It has a turbulent and difficult history. She shared and defended her position many times, being at the crossroads of history between the West and the East. Krzysztof Zanussi, a Polish director, said this about the mentality of his compatriots: “We look at everyone and try to be like them, choosing the most suitable one.”
Poles are aesthetes and theatergoers
Today Poland is one of the largest European countries, which became a member of the EU in 2004 and is one of the cultural centers Europe. Poles are aesthetes and theatergoers. Warsaw alone has 47 theaters and more than 100 museums. Every year in Poland the famous “Night of Museums” is held, when everyone can visit any panopticon in Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw and other cities for free. Preparations are being made for this event museum workers, updating their exhibitions, and visitors planning to visit the most interesting places. This kind of aesthetic competition brings incredible emotions to everyone and is remembered for a long time. Poland is rich and diverse. And everything, starting with International competition pianists dedicated to F. Chopin, ending with art festivals of street artists in the city of Lodz - everything is subordinated to the great desire of the Poles to make their lives beautiful and harmonious. 
Poles love life
Poles are incredibly polite and hospitable, love diminutive suffixes and call each other “pan” and “pani”. They do not drink alcoholic beverages in public places. They love and preserve bison and white storks. The number of the latter in Poland is 23% of the total number of individuals of this species in the world. 23 national parks, more than 1,200 nature reserves and separately about 100 bird reserves are excellent proof of how Poles love nature and life itself. This may be why there are very few circuses in Poland (none in Warsaw), and the number of theaters where live actors perform on stage significantly exceeds the number of cinemas. You will not see a single stray dog on the city streets. Every Pole gives 1% of taxes every month to animal shelters and other charities. Abortion is prohibited in Poland and large families are encouraged. This country ranks first in Europe for the presence of large families. 
Poles love nature
Poles love and. They don't have a single nuclear power plant. They prefer to live outside the city. Dacha plots are scattered throughout the cities and near them, turning policies into blooming gardens, and preventing residents from moving away from their origins. A third of Poland's territory is forests, half of production is related to agriculture. You can often see a live horse in the field, instead of modern agricultural machinery. And not at all because the Poles are abandoning civilization. Just subsistence farming and horses are their hobby.And even on the roof of the library of the University of Warsaw, on the territory of an entire hectare, there is a unique two-level garden with water cascades, the only one of its kind in Europe.
Poles are devout Catholics
Most Poles are Catholics. The paradoxicality and inconsistency of the Polish character is manifested even in the fact that Nicolaus Copernicus, a Pole by origin, once shook the foundations of Catholicism by putting forward the theory of the heliocentric structure of our solar system. And modern Poles are the most faithful and consistent Catholics in the world. Even on the tram they talk about Catholic holidays and traditions. And in churches they not only perform weddings, but also officially register marriages. Poles honor their Angel's Day (name day) more than their birthday. And the most honorable holiday in Poland is considered “All Saints’ Day,” which is celebrated on November 1 and turns into a bright solemn event.
Sports and health
Poles are passionate fans. They love football. And although football team Poland has not yet shown good results, the enthusiasm has not subsided. Their active nature makes Poles adherents of a healthy and active way of life and pastime. Here even pensioners prefer to travel by car. The famous ski resort of Zakopane annually attracts thousands of ski lovers from all over the world. Poland is a great place for recovery and treatment. The mineral waters of Krynica Zdroj, the rehabilitative effect of the underground microclimate of the Wieliczka salt mines, the Baltic waters of Sopot and Krynica Morska, as well as many other unique healing and preventive natural resources are stored in Poland. 
Poles love holidays
Poles love zubrowka and beer; the favorite brand of Polish beer, Lech, is named after the founder of Poland. They paint gingerbread cookies and prepare wonderful bigos ( stewed cabbage with meat) and “Russian perogi” (fried dumplings). Soup is a traditional holiday dish. It is even served at weddings. Although on ordinary days Poles can do without liquid food. They love to eat delicious food and know how to relax. Each holiday is necessarily accompanied by costumed and theatrical performances, with toasts, feasts and fiery Krakowiak or Mazurka. Even prom in Poland it begins with the obligatory polonaise. Not a single holiday is complete without the traditional song “Sto lat!” Almost every Pole can sing and dance. Poland loves to organize fairs and carnivals. Holidays and festivals of folk and modern music do not stop all year round. The famous Jagiellonian Fair and Maslenitsa carnivals are known for their vibrancy throughout Europe. Holy honor folk traditions, the inhabitants of Poland keep the secrets of ancient pottery art, rich folk embroidery and painting. Like, for example, in the famous Flower Village (Zalipie), where you can see houses painted by craftsmen as exhibits of an ethnographic museum. 
