What was the culture of Poland prior to the advent of Catholicism?

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Jan 20, 08, 19:19 #1

Reading these posts have been very informative and helpful in understanding my Polish ancestry. The following has come to mind.
Where can I find information regarding Polish culture prior to the advent of Catholicism?
Ireland has Saint patrick who drove out the snakes. This is widely claimed to mark the beginning of Catholicism there. What was Poland's? What kind of culture existed there? What were the myths? The heros? The dominant ethos?

Ozi DanThreads: 22 Posts: 552 Joined: Nov 22, 07 ♂	Jan 20, 08, 20:17 #2
Gday mate There is a good book called "World of the Ancient Slavs". It's been years, but I'm pretty sure itdeals witht he period youre after. I cant remember the author. The book is a large hard cover one. Also try Norman Davies' various publications on Poland, but in particular "God's playground". Hope that helps

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Jan 20, 08, 21:20 #3

Wow. I just came on here to ask if there was a prevalent worship of the old gods in Poland and this thread is on top. Talk about synchronicity. So...why start a new thread?

Is there any noteworthy return to the old gods in Poland? Are there any groups practicing the worship of Perun, etc.? How about the Germanic gods like Odin, Thor, etc.?

sui generis...I don't know if Poland is considered Slavic but you might want to look here and here.

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Jan 21, 08, 09:18 #4

Thanks

You have given me much to begin with. The fact that there was no written tradition prior to the onset of Christianity explains the dearth of information. I have only scanned the info you suggested so I hope to find what caused Poland to differentiate itself from the rest of the Slavs? The book I will look up in the Library. I will post after I read some.

I am second generation born in USA, Polish ancestry both sides. As an artist I want to explore the ancients beliefs of my lineage and incorporate them in my art.

I am open to anything so thanks again for the help.

ZgubionyThreads: 21 Posts: 2,037 Joined: Oct 20, 06 ♂	Jan 21, 08, 09:25 #5
The Polish were Pagans prior to Christianity. The god they warshipped was named Światowid. There's another topic containing PL history

z_dariusThreads: 22 Posts: 5,091 Joined: Oct 18, 07 ♂	Edited by: z_darius Jan 21, 08, 09:32 #6
Some general info on Polish mythology: sourceryforge.org/w/Polish_Pantheon Be sure to check the links at the bottom of the article.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Jan 21, 08, 09:37 #7
Somerled wrote: I don't know if Poland is considered Slavic lol.. it is. poland became christian in 966. prince mieszko1 was baptised then. prior to that slavs were barbarians, basically. even to this day some old pagan traditions continue. the christmas tree being one of them.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 24, 08, 15:52 #8
This thread could help to enlighten a few PF members, present company very much included.

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Jul 15, 10, 14:14 #9

Somerled:

Is there any noteworthy return to the old gods in Poland? Are there any groups practicing the worship of Perun, etc.?

yes there are but I forgot how they call themselves. Rodzimowiercy?
Oh here it is:
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodzimowierstwo_s%C5%82owia%C5%84skie

did u know that vapires have a slavic origins and in old polish is wąpierz, martwiec or wupi?
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C4%85pierz

As far as I know there are lots of deamons in polish/slavic mythology rather than gods.

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Jul 22, 10, 17:14 #10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_Neopaganism

But the revival of the Native Faith and culture is pretty controversial. It faces opposition (not to say smear campaign) from both traditional religious circles and the state employed crowd-control ideologists. This quote, for example, is very typical (and tragic, really):
As Dr. Victor Shnirelman, a cultural anthropologist at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology in Moscow, has written, ethnic nationalism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism are core values of many Russian Rodnover groups.

To put it simply, going back to your roots = fascism. Mindboggling.

smurfThreads: 46 Posts: 660 Joined: Sep 8, 09 ♂	Jul 22, 10, 17:26 #11
plk123: the christmas tree being one of them. sorry, that's germanic http://howd.ie/367A0c0

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Edited by: Bratwurst Boy Jul 22, 10, 18:05 #12

This wiki entry is just wrong!

Yes, there was this Bonifaz-Taliban and yes he cut down a Thor-Oak....but the germanic pagan ritual to cut a branch of an evergreen and take it home for the winter solstice season stayed...till some smartie muuuuuuuuuuuuuch later came up with the idea to make the branch bigger...get some more additionally...hey, why not a whole tree and voila, the christmas tree was born.
(Especially funny as the this was another try by the christian taliban to overtake the pagan traditions of winter solstice (22th) and call that "Christmas" even as we know that Jesus was NOT born on the 24th of December)

Wiedzmin_fan:

To put it simply, going back to your roots = fascism.

The Christians will do everything to smear the much older native customs...they always did.
If their opinion matters to you in any way - stupid!

They are losing their grip, the old gods are reawakening! :)

bbanjo69Threads: - Posts: 45 Joined: Jul 21, 10 ♂	Jul 22, 10, 20:06 #13
religion is an opium for the masses. i very often paraphrase it : religion is for the weak and the whole concept of it insults, at least my, intelligence. just another money making tool of social control and enslavement. nice coming from a polish born and raised catholic boy?

jablkoThreads: - Posts: 156 Joined: Jul 13, 10 ♂	Jul 22, 10, 20:14 #14
I wish Poland was still pagan haha

zetigrekThreads: 59 Posts: 2,709 Joined: May 20, 10 ♂	Jul 22, 10, 20:28 #15
Wiedzmin_fan: As Dr. Victor Shnirelman, a cultural anthropologist at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology in Moscow, has written, ethnic nationalism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism are core values of many Russian Rodnover groups. and germanic/nordic groups either. But not in Poland yet.

George8600Threads: 20 Posts: 1,114 Joined: Feb 19, 09 ♂	Jul 25, 10, 05:04 #16
Ozi Dan: Also try Norman Davies' various publications on Poland, but in particular "God's playground". Such a good book!

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Jul 25, 10, 05:41 #17

Bratwurst Boy:

This wiki entry is just wrong!

Yes, there was this Bonifaz-Taliban and yes he cut down a Thor-Oak....but the germanic pagan ritual to cut a branch of an evergreen and take it home for the winter solstice season stayed...till some smartie muuuuuuuuuuuuuch later came up with the idea to make the branch bigger...get some more additionally...hey, why not a whole tree and voila, the christmas tree was born.
(Especially funny as the this was another try by the christian taliban to overtake the pagan traditions of winter solstice (22th) and call that "Christmas" even as we know that Jesus was NOT born on the 24th of December)

right, the evergreen boughs predate christianity. it's not a christian tradition at all but an adaptation of the pagan rituals to "sell" christianity to the masses.

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