Poland Clothing:
The traditional Poland clothing was highly influenced by the rich Eastern decorated style in the Islamic culture. In these days the Poland clothing is no different from those worn in the eastern countries. The T-shirts, the printed sweatshirts and jeans are the huge craze among the youth in Poland. But in certain occasions and festivals the traditional Poland clothing is still worn. Some of
the traditional Poland clothing:
Delia – it was a dress meant for the male. It was generally made of wool or velvet. It had a fine finish with the fur. The Delia mostly was loose, and it had short sleeves which were not stitched. The buttons that decorated the Delia were made of metal. This dress was an imported item in Poland from the east. The word "Delia" is even taken from Turkish.
Kontusz – The Polish and Lithuanian noblemen used to put on this traditional Poland clothing in the 16th and 17th century. It was an outer piece of clothes which was mostly worn over an inner piece. The Kontusz was imported to Poland from Hungary. This dress generally was a long robe hanging down to the knees. In the summer months the sleeves were worn untied. The sleeves were thrown on the back. During the winter months, a fur lining was usually attached. Sometimes a Delia was worn over the Kontusz. A long wide belt called as "Pas Kontuszowy" was used to tie the Kontusz to the body.
Polish cuisine:
Polish cuisine is a mixture of Slavic and Germanic culinary traditions. It is rich in meat, especially chicken and pork, and winter vegetables, and spices. It is related to other Slavic cuisines in using cereals. The traditional cuisine generally is demanding and Poles allow themselves a generous amount of time to prepare and enjoy their festive meals, in some occasions (like Christmas Eve or Easter Breakfast), taking a number of days to prepare them.
Polish cuisine dishes:
Soups – Chłodnik, Flaki, Zur, Zurek, Grochówka, Krupnik.
Main course – Pyzy, Gulasz, Kotlet Schabowy, Golonka, Bigos, Sztuka Mięsa.
Dessert – Kutia, Makowiec, Krówki, Pączek, Sernik, Kisiel.
Polish Art:
Polish art has always reflected European trends while maintaining its unique character. The Kraków school of Historicist painting developed by Jan Matejko produced monumental portrayals of customs and significant events in Polish history. Stanisław Witkiewicz was an ardent supporter of Realism in Polish art. The Młoda Polska (Young Poland) movement witnessed the birth of modern Polish art, and participated in formal experimentation led by Jacek Malczewski, Stanisław Wyspiański, Józef Mehoffer, and a group of Polish Impressionists. Artists of the twentieth-century represented various schools and trends. The art of Tadeusz Makowski was influenced by Cubism; while Władysław Strzemiński and Henryk Stażewski worked within the Constructivist idiom. Since the inter-war years, Polish art and documentary photography has enjoyed worldwide recognition. In the sixties the Polish Poster School was formed, with Henryk Tomaszewski and Waldemar Świerzy at its head.
Famous contemporary artists - Roman Opałka, Leon Tarasewicz, Jerzy Nowosielski, Wojciech Siudmak, Mirosław Bałka and Katarzyna Kozyra in the younger generation.
The most celebrated Polish sculptors - Xawery Dunikowski, Katarzyna Kobro, Alina Szapocznikow and Magdalena Abakanowicz.
Sport in Poland:
Many sports are popular in Poland. Football (soccer) is the country's most popular sport, with a rich history of international competition. Track & field, basketball, boxing, fencing, handball, ice hockey, swimming, volleyball, and weightlifting are other popular sports. The first Polish Formula One driver, Robert Kubica, has brought awareness of Formula One Racing to Poland. Poland has made a distinctive mark in motorcycle speedway racing thanks to Tomasz Gollob, a highly successful Polish rider. The Polish mountains are an ideal place for hiking, skiing and mountain biking and attract millions of tourists every year from all over the world. Baltic beaches and resorts are popular locations for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and a broad-range of other water-themed sports.
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Information About Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometers making it the 69th largest country in the world and 9th in Europe. Poland has a population of over 38 million people, which makes it the 33rd most populous country in the world.