Poland is special world, the spiritual and national identity of which can be studied endlessly. But, once you discover the charm and beauty of this country and its people, you suddenly realize that you have given your heart to it forever.
Each people of the world has its own characteristics, which are absolutely normal and ordinary for them, but if a person of another nationality falls into their midst, he may be very surprised by the habits and traditions of the inhabitants of this country, because they will not coincide with his own ideas about life. We invite you to learn 8 national habits and characteristics of the inhabitants of Poland, which will help you better understand the inhabitants of this country.
They are truly polite people
Don't be surprised if a skinhead accidentally steps on your foot and apologizes profusely. The Poles do this automatically. The scope of required politeness is much wider than in other countries.
Poles address strangers using the “you” form, adding the construction pan / pani / państwo (Mr. / Madam / Gentlemen). Calling strangers “man” (mężczyzno) or “woman” (kobieto) is unacceptable in Poland. At the same time, the addresses “girl” (panno) or “young man” (młody człowieku) are used by older people in relation to really young Poles, but are considered outdated.
Etiquette is also observed in business correspondence. And here a foreigner needs to be careful - for example, in a job application it is not enough to write: “To Director Kowalski: I ask you to hire me” (this is uncivil). You definitely need to apologize for the disturbance. Address the director “Dear director! I really, really ask you to hire me,” explain why you should be hired and how much you will be grateful for it.
They love to complain
Complaining is Poles' favorite sport. Don't try to compete with them on this. The answer “everything is fine” to the question “how are you?” considered indecent (how is that “good”? It’s suspicious!). Life cannot be easy and good! Poland is a "safe haven" with a growing GDP in crisis-ridden Europe. Well, yes, they didn’t seem to feel the crisis, but in Germany the motorways are still better...
They agree to offers the third time
A real Pole will refuse several times before agreeing, for example, to a treat (it’s rude to agree right away). In Poland itself, despite the number of refusals, the guest will be fed anyway, but abroad, with their habit of refusing out of politeness, Poles sometimes go hungry. So if by chance a Pole turns up at your home, offer at least three times: help, food, any amenities you like, you’ll see - you won’t get a positive answer the first time. Well, maybe only if this specimen has suffered enough abroad...
They are very religious
Poles are very religious; most go to church every Sunday. Everyone celebrates Easter and Christmas together, and the most important holidays in the country are Catholic ones. Many Poles divide life into periods: from baptism to first communion, from first communion to confirmation, from confirmation to wedding, from wedding to death. A passerby in conversation with a boy may well ask whether he has already had the first communion ritual or will he?
Even getting married for a Pole means “getting married.” In Poland, it is customary to seal marriage bonds in church. Moreover, the latter even replaced registry offices, since priests draw up all state documents. Interestingly, a girl can only wear a white wedding dress to get married. It is not customary to wear it for a civil ceremony at the registry office.
They study en masse
In Poland, higher education is no longer prestigious or fashionable, it is mandatory. Everyone studies, it’s not always clear why, but the fact is that it’s hard to get a cleaning position without at least a secondary education. Unfortunately, the cult of education is not paired with material compensation for the work invested in studies. There is a popular joke: the mother of the illiterate Yasha cannot find him a job for minimal money (with a large salary he will go on a drinking binge), because such small salaries are only for people with higher education. But here we again return to the topic of “folk sports”.
They are stocking up on food
Poles take care of their children and other relatives living in other cities. “Sloik”, that is, a bank, is an integral attribute of every Polish family that sent a child to study or a husband on a business trip. In these jars they carry mother’s food for the whole long week: soups, main courses, sauces, salads, pickles and canned food. It is impossible to live in Poland without this, every Sunday all the cars, buses and trains are simply overflowing with cans, and on the road you can sometimes hear the characteristic sound of glass walls rubbing against each other. If Polish students were prohibited from carrying cans, they would starve to death.
