What’s happening in Poland during Spring? A lot! First of all to officialy say goodbye to winter we have to sink the Marzanna. Sinking of Marzanna is an old pagan custom. According to some sources “Marzanna” was a goddess which was offered grains after harvest in hope to ensure good crop the following year. According to other sources she was a goddess or death or winter. In order to get rid of winter Marzanna had to be destroyed for Spring to come. Even nowedays some people are happy to continue this tradition. Usually children and young adults take part in the ceremony. Marzanna puppet doll has to be burned and finally sunk in the river.
International Women’s Day in Poland happens annualy on 8th March.
It is the day to celebrate all women in your life. So kids bring flowers to their teachers and men stand in line at the local flower shops to get flowers for their wives, girlfriends, mothers… This day is still very popular as it used to be in the communist times. Than it was and still is more celebrated than Valentine’s Day which is a new tradition that arrived here with the western culture. Women’s Day was very popular during communistic times and has been is celebrated more as a national holiday for all women, whether they are 8, or 80 years old. At that day, all women in Poland receive special attention usually by getting a flower – carnation and a pair of stockings. In addition to flowers and a pair of stockings, they sometimes receive greeting cards.
After your stay in Kraków spring is a perfect time to visit the Tatra Mountains and witness nature coming back to life. One of the most beautiful places in March/April will be Chocholowska Valey. Each year it blosomes with thousands of crocuses.
