Polish Christmas Eve dinner

Polish traditions are rich and colorful. Christmas time is especially important to Poles because of the Jesus Christ’s birth celebrated by all Roman Catholics. After the first star is spotted, Polish family begins the Christmas Eve dinner with a passage from the Bible, Luke 2:1-14, The Birth of Jesus Christ. Next, everyone brakes the “oplatek” and goes around the table with wishes for the next year. Contrary to the Western traditions, kids open their presents after the Christmas Eve dinner.
I found a great description of the dinner here.

Typical dishes include barszcz wigilijny z uszkami (Christmas Eve borscht with mushroom uszka dumplings), carp in aspic, herring (sledze), breaded whitefish, meatless cabbage rolls (golabki), and noodles with poppyseed. Desserts might include nuts, tangerines, chocolates, makowiec (poppyseed roll), mazurek (a jam-filled flat pastry), piernik (honey-spice cake), pierniczki (gingerbread cookies), kompot (fruit compote), cognac, liqueurs, mead and krupnik (a honey-spiced vodka). Kutia, a kind of gruel with cracked wheat and honey, is also eaten in some parts of Poland on Christmas Eve.

Take a look at couple of sample pictures of this year’s dinner. The Christmas Eve borscht with mushroom dumplings was so delicious that I haven’t had a chance to take a picture before it was gone.  Merry Christmas.

cabbage stuffed croquettes – krokiety

dumplings – pierogi

rice with fruit – ryz z owocami

herring with onions in oil – sledzie z cebula w oleju

“Chytra baba” aka “Cunning old woman” takes over Poland’s web

The town square Christmas Eve celebration intended for the less fortunate residents of Radom, turned into a shameless freeloading frenzy. 

It took about 30 seconds for the grabby people to clear the tables. One liter bottles of soft drinks and loaves of bread disappeared before anyone had a chance to taste anything. The spread was to accompany traditional hot Christmas dishes: borsch with dumplings, pierogi, and bigos (cabbage and meat stew). Distribution of hot dishes went fairly smoothly with everyone enjoying the meal.

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So why the excitement? Over 50 cent bottles of citrus flavored water?

The outrage goes deeper than the monetary value of soft drinks and bread. It's the way the people behaved at the tables. Personally, the whole scene reminds me of the lines to the empty stores during the 80's when a delivery truck unloaded the goods and people would go nuts. But that was communist Poland. Today, Poland is an economic miracle country with positive growth numbers among the unlucky European countries ran down with recession and unemployment. Are people that greedy? 

One woman in particular, labeled, "chytra baba" or "cunning old woman", gives a black eye to all the values cherished by Poles, when she grabs not one, not two, but three bottles from the table and casually walks away with her loot. Just take a look at the YouTube video. Pay attention to a woman in a white hat. She does not look like a homeless person in need of food. The football-like bottle pass was amazing. That alone upset a lot of folks.  

Not surprisingly, the "cunning old woman" is a new Internet hit in Poland. Her photo-shopped persona is plastered everywhere trying to grab all kids of items from the famous scenes. Take a look at her Facebook page. The sarcastic side of fame reminds us once again that nothing in the world can hide from a judging eye of the Skynet.

Merry Christmas everyone. Don't get slapped at the table for grabbing your favorite pierogi too quick.

60 years of the Radio Free Europe

For millions of people who lived behind the Iron Curtain for over 40 years, Radio Free Europe was the only source of the factual and independent news. Year 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the first broadcast on May 3rd, 1952, from Munich, Germany. Between the Polish Pope, John Paul II, Solidarity leader and Polish President, Lech Wałęsa, and the American President, Ronald Reagan, Radio Free Europe shines with its own accomplishments.

Founded by the United States, Radio Free Europe gave hope to all Eastern European countries terrorized by the communist regimes. Among the Polish broadcasters, Jan Nowak-Jeziorański(1914-2005), the Polish section leader, is the most recognizable person of his time.

As a young boy, during the 80′s, I vividly remember the family friend glued to an old radio turning the frequency knob every 10 seconds to catch the Radio Wolna Europa news. For people who realized how evil the communist regime was, listening to the station was a must. Radio Free Europe was an inspiration to portable Solidarity movement radio stations (Radio Solidarność) in several Polish cities. Reaching couple hundred meters and broadcasting from a tape recorder, those makeshift radios provided another avenue for the Solidarity movement to be heard.

The Polish-language history, photos, articles, and movies about the Radio Wolna Europa are available at www.wolnaeuropa.pl. The 1964 movie, “This is Radio Free Europe”, gives the inside glimpse of the RFE.

One would think that the collapse of the communism in the Eastern Europe would be the end of the Radio Free Europe. Not so. In 1995, the RFE headquarters were moved from Munich to Prague, Czech Republic, to continue the broadcasting work as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Some interesting facts from their website:

Countries: 21 (including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia )
Languages: 28
Platforms: Radio (AM, FM, Satellite), Internet, Television
Broadcast Hours: approximately 1,100 hours/week
Audience: 24 million/week (radio, web, streaming audio) (FY2011)
Employees: 500+ in Prague and Washington and 750 freelancers in 19 bureaus across the broadcast region.
Budget: $92.7 million (FY2011)

Judging from the broadcast map, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is here to stay. At least until all the craziness in the Kreplakistan-like states finally disappears.

Creator of Polish cartoon, “Reksio”, lives in poverty

Growing up as a kid in Poland in 70s and 80s, everyone knew the cartoon characters: “Bolek i Lolek” and “Reksio”. 

By today’s standards, those plain, family friendly, uplifting cartoons are bleak and unattractive. However, in a communist Poland, kids loved Reksio and played Bolek and Lolek games. Let’s now forget about Tola, the female friend of Bolek and Lolek. Both movies are forever imprinted in Polish history. 

