Mathematics Science and Language
Term 4 during Polish lessons students had an opportunity to learn about seasonal celebrations in Poland: All Saints Day. They learnt about similarities and differences between their own celebrations and of those events and celebrations in Poland. Halloween is observed in many different parts of the world. However, on the 1st of November in Poland “All Saints Day” is celebrated. During “All Saints day” for the whole day people visit the graves of their loved ones and friends who have already sadly passed away, they reminisce about them, pray for them and light candles in their intention of showing respect and honour. This all together creates an outstanding view of the cemetery in the evening or at night….
Students also researched about Polish Christmas celebrations. Poland has many customs and institutions related to the entire Christmas period. The most eagerly anticipated part of Christmas Eve – “Wigilia”, both for children and adults, is quite naturally the exchange of presents. Christmas Eve is a day of fasting, followed by a sumptuous dinner, consisting of 12 traditional dishes, which in most homes starts with the appearance of the first star. The Wigilia celebration includes carolling or carol singing, as well as the singing of melodious seasonal songs called pastorałki. Traditional Nativity plays are held and the art of building Christmas cribs continues to this day, especially in the South of Poland – the Krakow cribs are particularly famous.
