Polish Culture Group Project

Rachel Tanner, Jessica Escover & Rich H ernandez

Relevant Background Info
● The Roman Catholics strong influence over Polish food traditions introduced to Poland
around A.D. 900.
○ Rituals of feasting and fasting.

·
● Located between Germany and Russia, Poland formed political alliances throughout its
history.
○ Influenced Polish food customs.
○ Foreign dishes adopted by Poland, but differentiated by the unique Polish
cooking style.

● The effect of World War II on Poland.

○ Warsaw had to be completely rebuilt due to World War II.
○ The German Hunger Plan.
■ By mid 1941, the German’s occupying Poland receiving 2,613 calories per day,
while Poles received 699 calories.
Food Habits

Meals and Meal Timings

● People from Poland like to eat hearty, filling meals, and they eat four meals a day.
- Sniadanie (shnah DAHN-yeh) is breakfast.
- Drugie śniadanie (Droo-ghee shnah DAHN-yeh) is a snack or “second
breakfast.”
- Obiad (oh-BEE-ahd) is the main meal of the day.
- Wieczerza (wee-CHAIR-zah) is supper/dinner.

● The Polish can pick up an inexpensive meal or snack at small places

called milk bars (bar mleczny).
● Western-style fast foods, including pizza and hamburgers, are also
available.
 Traditional vs. Modern Polish Food

● The Polish cuisine of the Middle Ages was based on dishes made of
agricultural produce (cereal grains - millet, rye, wheat), meats of wild and
farm animals and fruits, herbs and local spices.

● Polish cuisine today consists of much of the same meals as Poles

have in the past.
● Popular dishes replaced cereal grains with potatoes, while game
dishes are replaced with the pork and poultry.
Common/Modern Dishes
Health Beliefs and Practices in Poland

● View on Health and Wellness in Poland

○ Belief in both biomedical and natural causes.
○ Pain may be seen as a punishment from God.

○ Herbal remedies and folk treatments used; however they

trust physicians, and take medications when needed.
○ Poles may work through fatigue due to their strong
work-ethic.
Health Beliefs and Practices among Polish
Immigrants in the United States

● Poles in the U.S.

○ 2.2 million Poles and Polish subjects immigrated into the
United States, between 1820 and 1914.
○ Most Polish Immigrants, Polish-Americans, and people
claiming Polish ancestry live in the upper-midwest and east
coast region of the U.S.

● Immigrants View
○ Polish immigrants view U.S. medical care with some
mistrust.
○ Free exchange of information and open discussion
between patient and practitioner is not typical.
○ Difficulty questioning a physician and talking openly
about medical concerns.
Holistic and Herbal Treatments
● Point of View on Holistic Treatment
○ In Poland, traditional remedies have always been
connected to the plentiful fields and forests.
○ Self-care treatments applied before seeking
medical help.
○ Herbs are an inherent part of Polish tradition and
folklore.
○ Herbal tea seen as the answer for most symptoms
of minor aches and pains.

○ Milk thistle for the liver.

○ Horsetail for the kidneys. Thousands of medicines made from materials found in
○ Fennel for tummy aches. nature - leaves, herbs, roots, bark, etc.
○ Mint for digestion.
○ Sage or Thyme to fight a cold.
Religion(s) in Poland
Polish Religion(s)

● Roughly 33.5 million people in Poland are of the Roman Catholic

religion (Catholicism), about 90% of the country.

● Christianity dates as far back as 966 AD in Poland.

● The second most common religion in Poland is Orthodox Christianity,

taking up 500,000 people of the country.

● Orthodox Christianity originated in Poland in the 9th century.

Religious Influences on Dietary Choices

● Because the dominant religion in Poland is Catholicism, they do a

lot of feasting and fasting.

● During fasting, they do not eat meat, so there are a lot of meatless
and fish dishes in Polish food culture.

● There are also a number of meat substitutes made from

mushrooms since Polish people are not allowed to eat meat while
fasting.
Religious Influences on Dietary Choices (cont.)

● Christmas and Easter are the two most important holidays.

● Christmas Eve dinner consists of 12 to 13 courses, symbolizing one

course for each of the twelve apostles in the New Testament of the
Bible and the 13th course for Jesus.

● No meat is eaten during this 12 or 13 course meal and the main dish is
always fish.
Religious Influences on Dietary Choices (cont.)

● Easter is the second most important holiday in the Polish culture.

● Lent, a time in the Catholic religion when meat is only eaten on Friday’s and
one chooses to give something up. is broken with Easter breakfast.

● In earlier, traditional years, a roasted lamb was usually served on Easter but
recently, a lamb made of sugar or butter has replaced it.

● Meats served today in Poland on Easter include roasted turkey, ham, sausage,
veal, or pig.

● Everyone of course eats hard boiled eggs on Easter too!

Food Taboos!

● Polish people will pretty much eat anything that is put in front of them,
they are not picky eaters like some of us here in America.

● The only food restriction they have is during the holidays, such as Lent
and Christmas Eve, due of their Roman Catholic religion.

● On Christmas Eve, no meat is eaten, only fish.

● During Lent, a person chooses what they want to give up for the time
period, such as chocolate or other sweets.
Impact of Acculturation on Dietary Habits

● During the Polish migrant adjustment journey, at a time of stress and

loneliness, the Polish people were forced to eat American food, which
they found to be unhealthy, as well as tasteless.

● As soon as their financial situations improved, they switched back to a

Polish diet using ingredients that they had either brought from home or
purchased at a local Polish shop.

● Having this food from their home country gave them comfort and made
their adjustment to America easier.
 Fun Facts about Poland!
Poland is the 9th largest country in Europe.

Name derived from Polanie- “people living in open fields.”

Chivalry isn't dead! Men still kiss women on the hand.

Polish T.V. is dubbed by just one man!

U.S. citizens can visit without a visa requirement!

 Cultural Considerations when working with Poles! (or any eastern European)
Thanks Magdalena!

Typically friendly, hospitable &

open-minded.
Direct eye contact is expected.

Considered rude to wear a hat indoors.

Avoid stereotyping: Not just meat & potatoes

Speak up! Frankness is appreciated.

BE ON TIME- Lateness is seen as careless and rude.

 Etiquette, Family Values and Communication of Poles
Thanks Magdalena!

Poles do not smile just to smile, may

be perceived as indifferent or rude.
Gestures toward women (older) are
very much appreciated!

Family is everything! Fundamental to life and society.

Shared meals are essential to Polish families.

“The woman is the neck that turns the head.”

 Polish Communication Do’s and Don'ts!

No hands in pockets- bad manners!

Style of language is often expressive.

Direct Communication is key.

Physical distance matters!

Time Orientation- Past! Sarcasm and humor are common,

avoid stereotypical jokes though!
Power Distance- Large!
Obesity in Adults- The New Polish Epidemic

Source: State of Health in the EU · Poland · Country Health Profile 2019

 Obesity in Adults- The New Polish Epidemic (cont.)

Adults over 18 with a BMI of ≥30

Obesity rates have risen to 28.5% for

males and 27.6% for females as of 2020.

Projected to reach 38.1% and 32.7%

respectively by 2030!

Exacerbated by overconsumption of
Source: State of Health in the EU
calories, processed and fast foods.
Poland · Country Health Profile 2019
How do we fix this?

Increase physical activity in children- carries

over into adulthood.

Reduce consumption of sugar drinks and calorie

dense foods.

Sugar tax- est. 2021!

Government subsidies for healthy food choices and food

education!

Did anyone notice the smoking data?

Huge problem for Poles & a lot of Eastern
European countries!
 References

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