Family celebrations – uroczystości rodzinne
- christening, baptism – chrzest
- birthday – urodziny
- Holy Communion – Pierwsza Komunia Święta
- wedding anniversary – rocznica ślubu
- to celebrate – obchodzić, świętować
- tradition – tradycja
- custom – zwyczaj, obrzęd
wedding – ślub
- fiancée – narzeczona
- fiancé – narzeczony
- to propose to sb – oświadczyć się
- proposal – oświadczyny
- engagement – zaręczyny
- engaged – zaręczony
- to get married – pobrać się
- marriage – małżeństwo
- bride – panna młoda
- (bride) groom – pan młody
- newlyweds – nowożeńcy
- wife – żona
- husband – mąż
- bridesmaid – druhna
- best man – dróżba
- wedding dress – suknia ślubna
- wedding bouquet – bukiet ślubny
- veil – welon
- wedding ring – obrączka
- wedding reception – przyjęcie weselne
- honeymoon – miesiąc miodowy
- separation – separacja
- divorce – rozwód
- divorced – rozwiedziony
- an ex-wife – była żona
- to get custody of one’s child – otrzymać prawo opieki nad dzieckiem (po rozwodzie)
- to remarry – ponownie zawrzeć związek małżeński
Church holidays – święta kościelne
- Palm Sunday – Niedziela Palmowa
- Epiphany – Trzech Króli
- Ash Wednesday – środa popielcowa (Popielec)
- Whitsun, Pentecost – Zielone Świątki
- Corpus Christi – Boże Ciało
- Assumption Day – Wniebowzięcie
- All Saints Day – Wszystkich Świętych
- All Souls Day – Zaduszki
- New Year’s Eve – wieczór sylwestrowy
- New Year – Nowy Rok
- Advent – adwent
- Shrove Tuesday – wtorek przed Wielkim Postem
- Lent – Wielki Post
Christmas – Boże Narodzenie
- Christmas Eve – Wigilia Bożego Naradzenia
- Christmas Day – pierwszy dzień świąt Bożego Narodzenia
- Boxing Day – drugi dzień świąt Bożego Narodzenia
- Christmas tree – choinka
- to decorate the Christmas tree – przystroić choinkę
- to share a wafer – dzielić się opłatkiem
- to leave an empty chair for an absent family member – pozostawić puste miejsce przy stole wigilijnym dla nieobecnych krewnych
- Christmas Eve midnight mass – pasterka
- to send/receive Christmas cards – wysyłać/ otrzymywać kartki świąteczne
- to sing carols – śpiewać kolędy
- Santa Claus, Father Christmas – Święty Mikołaj
- reindeer – renifer
- fairy lights – kolorowe światełka na choinkę
- to kiss under the mistletoe – pocałować się pod jemiołą
- to unwrap a present – rozpakować prezent
- nativity play – jasełka
- to hang up Christmas stocking – powiesić długą skarpetę na prezenty
- to build a snowman – ulepić bałwana
- to put up Christmas decorations – udekorować dom z okazji Bożego Narodzenia
- Christmas Eve supper – wieczerza wigilijna
- twelve courses – dwanaście potraw
- traditional Polish Christmas dishes – tradycyjne polskie potrawy wigilijne
- beetroot soup – czerwony barszcz
- mushroom soup – zupa grzybowa
- carp – karp
- herring – śledź
- ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and cabbage – uszka z grzybami i kapustą
- poppyseed cake – makowiec
- cheesecake – sernik
- gingerbread – piernik
- boiled wheat with poppy seeds and honey – kutia
Easter – Wielkanoc
- Good Friday – Wielki Piątek
- Easter Sunday – Niedziela Wielkanocna
- Resurrection – Zmartwychwstanie
- to paint eggs – malować jajka
- to bless food – poświęcić potrawy
- Easter lamb – baranek wielkanocny
- Easter Bunny – zajączek wielkanocny
- Easter Egg – czekoladowe jajko wielkanocne
Family celebrations
We have had a lot of family celebrations this year. In January my baby brother was christened. Two weeks later my seven-year-old niece had her Holy Communion. Then all my family gathered to celebrate my grandma’s ninetieth birthday. In February my parents had their wedding anniversary and it is our family tradition to spend it in the mountains.
Wedding
My cousin Mary is finally getting married in May. It has been the longest engagement I have ever heard of. Mary’s fiancé proposed to her three years ago. She accepted his proposal but they decided to wait with the wedding until they graduate from university.
I went to a wedding last Saturday. My brother was getting married and he asked me to be his best man. The bride looked beautiful in her silk wedding dress and a long veil. The groom looked very handsome too. The ceremony took place in a small, wooden church. The atmosphere was great and the moment of exchanging wedding rings was really touching. After the church ceremony everybody was invited to the reception. First the bride threw her wedding bouquet but I did not manage to catch it. Then we danced, drank and ate until the newlyweds set off for their honeymoon.
Church holidays
The most important Church holiday is Easter. The preparation for this event is called Lent which starts with Ash Wednesday. However, the most popular holidays are Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Everybody in Poland celebrates also All Saints and All Souls Days. It is the time of contemplation and memorising those who are no longer with us. Other important religious holidays in Poland are Corpus Christi and Assumption Day.
Christmas
Christmas is the most popular family holiday in Poland, Britain and many other countries all over the world. The most important rituals are celebrated on Christmas Eve. When the first star appears, people take seats at the table, leaving an empty place for an unexpected guest. Before they start eating, they share the holy wafer. The number of courses is strictly established, but it varies in different regions of Poland. The most popular dishes are: beetroot soup, ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and cabbage, noodles with poppy seed, carp and herring. Dessert consists of poppyseed cake, gingerbread and cheesecake.
After the Christmas Eve Supper everybody is allowed to unwrap presents, which are placed under the Christmas tree. Later, the family gather around the tree and sing the carols.
In Britain people also sing carols and get presents. On Christmas Eve children hang up a Christmas stocking on the fireplace or at the foot of their bed for Santa Claus to fill. All gifts are opened in the morning on Christmas Day.
Easter
I spent last Easter in the mountains. We went there on Good Friday and stayed till Monday afternoon. It was really great to observe local customs and traditions there. On Saturday morning we prepared a basket. We put painted eggs, some bread, salt, Easter lamb and Easter Bunny into it and went to church to have the food blessed.
