there special occasion drinks

Try to buy her some Polish piwo.
emha - | 92
3 Sep 2011 #17
Try to buy her some Polish piwo



  • Maybe Mocny Full ?
District12a 2 | 12
5 Sep 2011 #18
people in poland celebrate every holiday known to them except their own birthdays and someone else they knows birthday. so stupid
owieczkaniewie - | 3
19 Jun 2021 #19
Merged:

Special meaning: 44th birthday



My Polish partner's 44th birthday is tomorrow. I've heard that 44 is considered special by some Poles. Can anyone reflect on this? Thanks!

Ah... I think I figured it out. It isn't birthdays but Dziady by Mickiewicz where 44 means something special. Need a literary buff!
Ironside 53 | 12,357
19 Jun 2021 #20
I've heard that 44 is considered special by some Poles.

Doubt it! I mean there is not any significance attached to 44th birthday. If anything there is some cryptic verse by a Polish 19th century poet - '....his name 44'.
Paulina 16 | 4,235
19 Jun 2021 #21
@owieczkaniewie, you're correct - it's about "Dziady" by Mickiewicz :)
owieczkaniewie - | 3
19 Jun 2021 #22
A imię jego to czterdzieści cztery...
He who shall release Poland from the torture of the three empires ... it seems the mystery choice of 44 persists to this day!
pawian 221 | 23,970
19 Jun 2021 #23
There is one more connection with 44 - historical - my favourite.





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