In fact, the movies were so popular at the time, they were distributed by many all over the world. Not surprisingly, “Bolek i Lolek” is known even in countries like Iran.
Today, Polish kids watch the “Sesame Street” and “Pokemon”. The old, hand drawn cartoons, lost their appeal but their creators are still around. 

Just recently, the 86 years old animator who created “Reksio”, Marian Wantoła, was featured on Polish TVP show “Case for a reporter” (Sprawa dla reportera). Shockingly, the animator who spent 47 years at the studio since the age of 25, now lives in town of Bielsko-Biała in a run-down house without running water, gas, with mold and coal stove for heating. Being a honest, hard working guy in a communist Poland, pretty much put him in a state of poverty. 

Polish vlogger, Krzysztof Gonciarz, who first reported on this disgrace, started a website to raise funds to help Marian Wantoła. 

You can watch the video and check out the website at http://www.indiegogo.com/Reksio
And some Bolek and Lolek.



Update: December 8th, 2012.
So far, the http://www.indiegogo.com/Reksio website, collected over $30,000 for the animator, Marian Wantoła.  That's a great response.  However, an article from gazeta.pl sheds some new light on the whole situation.  

First of all, the animator lives comfortably in his own apartment, paid off years ago.  There is running water, no sign of mold, and working coal furnace.  It might not be a Ritz, but the conditions are far from what it was reported by the media.  

Second of all, just to make sure that everyone understands, Mr. Wantoła is not a creator of the famous "Reksio".  He's the animator and never claimed to be a creator.  Lechosław Marszałek is the true creator of "Reksio". 

Were people duped by the sad story to extort some money?  It's for you to decide.

Polish terrorist-wannabe, Brunon Kwiecień, arrested for planning to bomb government buildings

Source: nasza-klasa.pl

Polish style of filthy-mouth politics just became more serious.  On November 9th, 2012, the Polish Internal Security Agency (Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego aka ABW), arrested 45-year old chemist, Dr. Brunon Kwiecień, charging him with planning to bomb the Polish Parliament, office of the Polish President, and the other Polish government buildings.  Dr. Kwiecień works at as a research fellow at the Agricultural University in Kraków.  You can check out his university profile here. 

According to wyborcza.pl, his actions were not based on his social or economic situation considering his steady employment and salary of about $15,500 a year plus $2,500 flat rental income.  His wife also works at the same university as a biologist.  Newsweek.pl describes his actions as "nationalist, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic" based on the recent wave of hatred spread by mass media in Poland, mostly owned or controlled by foreign entities.

Whatever his reasons have been, this person is not to be taken lightly.  So it seems.  His neighbor stated that Kwiecień loved the explosives as a kid and even lost some fingers in a firecracker accident. Thenews.pl and ABW report that he was able to accumulate 4 tonnes TNT and other pyrotechnic materials, detonators, fuses, remote detonators, firearms, ammunition, bulletproof vests, Kevlar helmets, ghillie suits, Polish and foreign registration plates, sniper and bomb-making manuals.

How was he able to prepare such a details operation?  He's job as an explosives chemist for the university provided a perfect cover.  Kwiecień was able to recruit 4 people that were later arrested but promptly released by a judge without any charge.  Strange.

Now, let the games begin.  Paraphrasing the words of the poplar Polish movie character, captain Hans Kloss, from the 1968 TV series "Stawka większa niż życie": Nie ze mną te numery Brunon!

Polish media already exploded, yes, pun intended, with reports of the Internal Security Agency provocation.  Although, Kwiecień's wife reported his behavior to the authorities after he started asking questions about the biological germ-ware, the question of motive still remains.  Is Kwiecień just a misguided and frustrated psycho fantasizing of destroying current Polish government run by Civic Platform (PO = Platforma Obywatelska)?  Or, was he pushed by the ABW agents to the extreme?  We'll find out soon enough.  Or will we?

On another note, the Polish Army really dropped the ball on this one.  The guy is a MacGyver of explosives.  With a resource like that, they could be producing some mean bombs.  Their loss.

Pablopavo and Ludziki performing “Do Stu”

If you wonder what is going on with the contemporary Polish music scene, you might be surprised. New artists of the past 20 years of post-communist Poland, shaped the unique niche in our country. Behind the shallow mass-media garbage fed to an average Pole, there is a rich and deep wave of new music growing out of frustrated young artists itching to be heard. Hip-hip, reggae, punk, industrial, blues, rock, ska and many other genres, have strong following in Poland. The list of bands and artists is endless. Today, check out Pablopavo and Ludziki performing "Do Stu".

Who’s to blame for Polish National Independence Day riots in Warsaw?

Yesterday, November 11th, Poland celebrated the Polish National Independence Day. Poland restored it's independence in 1918 led by one of the most important Polish statesman and First Marshal, Józef Pilsudski.

Every year, different Polish political fractions and groups, mainly the ruling Civic Platform (PO = Platforma Obywatelska) and opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS = Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc), claim to be the only true continuators of the independence movement.

Sadly, today, during the nationalist march in Warsaw, organized by the All Polish Youth (Młodzież Wszechpolska) and the National Radical Camp (ONR = Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny), a wave of violence took over the city. Although, both groups have questionable ideology, one must wonder what really happened yesterday that sparked the clash with the police.

Polish media reports that from the very beginning of the march, stones and flares were thrown from the crowd at the police. The other side claims a premeditated police provocation.

Below are some of the YouTube videos taken during the march. One question stands out: why are plain clothes policemen wearing ski masks are mingling in the crowd? Mix a batch of angry youth and you have yourself a riot. And to be clear, yes, the police acted in a very provocative way. You make up your own opinion on who's to blame for that mess. To put things in perspective: the tolerance is a two way highway.