MULTI-CULTURAL IDENTITY-YESTERDAY,

TODAY AND TOMORROW IN POLAND.

ethnic minorities 

The Polish population isn’t completely uniform in terms of culture. Polish come from different ethnic groups. The groups come from various Polish regions. They have their culture, history, traditions (costumes, music, dances, customs). They often use their own dialect.

PODHALANIE

Podhalanie are a mountain population. They live in the Pohalańska valley. Artists praised this region in nineteenth century. Today, commonly known are highlander dress, Highlander style in architecture, music, crafts and dialect.

SILESIANS

Silesians are culturally diverse ethnic group. They cultivate the tradition of mining. In everyday life, they use local dialect. Silesians have a strong sense of regional identity.

ŁOWICZANIE Łowiczanie are inhabitant of villages In the vicinity of Sierakowice and Łowicz. They are characterized by festive, colorful national costumes so-called ‘pasiaki’. Typical for them are beautiful handicraft products for example very colorful cutouts. Łowicz culture made famous in the Władysław Reymont novel ‘Peasants’.

KURPIE

Kurpie inhabit northern Mazoria. They created a distinctive style in construction industry and decorative art. Folk cutouts, braided and furniture are widely know and appreciated. Kurpie area is also famous for magnificent Easter palms.

KASZUBI ‘Kashubians’

Kashubian inhabit part of the Pomeranian Lake District and Gdańsk fringe. They have rich tradition of singing and even their own, original notes. In Pomerania are schools in which teaching is in kashubian language.

national minorities

NATIONAL MINORITIES IN THE PAST

Polish Constitution adopted in 1791 prohibits racial discrimination. As a result of the changes that had taken palce in Poland during World War II Poland from a country with various structures of the national state had become almost a single ethnicity. Onli after 1989 it was possible to restore the national miniorities their rights.

The biggest minority in Poland is Germany. They live mainly in the province of Opole and Silesia. The second largest minority are Belarusians. They live in the eastern part of the country. Ukrainians are also a large group. They live in the Carpathian, in Warmia and Mazury and Pomerania. Lithuanians, Gypsies, Slovaks, Armenians, Tatars, Jews and Greeks are a small group of national minorities in Poland. Some of these minorities live in certain regions (eg Tatars live in southern province). Others are scattered around the country such as Armeniansand Gypsies.

NATIONAL MINORITIES IN THE FUTURE

In future they will be more national minorities in Poland. I think that the increase in the number of national minorities is a good thing. It makes us more tolerant.

To our school do not attend any of the national minorities. But our students are very tolerant and open to new cultures. We are really enthusiastic about our Comenius partners who live in the united Europe but come from different parts of the world.

Our world is so different!