My village is 450 years old!

Hello to all! I’m sorry I have neglected this blog for so long!

As you can see from the title something very interesting happened in my village this weekend, we were celebrating its 450 birthday! Yay ;) Because of that those past few days were really full of attractions – and they’re not over yet.

Couple of words about Sidzina then. My village can be considered as quite big one (by Polish standards), it has over 4 thousand inhabitants now. Our church was built in XIX century, after the original one was destroyed  in a fire. Inside there’s a very special painting of Virgin Mary, which is approximately as old as the village. People from Sidzina are very proud of it and they say that it’s  miraculous and come pray to Her in times of distress. Village is located in lovely mountains Beskidy, they’re not very high but the views are amazing for long walks. There’s a National Park nearby, called Babia Góra. I really like this place!

If you want to see more pictures of the village, you can check this page:
http://www.sidzina.net.pl/Domy,c10.html

Or watch this short video on youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMjWo0M-Yg

OK, back to the celebration. There was a lovely wooden statue created by one of the local artists, it looks like this:

Last month there was a cross-country run related to the anniversary, a lot of art contest for children and a sport event. This Sunday was the center point of the celebration.  There was a concert in our church, feast in our open air museum (skansen), generally a lot of music, shows and dancing till morning. A lot of alcohol too ;p 

More pictures from this weekend can be found here:
http://195.88.114.18/450_lecie/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&view=gallery&Itemid=481&page=1#gallery

And there’s still a lot of things planned for future weeks - such as a mass in the small chapel in the local mountains, football tournament, photo exhibitions and so on. Yes, I love my village :D

Till next time!

Magdalena

Kaszuby

Hello! Today I would like to talk you about a Kaszuby. It is a region in north Poland, near our Bałtycki see.

This region has a special culture. People live in Kaszuby named Kaszubi. They talk specific language which is differ to our polish language. They try to talk their language every day. Kaszubi has specific clothes too. Any element from their clothes has special name in their language and has special meaning. Here you have this clothes on the picture.

You can see a specific culture of this region in same museum for example: Kaszubskie Museum Franciszka Tredera w Kartuzach, Kaszubski Etnographic Park in Wdzydze Kiszewski.

In this region you can see a special buildings. In Kaszuby you can see a beautiful lakes, you can ride a bike and meet a curious people. People live in Kaszuby cook in specific way and you can taste this dishes. I don’t eat this dishes yet, but I going to taste it in this summer!!!

 

I hope that you visit Kaszuby and you love it!
See you next time!

Izabela

A new regional-pop song!

Hellow! I don’t write anything for long time, and I really regret that!

Today I would like to show you a song. This is song one of my favourite bands named “Zakopower”. They came from capital of our mountains – Zakopane. I think that they name came from city where they liveJ This group mix some pop music with our regional tradition from mountains. You can see that they have a special clothes – they have same elements from traditions clothes in my area. You can compare they clothes with clothes from my another post, where I try to show you our regional kind of suit. They play on special instrument too, and from this few reason I like this group so much!

I have a few problems when I was translate this song, because they sing in same cant. I translate this song not word to word, because it’s impossible,  but I try to tell you about what things they are singing… This music, language and clothes made some special atmosphere which make me happy and more optimistic!

May be you love this song as much as I love it!

Kiebyś ty tak była za mnom                                              If you are into me
jako ja za Tobom                                                             Like I am into you
Kiebyś ty tak była za mnom                                              If you are into me
jako ja za Tobom                                                             Like I am into you
Toby me se razem byli                                                     We will be together
w kazdom nocke ze sobom                                               Every night together
jak Młody z Młodom                                                         Like Bride and Groom
juz w kozdom nocke ino z sobom                                      Just etery night only together
Toby me se razem byli                                                     We will be together
w kozdom nocke ze sobom                                               Every night together
juz w kozdom nocke ino z sobom                                      Just etery night only together

Wolno miłość juz zakwito                                                  Slowly love blossom
cy bedzie co z tego                                                           Will this work out
Wolno miłość juz zakwito                                                  Slowly love blossom
cy bedzie co z tego                                                           Will this wokr out
Nie przewidzis tego cłeku                                                  You cannot anticipate this
zapytać trza halnego                                                         You must ask the wind
co z tom miłościom                                                           What with this love
trza by zapytać sie halnego                                                Someone must ask the wind
Nie przewidzis tego cłeku                                                   You cannot anticipate this
zapytać trza halnego                                                          You must ask the wind
co z tom miłościom                                                            What with this love
trza by zapytać sie halnego                                                 Someone must ask the wind

Kiebyś ty tak za mnom                                                       If you are into me
jako ja za tobom                                                                Like I am into you
Kiebyś ty tak za mnom                                                       If you are into me
jako ja za tobom...                                                             Like I am into you

I hope you love it! See you next time!:)

Izabela

Szczawnica and Pieniny Mountains

I’ve just realized I didn’t recommend an interesting place to you since Morskie Oko case. And that was really really long time ago! So I think it’s pretty clear what’s going to happen now ;) I’m still sticking with the mountains theme – what can I say, I like them most.

