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POLISH CARNIVAL

POLISH CARNIVAL

Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.

POLISH CARNIVAL

The Polish Carnival Season includes Fat Thursday (Polish: Tłusty Czwartek), when pączki (doughnuts) are eaten, and Śledzik (Shrove Tuesday) or Herring Day. The Tuesday before the start of Lent is also often called Ostatki (literally "lasts"), meaning the last day to party before the Lenten season.

POLISH CARNIVAL

In Western Europe the beginnings of the carnival parties combined with dressing up date back to the Middle Ages. These kinds of festivities appeared also in Poland and resulted in ample traditions which had their roots in national and folk customs. In big cities the carnival balls, which were very often masquerades, were held in the most beautiful halls, for example the town hall. Whereas in private bourgeois houses they were called knees-up.

The most grand ball was in the XVII century the Mardi Gras ball which was held in aristocratic manor houses. During those gatherings the tables were groaning with dishes and drinks. Neighbours were visiting each other and the sleigh rides with torches were organized. Dances lasted all night till the crack of dawn, the most popular were mazurka, polonaise, whirling and ‘the candle dance’.

POLISH CARNIVAL

POLISH CARNIVAL

During carnival fancy dress processions were very common. Depending on the region the parade had to have a horse, a goat, a stork, a chimney sweep, devil, death, a doctor, a grandmother and a grandfather or an angel. The whole procession was escorted by the musicians who were playing on various folk instruments such as bagpipes or barrel organs.

POLISH CARNIVAL

During Mardi Gras the most important church holiday is  Candlemas. The blessed candle symbolises the life of human being because it accompanies him from the very day he was born up till his death. In Poland the Candlemas holiday finishes the prolonged Christmas; carol singing is over and the Christmas tree is being put away. This tradition derives from the Bible which says that on the 2nd of February baby Jesus was sacrificed in the temple.

POLISH CARNIVAL

During last days of Mardi Gras, which are also called the devilish days or the pancake days, people ate and drank with no moderation. They treated themselves to only fatty sweets such as drop scones, blinis and cakes filled with pork fat. The tradition of ‘fatty Thursday’ derives from those days. That particular Thursday marked the beginning of the ‘fatty week’ which in the end crowned the whole carnival. Nowadays the remaining custom is only ‘fatty Thursday’ – during that day people gorge on doughnuts and deep-fried pastry ribbons fried in hot oil.

The history of doughnut dates back to the Roman times. In ancient Rome the last days of carnival were filled with fun, pleasure and lavish eating and drinking. Everybody gorged on fatty foods in delight, especially doughnuts. In the XIX century doughnuts appeared on Polish tables. The last days of carnival are still the days when the biggest amount of doughnuts is eaten in our country. There is even a saying that if you do not eat a single doughnut on ‘fatty Thursday’ you will not be prosperous in the future.

POLISH CARNIVAL

During the last three days of Mardi Gras women, as well as men, dressed up in different costumes representing animals, famous people or even monsters. They were toddling around the town and every person they met got a bunch of forest twigs.

POLISH CARNIVAL

Our school holds a masquerade ball every year. Pupils have an opportunity to show off their colourful and original costumes. They real enjoy those balls and look forward to them every year.

POLISH CARNIVAL

POLISH CARNIVAL

In modern times, Carnival is increasingly seen as an excuse for intensive partying and night-clubbing, and has become more commercialized with stores offering Carnival-season sales.