Folk Culture

Polish dress worn at a 1997 Polish Heritage Month celebration in San Antonio, Texas - front view

Poland is a small country that has a large collection of folk music and dance. It is no bigger than some of the medium-sized states here in the United States. There are over fifteen thousand folk songs, a thousand dances, hundreds of carols, and more than two hundred folk costumes according to some authors.

The national folk dances are he Krakowiak, Kujawiak, Oberek, Mazur, and the Polonez. In addition to these national dances, there exist many regional and local dances. The Krakowiak and the Kujawiak are the two that are most popular with recreational folk dancers. The Krakowiak is one of the oldest Polish dances. It originated in the Krakow region in the 14th century.

The Krakow costume is considered the Polish national attire. The pattern of the red and white stripe man’s pants originated in ancient times. The tassels on the sleeveless coat come from Napoleonic times. The man wears a hat with four corners and decorated with ribbons and peacock feathers.

The Woman’s Krakow costume has an embroidered and beaded vest and floral skirt. A wreath of flowers is worn by a single woman. The first ribbon of the hairpiece is usually a present from the godparent; the rest come from friends and admirers. The married woman wears a white kerchief.

A short time spent surfing the World Wide Web will help you to learn more about the Polish culture.

Polish dress worn at a 1997 Polish Heritage Month celebration in San Antonio, Texas - back view