For them, all nations of the former USSR are Russians
For Poles, everyone who lives east of Poland is Russian. This goes back to the times of the USSR, when any citizens of the Union were called Russians. Therefore, do not be surprised if, after telling a Pole that you came from Belarus or Ukraine, you suddenly hear from your interlocutor: “Well, how is it in Russia?”
They love to torture foreigners
Here cream 2 grows on trees. In crypt 3 you can buy cannon 4, full of beer. Children are entertained by parties 5. The Poles, to be honest, are not the most organized nation in the world, so very often they remember something 6 . They itch 7 and wonder a lot 8 when they stumble 9 with friends. Glamorous girls visit freak salons 10. They walk on 11 sofas and eat from 12 chairs, making sure to maintain a favorable belly 13 . The country is prosperous - every city has a palace 14, and every Pole has his own building 15. Everyone who works receives a pension for 16 weeks and usually rests for 17 weeks.
Polish-Russian dictionary:
1. pytać (torture) - “to ask.”
2. śliwki (cream) - “plums”.
3. sklep (crypt) - “shop”.
4. puszka (gun) - “can”.
5. wieczorynka (party) - an analogue of the program “Good night, kids”.
6. zapomnieć (remember) - “to forget.”
7. cieszyć się (itches) - “to rejoice.”
8. gadać (guess) - “to chat.”
9. spotykać się (to stumble) - “to meet.”
10. salon urody (salon of freaks) - “beauty salon”.
11. dywan (sofa) - “carpet”.
12. stół (chair) - “table”.
13. wygodny żywot (profitable belly) - “comfortable life.”
14. dworzec (palace) - “station”.
15. zdanie (building) - “opinion”.
16. pensja (pension) - “salary”.
17. niedziela (week) - “Sunday”.
Poland is an amazing country with its own traditions and foundations. Many tourists from post-Soviet countries believe that they know all the features of the Polish people, because they think that there are no differences between the Slavs. But this is a common misconception; there are significant differences between peoples, so before going to this state you should find out about them in advance .
Let's consider what a tourist needs to know about the Polish people in order not to get into a stupid situation and to be understood.
Characteristics of Poles
The country has experienced many conquests in its history, so the mentality of the Poles is quite diverse and complex. For example, the long struggle for independence and the tragic events of World War II contributed to the fact that Poles are capable of empathy and have a heightened sense of justice. They know how to listen and sympathize with everyone to whom fate is unfavorable.
The times of socialism also influenced the Polish mentality; due to crises in the economy, the country's population learned to be economical and come up with different ways out of hopeless situations.
Poles are attentive and hospitable towards guests. Every person you meet along the way is greeted with a smile, and everyone you know is sure to shake hands. Locals address strangers formally using the construction “Mr/Madam/Gentlemen” (pan/pani/panstwo).
Important! In Poland, it is unacceptable to call strangers “man” (mężczyzno) or “woman” (kobieto).
A characteristic negative feature of the Polish people is their slowness. It manifests itself in everything: it takes a long time to prepare documents, certificates, and provide various services. For example, you will have to wait at least six months for a work permit. It will take a week of waiting to connect to the Internet.
Also, a national characteristic of a Pole is non-obligation. You need to be prepared for the fact that a promise to call back or do something within a specified period may not be fulfilled. IN in this case It’s better to remind yourself about yourself more often, especially if it’s something important.
These people love to complain, you can say that this is their “favorite sport”, and you shouldn’t even try to compete with a Pole in this. To the question “How are you?” It is better not to answer “Everything is fine”, because this is considered indecent and suspicious. Everything cannot be good for the Poles - there are always problems.
To the positive characteristic features It is worth mentioning that the Poles have family as a priority. Here they rarely work on weekends or stay an extra hour at work; everyone rushes home to spend time with their family. On weekends, the whole family often goes shopping or to entertainment centers. Poles also love pets; almost every family has a four-legged friend.
These are perhaps the most basic national traits of a given people. It is also worth dwelling on the religiosity of the Poles in order to better understand their mentality. In addition, religion comes first for this people.
