Polish Culture and the Family

The Polish Culture is very much centered on the family, The average Polish family will live in one of the large blocks built during the communist time, although many of these blocks have been constructed since the fall of communism, more recently most homes are more like western homes, either detached, semi detached or small individual blocks. However most families still live in the large blocks, these can have over 1,000 apartments in one building.

Generally, in Polish culture there is less social contact between neighbours than in western countries or the US, often this stems from a lack of trust. Polish people are very defensive about their homes and their lives. Socialising is usually done in the home rather than the café, restaurant or bar.

Whilst the social contact is much less between neighbours, the hospitality shown to visitors in a Polish family home is excellent, most married women are proud of their cooking and home cooking is valued much more than in western countries where processed or fast food is common.

In many countries with the introduction of processed food and the availability of quality prepared foods, many of the cooking skills are being lost. I am sure most of you would agree, that your mother cooks better than your partner and that your grandmother cooked better than your mother did. In Poland, the loss of skills is not as pronounced, particularly in country areas. Unlike the past when the quality of fruit, vegetables and meat was poor and the cook had often to be imaginative, nowadays the country is fully services by Hypermarkets and Supermarkets.

The visitor to a Polish home can expect at a minimum, Kielbasa and Vodka, but often this can turn into a multicourse meal, with quite a lot of meat, Bon Ami and sincere hospitality.

The Polish culture is very children orientated and the parents often forgo life’s pleasures to give their children a good start. Although more than 40% of young people attend further education, mainly university, after leaving school, the unemployment level is high. This high percentage of education also has the effect of devaluing the degree or other qualification. In Poland a skilled worker, such as a builder or Plumber will normally earn more than a university qualified young person.

In the Polish culture most parents lead a limited social life due to finance and cultural issues; most social occasions are between siblings and visiting other family members.  Unlike the western European countries, the café or bar is not really at the heart of social activity and are thought by many older people to be places of sin.  There are of course some very rough bars in every town in Poland, but also some of the newer places are equivalent to anything in the West regarding service and comfort.

Virtually every home in Poland has a crucifix displayed prominently. Theoretically, over 90% of the population are catholic. I would estimate that probably nationwide 40% of the population attend church at sometime during the year, the majority every Sunday and in country areas much more frequently. The strange thing is that many Poles are very critical of their catholic church, feeling that the church does not give practical help or much in the way of spiritual guidance. But then again similar criticisms are aimed at many walks of Polish life, such as Politicians, Business leaders etc. etc.

Shopping, (Zakupy)
I was amazed when I first came to Poland, and visiting a Butchers Shop, the quantity of meat that was purchased by individual families. Here meat is sold by the Decagram, (1 10th of a Kilogram), and often a housewife will buy 3 or 4 Kilo’s of prime meat, which would be quite reasonably priced, usually less than 50% of the European price. Having lived in the Netherlands where a very small piece of steak would cost 7 or 8 Euro’s it amazed me.

Twelve years ago there were many small Kiosks selling fruit, vegetable and Meat, people would buy and eat their food for on the same day. Once the super and hypermarkets opened and more people acquired cars then the situation changed and now the majority of people go for their shopping weekly as in most other countries. Many of the kiosks have changed and are now selling Newspapers, Cigarettes and other small items.