The establishment of a Polish state is often identified with the adoption of Christianity by its ruler Mieszko I in 966 (Baptism of Poland), when the state covered territory similar to that of present-day Poland. Poland became a kingdom in 1025, and in 1569 it became united with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth collapsed in 1795, and its territory was divided among Prussia, Russia, and Austria. Poland regained its independence in 1918 after World War I but lost it again in World War II, occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Poland lost over six million citizens in World War II, and was established several years later as a socialist republic within the Eastern Bloc under strong Soviet influence. In 1989, communist rule was overthrown and Poland became what is constitutionally known as the "Third Polish Republic". Poland is a unitary state made up of sixteen voivodeships. Poland is also a member of the European Union, NATO and OECD.
Geography - Poland’s territory extends across several geographical regions. It has the Baltic seacoast in the northwest, rivers, 21 mountains, over 10,000 lakes, A desert, forests, agriculture areas and national parks.
Climate - The climate is mostly temperate throughout the country. The climate is oceanic in the north and west and becomes gradually warmer as one moves south and east. Summers are generally warm, with average temperatures between 20 °C and 27 °C. Winters are cold, with average temperatures around 3 °C in the northwest and −8 °C in the northeast. Precipitation falls throughout the year, although, especially in the east; winter is drier than summer.
Poland (PL)
Population - 38,6 million inhabitants
Capital – Warsaw
Official language – Polish
How do you say "Hello" in Polish - witaj
Religions - Christianity, Islam, Judaism
The religion of the majority - Christianity (most Catholics)
Government - Parliamentary republic (president and prime minister)
Life expectancy – male 71.42 years, female 79.65 years
Internationally famous people - Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), Frederic Chopin (piano music composer), Maria Sklodowska-Curie (the first Polish Nobel laureate), Jan Karski (a diplomat), Marshall Josef Pilsudski (a major political leader), and more.
Capital – Warsaw
Official language – Polish
How do you say "Hello" in Polish - witaj
Religions - Christianity, Islam, Judaism
The religion of the majority - Christianity (most Catholics)
Government - Parliamentary republic (president and prime minister)
Life expectancy – male 71.42 years, female 79.65 years
Internationally famous people - Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), Frederic Chopin (piano music composer), Maria Sklodowska-Curie (the first Polish Nobel laureate), Jan Karski (a diplomat), Marshall Josef Pilsudski (a major political leader), and more.
Thursday 5 February 2009
Flag of Denmark
The Danish flag, or Dannebrog, is probably the oldest in the world. Legend has it that the flag dates from 1219, when the Danish King Valdemar II, who was leading crusaders into battle, saw a white cross outlined against the dark sky and interpreted this vision as a command from God to attack the Estonians. The red background is believed to represent either the dark sky in which the king saw the cross or the blood spilt during the battle.Flag of Slovenia
The Slovenian national flag, bearing the pan-Slav colours of the Russian and Slovak flags, was adopted by Slovenian patriots in 1848.In 1991 Slovenia's new coat of arms was added to the flag. It represents the Triglav, the highest peak in the Slovenian Alps. The three yellow stars against a blue background are from the arms of the former duchy of Celje. The small waves symbolise Slovenia's rivers and the Adriatic.
Flag of Estonia
The horizontal tricolour in blue, black and white was adopted on 29 September 1881 by the Estonian students’ association Virona. During the 1905 and 1917 revolutions it was adopted by the Estonian people as their national flag, and it became the state emblem when independence was proclaimed on 24 February 1918. It was readopted in 1990, when Estonia regained independence.In Estonian folksongs blue represents the sky, black the earth and white the aspiration to freedom and hope for the future.
According to an alternative interpretation, blue symbolises mutual trust and loyalty, black the Estonians’ presumed ancestors (a people dressed in black and mentioned by Herodotus in his Histories) and white the snow which covers the country for half of the year.
Flag of Slovakia
The horizontal white-blue-red tricolour of Slovakia appeared for the first time in 1848, but without the shield. The shield, representing three blue mountains and a patriarchal white cross against a red background, was not added to the flag until 1992, when Slovakia became independent.Flag of Portugal
In 1910, when the republic was established, the royal white-and-blue flag was replaced by today’s green-and-red flag. Red stands for the revolution and green for hope.The Portuguese coat of arms is superimposed on a sphere symbolising the major discoveries of Portuguese navigators.