Religiosity of the Polish people
For the people of Poland, Catholicism plays an important part in their lives. Every Sunday, most Poles go to church, but some also visit it on weekdays.
Additional information! The most revered saint is the Virgin Mary.
Many Poles divide their lives into several periods:
- from baptism to first communion;
- from communion to confirmation;
- from confirmation to wedding;
- from wedding to death.
Church holidays are celebrated at the state level. On such days, cafes, restaurants, as well as many shops, supermarkets, etc. are closed. The streets are empty on holidays, because Poles always celebrate them in family circle. Sunday is a mandatory day off, and on this day no one does cleaning or other household chores.
By the way, among Poles, getting married means more “getting married.” In Poland, most marriages take place in the church. Moreover, another feature is that the bride wears a white dress only during the wedding.
What else is useful for a tourist to know?
Poles are a very sociable nation and are almost always ready to talk with a foreigner. But many people do not speak Russian, so it is better to start a conversation in English or Polish. Local residents highly value tourists who know their language at least a little, so before traveling to this country it is better to memorize a few phrases, and then the key to good communication is guaranteed.
When going on a visit, you shouldn’t have a snack in a cafe, because Poles are usually hospitable and will offer their guests a wide variety of dishes and drinks. Men should not refuse to drink, as they may receive a judgmental and mocking look.
Often in conversations with Poles you can hear curse words directed at the country's politicians. There is no need to be surprised or frightened, because a huge part of the Polish population is always not happy with their power. Conversations on this topic are usually short-lived; Poles quickly switch to other topics.
This is the main thing that a tourist who is going to the Polish Republic should know. In conclusion, we note that each nation has its own characteristics and traditions, so before going on a trip to another country, it is better to familiarize yourself with them in advance.
To better understand the context, a little personal history. Although I have already partially described some parts of my biography in other posts, I will repeat it especially for those who come to read only this one post.Before leaving for Poland, I lived in Kharkov, a metropolis in eastern Ukraine. My adolescence occurred in the “dashing 90s”, and the situations in my life were different. The social strata in which I had to communicate were also different. For example, by the end of school, two of my classmates were already in prison. I'm not complaining - quite the contrary. I am sure that everything in life happens for a reason. There are no bad experiences. But I want to note that when forming a personality, his environment is not a death sentence. I am this I know based on actual experience. And so I don't believe in "bad environment" as an excuse.
Another thing is education. And here the role of parents is difficult to overestimate. I was lucky - I had it since childhood greater freedom in decision making, and exactly the same responsibility. Since childhood, I knew that any action entails consequences. In different time frames, scales and combinations. And it so happened that I came to many elementary things myself.
I realized that lying is bad. Not because someone will “punish”. I realized that aggression begets aggression and is destructive in nature. Littering on the street is bad. Violating traffic rules is dangerous. Etc. etc. Once again I want to note that I came to these things myself. No one has ever brainwashed me (successfully). I am agnostic.
I also really loved helping people. Yes, yes, exactly for me liked helping. Exclusively due to selfish feelings - awareness of how important my help is to these people. I'm not talking about alms - I never give to beggars. I'm talking about real help. Of very different nature.
... (there was also a large piece of text telling me how correct, white and fluffy I am. And although this is true, it made me feel sick :))
So, with this worldview, I felt more and more like a black sheep in Ukraine...
Part II - Moving
By the way, I don’t want to say that I was unique. On the contrary, in Ukraine there are really a lot of good people. In the end, I can’t say anything bad about anyone around me. But, unfortunately, life is not only about your social circle.Going out into the street..... here I began to write about what I encountered and how disgusting and unpleasant it all was for me, but, once again, I decided not to add negativity to my blog. In the end, everyone already knows what and how is happening in Ukraine. The other day I accidentally came across a channel on YouTube ZIK(specifically this video clip). I realized how unaccustomed I was to such news.
I no longer remember what and when exactly made me decide to emigrate. But I want to point out that it’s not at all material goods. By the time I moved, I had my own apartment, a car, a good salary and a job that I liked. Severing social ties at the time of moving is very important issue. I can say that I underestimated her. In general, moving brings with it a lot of different difficulties. But by that time I already had a very established life position– they are afraid of wolves’ teeth – don’t go into the forest.
