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Feb 9, 07, 18:45 #1
In principle Poles are no different from any other Europeans or perhaps even no different from any race. But that is in principle; this means that Poland has good, bad and indifferent people, as does every race. Poland also has the talented, the industrious and the determined just as it has the mediocre, the idle and the resigned. So much for the basic material. But what happens when this basic material is exposed to the historical, contemporary, political, social, economic and climatic conditions that constitute its environment?
Historic instability, contemporary instability, political incompetence and criminality, an economy that is growing albeit from a very small base and of course the geographical climate. All these factors are evident when one considers the use of leisure time. It is evident that the conditions have made the Poles generally proletarian in their interests and hobbies and short of money and physical space in the pursuit of such activities. Poles like mass entertainment, be it football at the stadium or on TV, similarly basketball and to a lesser extent speedway and other sports and athletic activities. Because of the general lack of space in Polish homes the only leisure activity normally pursued is watching television or surfing the Internet. Because of this lack of space Poles spent as much time as possible outside in the summer. Balconies, gardens and allotment gardens are vitally important in summer. Holidays are spent on the beach or in the mountains, but release from historic restrictions shows Poles to be adventurous international travellers and holidaymakers.
Skiing is extremely popular and the mountains are close, and so are the Slovak mountains. In the summer and autumn mushroom gathering in the forests is a major preoccupation for many. Poles travel increasingly by car rather than using the very good public transport. There is lack of the prestigious, expensive and traditional leisure activities that one might associate with Britain, France or Germany for obvious reasons. Hunting once very popular and having a certain prestige about it is not so popular now though still widely practiced. Equestrian activities are very popular. Fishermen are to be seen around every lake or watercourse, some undoubtedly fish for the pot but as a sport it must be one of the most popular in Poland.
At home during school terms many parents organise evening lesson activities for their children, sometimes it is extra language curses sometime music. Obviously this is motivated by a desire to help the children’s careers, but I suspect that the crowding in very small flats also plays a part. Certain traditions are still important, family events are treated with more significance than in British homes that is name days and first communions and the ritual of Easter and Christmas. It should also be remembered that a quarter of Poles go to church on Sunday and in the week. In conclusion one might consider that Poles are basically the same as everyone else and that the environmental constraints are waning. Perhaps soon enough the only difference will be that Poles actually enjoy meals and eating good food rather than the British tendency to eat because it is necessary.
Achilles Węgorz
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