The flag was officially adopted in 1911.
Flag of Spain
Red and gold were chosen as the national emblem in 1785, but the present Spanish flag was not adopted until 1981.The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Spain consists of a shield bearing the arms of the former kingdoms of Castilla (a castle), León (a lion rampant), Aragón (four vertical red bands against a golden background) and Navarra (a gold chain against a red background), with a pomegranate, the symbol of the kingdom of Granada, at the bottom. The pillars of Hercules, representing the Straits of Gibraltar, were added by Charles V to evoke the overseas expansion of his empire. The pillar bearing the word plus is topped by an imperial crown; the other pillar is topped by a royal crown. The present arms of the State are those of the Spanish monarchy, symbolised by the emblem of the Bourbon monarchy, which was restored in 1975: three golden lilies against a blue background.
Flag of Luxembourg
The colours of the Luxembourg flag are those of the Luxembourg coat of arms. Inspired by the French flag after the revolution, it has slightly different proportions to the Dutch flag and a lighter shade of blue.Although it has been used as a national emblem since the 16th century, it did not become the official flag until 1972.
Flag of Bulgaria
The three national colours – white, green and red – are linked to those used by the Old Bulgarian Army. The left wing of the army was distinguished by white strips on its spears, the right being marked with red ones. The elite troops, arranged in the middle, had a green strip, which was the traditional colour of the ruler at the time. The three-coloured flag had first been used by the First Bulgarian Legion of Georgi Rakovski (1861) and then confirmed as Bulgaria’s national flag in the Turnovo Constitution (1879).Flag of Hungary
As early as the 17th century, red, white and green were an important motif at coronation ceremonies.
In the 1830s patriotic citizens began to wear these colours, and during the 1848 revolution the tricolour was adopted as the national flag. It was officially reintroduced in 1957.
The colours are those of Hungary’s coat of arms: red shield, white bands, patriarchal cross and three green hills.
In the 1830s patriotic citizens began to wear these colours, and during the 1848 revolution the tricolour was adopted as the national flag. It was officially reintroduced in 1957.
The colours are those of Hungary’s coat of arms: red shield, white bands, patriarchal cross and three green hills.
Flag of Sweden
Although the Swedish flag dates back to the 16th century, its current colours and proportions were adopted in 1982.By royal decree of 1569, King Johan III ordered that all vessels of the Swedish navy should fly the golden cross.
The flag, based on the Danish Dannebrog, bears the colours of the Swedish coat of arms, which dates from the 14th century and consists of three golden crowns against a sky-blue background.
Flag of Lithuania
In 1918 the Council of Lithuania appointed a special committee to design the national flag. On 19 April of that year a horizontal tricolour in the colours of traditional Lithuanian dress was approved.
Yellow represents the sun, the source of light, while green stands for nature and life. Red is the colour of love and the blood spilt in defence of the country.
The Lithuanian flag was readopted in 1989.
Yellow represents the sun, the source of light, while green stands for nature and life. Red is the colour of love and the blood spilt in defence of the country.
The Lithuanian flag was readopted in 1989.
Flag of Romania
Although the three colours, so dear to the Romanians, date back to the time of Michael the Brave (1593-1601), the three-coloured flag is quite recent. It appeared for the first time in the first half of the 19th century and was officially adopted as the Romanian national flag on 1859, when Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected as sole prince, reuniting the two provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia.Flag of Italy
This was originally the flag of the Cisalpine Republic founded by Napoleon. It was influenced by the French tricolour and used from 1798 to 1802.
It was reintroduced in 1848 by the King of Sardinia, who added the coat of arms of the House of Savoy to the white band, and became the flag of the entire Kingdom of Italy in 1861. When the monarchy fell in 1946, the coat of arms was removed.
It was reintroduced in 1848 by the King of Sardinia, who added the coat of arms of the House of Savoy to the white band, and became the flag of the entire Kingdom of Italy in 1861. When the monarchy fell in 1946, the coat of arms was removed.