So, despite all the difficulties, we still moved. And after the prism of 3.5 years, I want to say again - We have never regretted the move. I have written a lot about various comparative pros and cons. Actually, b O The majority of my blog is dedicated to this. But specifically in this post we will talk about....
Part III - Mentality
Chapter I - Smile
So, first of all, I want to talk about the most common misconception about the mentality of Poles (Europeans): a smile on the face is just a mask. This is not true. And I have my own version of the origin of this prejudice.In the post-Soviet space, it is customary to be polite and respectful only with loved ones and friends (I just realized the full significance of the question “Petrovich, do you respect me?”). Such social proximity presupposes a special attitude when deciding various issues. And perhaps this is exactly what our compatriots expect when people smile at them. And they get very upset when their interlocutor/partner does not behave in a “brotherly” manner.
In reality, it is customary here to treat each other with respect and goodwill “by default.” Now I feel it myself - I have no reason to to a stranger treats badly. At the same time, I’m not pretending. And I think that's very good.
However, a friendly attitude does not mean special treatment. Because of a smile, you won’t get a discount in the store, your partner won’t reduce his margin, and the girl at the tax office won’t reduce the percentage. Even the policeman will smile when he writes you a ticket. This doesn't mean he's wearing a mask. But he may sincerely hope that you will follow the rules better.
And in general, it turned out so well that smiling at a stranger in Europe is not shameful. And this greatly lifts the mood.
Chapter II - Informers
I am not a historian, but fragments of the history of the USSR associated with informers appear in my memory. As I understand it, it was from those times that cooperation with law enforcement agencies was discredited. And in the 90s, when everything was decided “by convention”, contacting the police generally became... let's say... unethical. Therefore, I often hear the opinion that Europeans are actually rats who secretly complain to the police in order to do mischief.Unfortunately, those who hold this opinion have simply forgotten why law enforcement agencies were actually invented. And often they simply cannot imagine the normal work of the police, which does not demand or take bribes. When you live in a civil society, you must understand that your freedom ends where the freedom of another person begins. For example, if society decided that after 10 p.m. everyone has the right to restful sleep, then none of the neighbors are obliged to explain this to you again personally. And if you are not satisfied with the laws by which society lives, then either seek to change the laws (and this is possible), or look for another society (this is my personal opinion).
Epilogue
For the May holidays, friends from Kharkov came to us - a couple with a child. The head of the family was in Europe for the first time, and never ceased to note the differences. We are already accustomed to many things, but I tried to look at these differences in a new way. After all, I’m already accustomed to good roads, the absence of rudeness, automation and assistance in reception areas of various departments, the presence of open sports grounds with equipment, non-corrupt police officers (the list is huge)....But do I think that the Poles are better than the Ukrainians? No. Everything that I just listed in the previous paragraph is what all Ukrainians want (it’s stupid not to want it). The only problem is that not everyone knows how to achieve this. But everything is simple. Of course, it’s not easy at all, but you can start small - with yourself. Don’t be rude, don’t litter, don’t violate traffic rules - this is the minimum with which everyone can start... And just don’t talk about the environment - we’ve already done it (see Part I).
P.S
This difference did not make it into any chapter, but was recently recalled and discussed.Do you know what is the main difference in the alcohol consumption culture of Russians and Europeans? For “Russians” the process consists of drinking and eating. For Europeans it is the opposite. They wash down their food with alcohol.
By Russian standards, Poles do not know how to drink. They almost never drink pure vodka, diluting it or washing it down with juice. But sometimes, by the way, they can drink without eating at all. This happens during lively communication. Then alcohol is consumed for a very long time, and either it’s all sorts of gins and tonics, or beer, or, as a last resort, vodka (again, washed down with juice). Not without exceptions, but I'm talking about my social circle.
I remember during our second trip to Poland a German boy was traveling with us in the carriage. Very sociable, and with a large supply of beer, which he asked to help destroy before the border. I then asked him whether in Germany sausages are really the most popular snack for beer. For a long time he could not understand what I was talking about, and said that yes - they love sausages... and in general they like different foods... washed down with beer.
PPP: I'm looking forward to your feedback and comments. The only incentive that makes you continue to blog is at least some kind of interactivity.