This time I want to draw your attention to a place called Szczawnica. It’s a lovely holiday and health resort in my Voivodeship, I’ve been there last summer and I loved every minute of my stay! If you enjoy a quiet atmosphere, fresh air and lovely, traditional wooden architecture I’m sure You’re going to be delighted too!

But the thing that’s the most amazing about this place is it’s location. It’s a paradise for people who love wild, beautiful nature. Szczawnica is set in the landscape of Pieniny National Park and the river Dunajec gorge. Honestly, google those places out – both Pieniny and Dunajec. Breathtaking!

The place is perfect for long, healthy walks. And at the village you can rent a bike practically everywhere, raft & pontoon rides and canoeing are also very popular in this area. And skis in the winter – there are at least 3 ski lifts in the area (that I know of).

It can be a bit dangerous though – the view is so beautiful that you unintentionally do much more kilometers a day than you intended. And then your legs feel like they’re going to fall off in the evening. But you’re still going to walk another 30 kilometers tomorrow. Trust me, I know :)

Szczawnica is quite close to the Tatra Mountains, so you can also meet real Polish highlanders here. And obviously, their sheeps. Tons of them. They tend to occupy the hills like some sort of white army. They’re quite friendly though ;)

That’s all that comes to my mind right now. I should be doing something entirely different right now anyway –  but I needed a break from my studies.. I know for a fact that Iza is preparing a really nice song for you, so stay tuned! We’re both quite busy lately >.<

I hope you like Szczawnica, Pieniny and Dunajec as much as I do. Maybe some of you will pay a visit one day? :)

Magdalena

PS. If someone asks if it's me on the two of the photos here - I'll deny it ;)

Leopold Staff - "Burza nad głową" (The storm above my head)

It’s a very stormy period of my life now – it’s also a very stormy weather behind my window as I write this post. And because of that the choice of a poem for today seemed quite obvious to me :) I’m not sure if it’s possible to find an English version online. And anywhere else, for that matter. Once again, it’s just simple translation – don’t expect it to be perfect or rhyming. I’m definitely not there yet ^^

I love how fierce this poem is. I had it printed out in high school and sticked on the cork board above my bed. It makes you want to be better, and braver, and overcome all the obstacles that world throws at you. It’s like “Yep, you’re stronger. But quess what – I won’t go without a fight. I won’t surrender”.

Staff Leopold                                                  

Burza nad głową                                             The storm above my head

Niebo nad głową się chmurzy.                   The sky above my head is gathering.

Nadciąga wicher z nawałą.                         The gale and windstorm is about to blow up.

Już nie uniknę dziś burzy.                           I won’t escape from the storm today.

Grzmi? Nieraz mocniej już grzmiało.           It thunders? It had thundered a lot louder many

                                                                                                                 times before.

Strach przysiadł jak koń na zadach.         Fear has sit down on it’s rump, like a horse.

Świat jęczy jak przed porodem.              The world is groaning like before the birth.

Ziemia się trzęsie w posadach:                 Earth is shaking to its foundations:

Zobaczę, co jest pod spodem.                  I’m gonna see what’s underneath it.

Wszystko się w drzazgi rozleci.                 Everything will fall apart into pieces.

Ha, rozpętały się czarty!                            Ha, the devils are making a party!

Padł piorun! Drugi! I trzeci!                        The lightning has stuck! The second! And third!

Niech sobie gruchnie i czwarty!                 Let the forth strike too!

Wyzywam piąty oczyma!                            My eyes are summoning the fifth!

Głowy pod skrzydło nie chować!                 I’m not gonna hide my head under a wings!

Co? Serce me nie wytrzyma?                      What? My heart won’t make it?

Warto i tego spróbować.                             It’s worth to try that as well.

Rozpraw się, losie, zły biesie,                      Deal with me, evil fate,

W zaciekłej ze mną szermierce!                  In furious and stubborn fencing!

A jeśli serce nie zniesie?                              And what if my heart doesn’t make it?

To trudno! Ja albo serce.                             Tough! It’s either me or the heart.

I hope you liked it as much as I do. Do you feel motivated and adventurous yet?  :)

Till the next post,

Magdalena