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Flag of Latvia
The red-white-red banner was first used by the Latvian people in 1279.In 1917 Latvian artists decided to change the red to crimson and to make the white band narrower. Banned during the Soviet occupation, the flag was recognised as a civic emblem in 1988 and became the national flag once again in 1990.
Flag of the Netherlands
Orange was replaced by red during the 17th century but it remains the national colour and, the national flag is always accompanied by an orange banner on official holidays or diplomatic visits abroad.
The flag was officially adopted in 1796 and confirmed as the national emblem in 1937.
It has slightly different proportions to the Luxembourg flag and a darker shade of blue.
Flag of Belgium
The Belgian flag, a variant on the French tricolour, evokes the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant, which dates from the 12th century: a gilded lion with red claws and red tongue against a black background.
When the Brabant Uprising broke out in 1787, the people of Brussels adopted the tricolour rosette in red, gold and black as opposed to the colours of Joseph II (red, white and red).
When Belgium became independent in 1830, the current flag was officially adopted, but at the time the bands were placed horizontally. The following year the government passed a law adopting vertical bands.
When the Brabant Uprising broke out in 1787, the people of Brussels adopted the tricolour rosette in red, gold and black as opposed to the colours of Joseph II (red, white and red).
When Belgium became independent in 1830, the current flag was officially adopted, but at the time the bands were placed horizontally. The following year the government passed a law adopting vertical bands.
Flag of Cyprus
The Cypriot flag, which was adopted when Cyprus became independent in 1960, represents the island and two olive branches against a white background, symbolising peace between the Greek and Turkish communities. However, the Greek flag is more frequently displayed in the south of the island, as is the Turkish flag in the north.
The yellow of the island is an allusion to copper mined in Cyprus since the third millennium BC. Indeed, the word copper originates from the Greek name for Cyprus: Kypros.
The yellow of the island is an allusion to copper mined in Cyprus since the third millennium BC. Indeed, the word copper originates from the Greek name for Cyprus: Kypros.
Flag of the United Kingdom
- Saint George
- Saint Andrew
- Saint Patrick
the respective patron saints of England, Scotland and Ireland. It was officially adopted in 1917.
The first version of the flag was created when the kingdoms of England and Scotland were united in the 17th century. The cross of Saint Patrick was added in 1801, when Ireland was incorporated into the United Kingdom.
Flag of Ireland
The Irish tricolour, which was adopted in 1830, is based on the French flag. The disposition of the colours (green, white and orange) was altered several times and a final decision was not taken until the 1920s. The flag was formally adopted in 1937.
Green stands for the predominantly Irish nationalist movement and orange (the colour of the House of Orange) for the Protestant community. White, in the middle, symbolises peace between the two communities.
Green stands for the predominantly Irish nationalist movement and orange (the colour of the House of Orange) for the Protestant community. White, in the middle, symbolises peace between the two communities.
Flag of Finland
From the 12th century until the early 19th century, Finland belonged to Sweden. After gaining its independence in 1917, it adopted a national flag with a Scandinavian cross that was based on the Swedish flag.
Finnish sailing clubs had already flown the same flag half a century earlier, when Finland was still under Russian domination.
The first person to suggest blue and white as the national colours was the poet Zachris Topelius in 1862. The following year the daily newspaper Helsingfors Dagblad proposed a white flag with a blue cross.
Blue stands for the lakes and the sky and white for the snow-covered earth.
Finnish sailing clubs had already flown the same flag half a century earlier, when Finland was still under Russian domination.
The first person to suggest blue and white as the national colours was the poet Zachris Topelius in 1862. The following year the daily newspaper Helsingfors Dagblad proposed a white flag with a blue cross.
Blue stands for the lakes and the sky and white for the snow-covered earth.
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Flag of Malta
The two colours of the flag are those of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem.
The George Cross was added in 1942, when King George VI of England awarded it to the islanders in recognition of their heroic wartime resistance. The cross bears the inscription “For Gallantry”.
The flag was not officially adopted as a national emblem until 1964, when Malta proclaimed its independence.