The national characteristics of the Poles reflect the complex history of the people, which had a huge and not always positive influence on the views and behavior of Poles. But the Poles also inherited some of these features from their ancestors.
History professor Wojciech Roszkowski listed the historical factors that influenced national character Poles: the absence of state absolutism in the Commonwealth, the weakness of the bourgeoisie, the decline of noble culture in the 18th century, the loss of statehood, the long unsuccessful struggle for independence in the 19th century, the rapid development of the peasantry, the absurdities and contradictions that existed in the Polish People's Republic.
Difficult Legacy
In the absence of the spirit of the middle class with its industriousness and extensive economic activity, Poland is dominated by not always glorious and worthy models of culture - such as a tendency to disputes at the local, state and parliamentary levels (in Europe the phrase "Polish parliament" had a very negative meaning), scandals and extreme individualism. The latter feature is reflected in the very popular saying: “A nobleman on his estate is equal to a palatine” (it means that a nobleman on his estate has no superiors, and therefore he does not need to respect other people).
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Nobles: funerary portrait, 17th century.
The long absence of statehood, the defeat of national uprisings in the 19th century, and the tragedies of World War II and the post-war period created among Poles a sense of injustice and a tendency toward martyrdom.
Much could be said about the negative impact of the socialist state on the consciousness of Poles. The socialist state provided them with jobs, wages and housing, and took care - at least according to official propaganda - of the basic needs of its citizens. On the other hand, it did not know its citizens very well; the inhabitants of the country were controlled, they were rewarded not for their real merits, but at the discretion of the authorities (people knew that success in life did not depend on work, but on position in society and privileges). Therefore, the Poles did not feel responsible for the country and their place of residence. The attitude towards the state as an alien creature, the solution of whose problems an ordinary person could not influence in any way, led to a loss of interest in social problems, as evidenced by the low level of participation in elections at the state and local levels after 1989. Voter turnout in elections in Poland does not exceed 50%, with the exception of the 2007 elections (53.9%), when young Poles rushed to the polls to remove the government of Jaroslaw Kaczynski from the Law and Justice Party (“Prawo”) i Sprawiedliwosc”, PiS) . This is confirmed by the results of a recent sociological study “Social Diagnostics 2011”, which showed that Poles are primarily focused on their own affairs and their family, and for 20% (!) of Poles it does not matter whether they live in a democratic society or not.
A positive legacy of the socialist period is that, living in a state of constant economic crisis, Poles have learned to be resourceful, and many are perceived abroad as employees who can do a good job under any circumstances. When, at the end of the existence of the Polish People's Republic More favorable conditions for this began to appear, people began to actively build capitalism from scratch - literally, from street trading.
A satirical portrayal of Poles in the television program “Olga Lipinskaya’s Cabaret.”
Psychological portrait of Poles
The psychological portrait of Poles is rich in colors and shades, including dark ones. According to professor of psychiatry Eugene Brzezicki, Poles have a scirthothymic personality type, characterized by short-lived enthusiasm, pretentiousness and imagination, courage, dedication, persistence and patience in difficult situations, but also carelessness and recklessness during periods of success. Another psychologist, Professor Kazimierz Dąbrowski, compiled his own catalog of the strengths and weaknesses of a typical Pole. Disadvantages include excessive emotional excitability, suspicion and mistrust, frivolity, superficiality, sensitivity to external impressions (gestures, smiles, lifestyle), a tendency towards extreme individualism and protest, low organizational skills, lack of sufficient self-esteem, a tendency to express opinions based on emotions rather than rationally considered facts. Virtues include: romanticism and spirituality, courage, heroism, gentleness, non-cruelty, loyalty, fulfillment of obligations, a deep sense of freedom, autonomy, independence and individuality, as well as great potential in various fields.
IN everyday life these advantages and disadvantages are combined with each other, which does not always lead to best results. Examples:
- the desire for freedom is strong during its absence, but the resulting freedom is not always used properly (the struggle for independence during the Polish People's Republic and non-participation in public affairs after 1989);
- mobilization of forces when necessary, but lack of cooperation further, disputes and splits (for example, the division of the former Solidarity and the hostility of some of its activists towards its former leader Lech Walesa);
- the desire for legality, but at the same time such anti-legal behavior.
