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Christmas carol singers - is this a Polish Christmas tradition?


johnb121 4 | 183
28 Dec 2013 #1
Quick question. We had three small girls around a couple of days ago who came in, sang a song and spun a star on a little pole, collected some money from us and left. What was the significance of their visit?
Derpinard - | 3
28 Dec 2013 #2
That is an example of a somewhat obscure Polish Christmas tradition, where a band of people dressed up as various characters from traditional Polish nativity plays would do some caroling or make a short performance in an effort to collect some money or food from other people. Call that 'creative begging' if you will. The closest equivalent in the US would probably be the Halloween tradition of trick or treating.

However, this custom is now very obscure except in the countryside and possibly some suburban areas where kids are poor and creative.
Tamarisk
28 Dec 2013 #3
The closest equivalent in the US would probably be the Halloween tradition of trick or treating.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Hallowen!!! It's called caroling!!
OP johnb121 4 | 183
28 Dec 2013 #4
Ah, countryside is us! We live right on the edge of a small village 15km from Nowy Sacz. Thanks for the info Derpinard. Tamarisk - D means the knocking and begging is like trick or treat.
Paulina 16 | 4,235
29 Dec 2013 #5
Christmas carol singers - is this a Polish Christmas tradition?

Yes, it's a very old tradition going back to Slavic pagan times: There are even caroling contests, apparently:
baduck
29 Dec 2013 #6
we just had some teenagers with sheets over there heads they almost got a kicking dressed up in some sort of christmas style would have got them some cash

dressing like the KKK no thanks they were probably pikeys from the osiedla nearby
Paulina 16 | 4,235
29 Dec 2013 #7
dressing like the KKK no thanks they were probably pikeys from the osiedla nearby

Isn't "pikeys" an ethnic slur for Travellers?
jon357 74 | 21,749
29 Dec 2013 #8
It has become one, certainly. It used to mean (in my region anyway) something like the American word 'carney' but now it's mostly used to mean travellers or other people considered by the person using it to have a certain set of morals and lifestyle and is usually considered offensive.
ShortHairThug - | 1,101
29 Dec 2013 #9
we just had some teenagers with sheets over there heads they almost got a kicking dressed up in some sort of christmas style would have got them some cash

Another dumb comment made by a Yank. Don't kid yourself KKK is a hate group of Anglo-Saxon blood at least that's what those southern mutts claim, in order to be one you have to be a WASP, fat chance of that in a Slavic and Catholic country. One has to know what P stands for in WASP to grasp the meaning hence the dumb reference on my part. If by "pikey" you mean a gypsy you're also wrong. Your ignorant statement speaks volumes, face it you're just a grumpy cheap bastard with no respect for other cultures or traditions.
Paulina 16 | 4,235
29 Dec 2013 #10
or other people considered by the person using it to have a certain set of morals and lifestyle

A certain set of morals and lifestyle? What do you mean by that?
baduck
30 Dec 2013 #11
Your ignorant statement speaks volumes, face it you're just a grumpy cheap bastard with no respect for other cultures or traditions.

putting a sheet over your head doesn;t count as dressing up or making an effort its just teenagers trying to raise money for cigarettes or vodka I also had a group come who

1) made an effort with the costumes
2) could actually sing
3)had a collection tin
4) were not stinking of booze
Result I gave then 50Zl

I use the term Pikey for anyone out to swindle money from people whilst doing a half arsed job like many in the travelling community driveway tarmacers etc etc
Zibi - | 336
30 Dec 2013 #12
Result I gave then 50Zl

I would too. Be blessed.
lowrie - | 1
30 Dec 2013 #13
Christmas atmosphere in the continuation.


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