All Saints' Day in Poland - Commemoration or Carnival?

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 57 Posts: 5,478 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER ♂	Nov 2, 10, 16:37 #31
True enough, funerals if nothing else are a great way to catch up with family and friends whom you may not have seen for years. I actually ended up around a relatives house last night as a result of all saints day, it was a nice break from the norm.

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Nov 2, 10, 16:41 #32

For those of you guys who speak about cremation - it doesn't mean you don't land on a cemetery. In Poland, keeping ashes at home is illegal (at least it still has been last time I checked), and most likely so is disposing of them (correct me on that if I'm wrong), so basically the only difference is that you get to buy a cheaper coffin for burning, and spend the remaining money (or more) on an urn that, consequently, lands in a grave, on a cemetery, under a tombstone.

As for candy floss and toys... as long as you manage to get the permit (which by the way I'm almost sure those people did not bother to apply for), you are free to sell whatever you want wherever you want. It's the fact they actually have customers that I find funny - it's a very, very nice example of Polish catholic hypocrisy... but my little, condemned, pagan soul is pleased, as it means even after over a thousand of years of christian indoctrination, there's an undying spirit of Dziady left. Oh yes, give us some more time and freedom, and we'll move the feast back from our homes to the cemeteries...

...ok, that was a joke. But still, rather than disgusting, I find the whole situation kind of funny.

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Nov 2, 10, 17:53 #33

pawian:

It is simply impossible. I won`t believe you until I see photos. I visited 4 cemeteries today and saw none of that.

I visited 2 yesterday and I saw cheap light up toys outside the big cemetary in Olkusz. I was quite annoyed by it to be honest. But a few people said it was because young children quite often get bored visiting the cemetery and can be disruptive so this was to keep them amused. I am not totally into the idea though, I mean surely they are more disruptive if they have a light up wand or something??

MaybeThreads: 7 Posts: 335 Joined: Dec 16, 08 ♂	Nov 2, 10, 21:20 #34
Cardno85: But a few people said it was because young children quite often get bored visiting the cemetery and can be disruptive so this was to keep them amused. Sounds reasonable, however, I doubt the vendors were thinking of the kids in anything but monetary terms.

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Nov 2, 10, 22:38 #35

pawian:

It is simply impossible. I won`t believe you until I see photos. I visited 4 cemeteries today and saw none of that.
Sorry but I think you are lying.

I am sorry again. I admit I was wrong. I consulted a Warsaw friend of mine and he corroborated your news. My sincere apologies. Will you forgive me? :):):)

It seems that Warsaw is ahead of other cities to introduce fast food style in celebrating the holiday. Here, in Krakow, everything was traditional as usual.

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