Religiosity
For the average foreigner especially distinctive feature The Polish character seems to be religiosity. But it turns out that even here not everything is so good. As sociologist Edmund Lewandowski noted, Polish religiosity is “intellectually petty, selective, fanatical and morally ineffective. (...) Church morality (participation in church services) is most respected, strictly religious morality (evangelical ideals) is poorly understood, and natural morality (associated with the Ten Commandments) is accepted in different ways.
Pilgrimage to Częstochowa, 2010; pilgrims dressed in folk costumes city of Łowicz
Two Polands
Despite these universal character traits, it is easy to see that Poles differ deeply in their way of thinking, as the political election maps perfectly illustrate. And again dramatic story of this country - partitions and post-war migrations - plays a huge role in this. As can be seen from these maps, the division of Poland into conservative (Eastern and Southern Poland) and liberal (Western and Northern Poland) often coincides exactly with the boundaries of the old partitions.
Parliamentary elections
2007:
Presidential elections 2010:
Poland A
Poles from the northwestern regions - the so-called Poland A, which includes economically developed lands that formerly belonged to Germany (Lower Silesia, Pomerania) - are immigrants: mainly repatriates from the eastern territories lost to Poland after the Second World War, as well as forced workers from Germany, soldiers from the West, people who moved here from crowded central Poland - now this territory is apparently inhabited by their descendants. The mobility of residents of these areas contributes to the development of liberal views, since it implies openness to the world, receptivity to any new information and acceptance of more civilized cultural models. Consequently, Western and Northern Poles are less dependent on the opinions of their local environment, and, despite their traditionally Polish (but less pronounced) religiosity, the Catholic Church has a much weaker influence on them. Of no small importance for the worldview and mentality of the population originally living in Poland A (Wielkopolska - Greater Poland) was long-term contact with the culture of Protestant Prussia and the approach of its inhabitants to life. As a result, the population of this territory of Poland is more open and economically active, rather than passively waiting for any favors from the state (previously from the king) or God, which is typical for Poland B.
Poland B
The areas of eastern and southern Poland, the so-called Poland B, are poorer, less economically developed (the invaders did not develop industry here) and previously belonged to Russian Empire. It is here that the conservative right-wing party (PiS), which turns to a romantic model of patriotism based on the sanctity of symbols and feelings, gains more votes in elections. Due to the lack of mobility (80% of the population has lived here for generations), people here are in favor of preserving traditional way of life, show an aversion to any change, have a deep distrust of the outside world (which does not seem very interesting) and respect for the opinions of neighbors and the priest, who is often a consultant on social and political issues. Religion in this part of Poland is a very important part of life, it influences Political Views and people's behavior.
Poles of our time (2011)
The most recent portrait of Poles is contained in the sociological study “Social Diagnostics 2011” (conducted every two years), conducted by Professor Janusz Czapiński from the University of Warsaw. The most surprising result of this study in the current crisis, although reflecting a stable trend in society, is a very high (up to 80%) level of satisfaction with living conditions. This calls into question the traditional Polish love of complaining: when the question “How are you?” the Pole replies: “Still as poor.” However, the typical Polish tendency to focus on purely personal matters was also confirmed.
Conditions for happiness for the average Pole are good health (63.7%), a successful marriage (53.2%) and children (47.2%). Values of a higher order are valued less: only 3% of Poles named freedom as a condition for a successful life, 4.5% - education, 4% - friendship.
- The image of a modern Polish woman is very conservative. For the average Polish woman, the most important values are family, children and religion. Work, friends and money are valued less by women than by men. (Read also:,).
- Poles want to get an education – the percentage of people with higher education is 24%.
- Poland also ranks second in the world for the number of 19-year-old students (80%).
- Another trend is a decrease in interest in religion - only 42.7% of Poles confirmed that they attend mass four or more times a month (in 1992 this was 55.7%).
- Every sixth student wants to emigrate from Poland.
Young Poles mix liberal and conservative views.
schoolchildren
Despite the fact that they are open to the world and have no prejudice towards the West (unlike their parents), they know foreign languages, they also support the old-fashioned hierarchical structures of society.
Poles 2016