The George Cross was added in 1942, when King George VI of England awarded it to the islanders in recognition of their heroic wartime resistance. The cross bears the inscription “For Gallantry”.
The flag was not officially adopted as a national emblem until 1964, when Malta proclaimed its independence.
Flag of Czech Republic
Red and white are the traditional colours of Bohemia and feature on coats of arms dating from 1192 (a white lion against a red background).
The first Czech red-and-white flag appeared during the First World War and became the first national flag of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
Since it featured the colours of Bohemia alone, the blue of Moravia and Slovakia was added in 1920.
The same flag was officially adopted as the national emblem of the Czech Republic in 1992.
The first Czech red-and-white flag appeared during the First World War and became the first national flag of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
Since it featured the colours of Bohemia alone, the blue of Moravia and Slovakia was added in 1920.
The same flag was officially adopted as the national emblem of the Czech Republic in 1992.
Flag of Germany
The current German flag, which was adopted on 23 May 1949, the day on which the Federal Republic of Germany was established, recalls the flag of the German Federation of 1848 and the flag of the Weimar Republic (1919-33).
Black, red and gold are the historical colours of Germany found on the uniforms worn by Baron von Lützow's Freikorps during the Napoleonic Wars and on the flags of Prussia.
They are also the colours of the Holy Roman Empire: black represents the eagle, red its beak and talons, and gold the gilded shield.
Black, red and gold are the historical colours of Germany found on the uniforms worn by Baron von Lützow's Freikorps during the Napoleonic Wars and on the flags of Prussia.
They are also the colours of the Holy Roman Empire: black represents the eagle, red its beak and talons, and gold the gilded shield.
Flag of Greece
When the government adopted the flags of the Greek army and navy in 1822, they all bore the same white cross, a symbol of Christian faith.
Blue and white were chosen officially as emblems during the war for independence. Blue represents the sky and the sea and white the purity of the freedom fighters.
The nine horizontal bands refer to the nine syllables of the Greek phrase: Eleftheria i Thanatos (Freedom or Death).
The flag was reintroduced in 1978.
Blue and white were chosen officially as emblems during the war for independence. Blue represents the sky and the sea and white the purity of the freedom fighters.
The nine horizontal bands refer to the nine syllables of the Greek phrase: Eleftheria i Thanatos (Freedom or Death).
The flag was reintroduced in 1978.
Flag of Poland
The national colours, white representing the eagle and red the shield, have always formed the essential elements of the Polish flag.
That is why the white-and-red bicolour flag was officially adopted as the national emblem in 1919, one year after Poland proclaimed its independence.
That is why the white-and-red bicolour flag was officially adopted as the national emblem in 1919, one year after Poland proclaimed its independence.
Flag of France
The French flag dates back to the French Revolution of 1789. Red, white and blue rosettes were worn by the national guard right from the start of the revolution.
White was the colour of the monarchy, while blue and red were the colours of the city of Paris.
And so the tricolour rosette became an emblem of revolutionary patriotism. Red, white and blue were adopted by the French people and were soon to be seen on standards and flags.
The law of 27 Pluviôse year II of the revolutionary calendar (15 February 1794) made the tricolour the national flag.
The flag was designed by the painter David on the orders of the National Convention.
White was the colour of the monarchy, while blue and red were the colours of the city of Paris.
And so the tricolour rosette became an emblem of revolutionary patriotism. Red, white and blue were adopted by the French people and were soon to be seen on standards and flags.
The law of 27 Pluviôse year II of the revolutionary calendar (15 February 1794) made the tricolour the national flag.
The flag was designed by the painter David on the orders of the National Convention.
Flag of Austria
From the 13th century onwards, the Austrian flag consisted of a red shield on a horizontal white band. The red-white-red bands appeared for the first time in 1787 on national military insignia.
The current flag was adopted as Austria’s national flag in 1918 and as a civic emblem in 1921, and was reintroduced on 1 May 1945, when the German occupation ended.
The current flag was adopted as Austria’s national flag in 1918 and as a civic emblem in 1921, and was reintroduced on 1 May 1945, when the German occupation ended.
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