As the vibrant season of Easter approaches, one of Poland’s most colorful and meaningful traditions returns to churches and homes across the country and among Polish communities abroad: the crafting and blessing of Easter palms, or palmy wielkanocne. Deeply rooted in Christian symbolism and regional folklore, these unique creations are more than just decorative branches—they are living symbols of faith, renewal, and cultural identity.
As Easter approaches, children across the United States prepare for colorful egg hunts, while Polish families—both in Poland and around the world—take part in a cherished tradition known as święconka, or the blessing of the Easter baskets. Deeply rooted in Poland’s history and Catholic faith, święconka remains one of the most beloved customs celebrated on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.
Today, we begin a new series of stories about banned books with Ania Kaminska’s essay and a review of The Career of Nicodemus Dyzma (Kariera Nikodema Dyzmy). This book tells the tale of a small-town con artist who climbs the social ladder to become a political leader, only to end up as a puppet of the elite class. Despite being censored, confiscated, and ultimately banned in Poland in 1951, the book gained immense popularity. It was adapted into movies and TV series and even inspired Jerzy Kosinski to write Being There.
We also have an update about the Presidential Elections in Seattle. Keep reading below.
“The Career of Nikodem Dyzma” was written by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz in 1931 as a critique of the political establishment at the time. The novel initially appeared in episodes in ABC magazine and quickly gained popularity. Despite parts of it being confiscated, the writer persevered and wrote a sequel. The book tells the story of an unemployed provincial who accidentally infiltrates high society. For a long time, the protagonist successfully plays the role of a worldly man, a specialist, and a frequenter of salons. He takes on high-ranking positions and receives state honors. He is eventually unmasked by the eccentric Żorż Ponimirski, who is considered insane. However, Dyzma remains unpunished, as interwar Poland, much like contemporary Poland, is a country where it is difficult to be discredited, and new Dyzmas emerge regularly.
Przypominamy, że głosowanie w wyborach Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na terenie Stanów Zjednoczonych Ameryki odbędzie się w sobotę, 17. maja 2025 r.
Aby wziąć udział w głosowaniu należy do 13 maja 2025 r. złożyć wniosek o ujęcie w spisie wyborców.
“Gaja z gajówki” to już czterotomowa seria autorstwa Anny Włodarkiewicz o piegowatej, energicznej dziewczynce, która udowadnia, że życie z dala od ekranów – bez smartfona, gier komputerowych i telewizora – może być pełne pasji, przygód i prawdziwych odkryć. Książka napisana jest w formie pamiętnika, dzięki czemu czytelnicy z łatwością wchodzą w świat Gai – zaledwie kilkuletniej bohaterki, którą poznajemy tuż przed rozpoczęciem nauki w pierwszej klasie.
Recently, my son began a unit on dystopian literature at school and chose to read 1984 by George Orwell. When I mentioned that it is one of the most frequently banned and challenged books, his immediate reaction was: “Why?”
It was a great question—”Why was this book banned?”
But to answer that, we must first ask a broader question: “Why are books banned at all?”
Last week was an amazing day—summer-like, warm, and sunny. I went for a long walk with my family through the forest to the park, enjoying the sun’s golden beams. We were not alone. The park was full of people playing, walking, and biking, all appreciating the warmth granted by the sun.
I am currently reading Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, where the sun’s nourishment plays a significant role in the story. It made me reflect on how the sun is represented in language—how it is perceived and which of its characteristics have been used to express emotions and daily life experiences. To explore this, I turned to idioms and proverbs, which serve as linguistic fossils preserving the worldview of our ancestors.
Seattle narrowly avoided a tornado and 2-inch hail. If it had happened, we’d probably be using some strong language. That’s why in this issue; we’re tackling the controversial topic of swear words.
Personally, I don’t like swear words and rarely use them. Maybe only when I hit my finger with a hammer because it reduces pain – a scientifically proven fact.
However, when I travel to Poland or talk to my Polish friends, I hear swear words everywhere: in all sorts of conversations, on television, even in stand-up comedy shows. I always wonder why? Do they make our conversations better? Do they make us sound more confident?
The answers are in the short story below. Enjoy.
Go to the Seattle Polish Film Festival website and click on the button “Buy 2925 Early Bird Pass”.
First of all, I want to point out that vulgarisms are not words I am fond of. On the contrary, I dislike hearing and using them. They are intense and jarring. Swear words are not neutral; therefore, they cannot be used as meaningless sentence fillers or decorative additions to make speech sound more expressive. My professor, Jan Miodek, used to say that excessive swearing is a sign of linguistic poverty—language offers plenty of ways to express emotions without resorting to vulgarity. Swear words have their place, but they should remain silent until they are truly needed.
We all faced this decision once when we left Poland and settled in Seattle. For many, leaving home is a dramatic and seemingly impossible choice. We did it, so we know firsthand how hard it is. Yet, because we’ve done it once, and sometimes many times, it’s not frightening anymore. After a while in one place, we start thinking that maybe it’s time to move again.
Spring is almost here, and we wanted to dedicate this issue to the season. Our editor, Ania Kaminska, has written a wonderful article about an old Polish tradition of drowning a Marzanna. You’ll find it below.
Dziadek i niedźwiadek to niezwykła książka – ciepła, poruszająca i pełna historycznej prawdy, choć opowiedziana w przystępny, niemal bajkowy sposób. Opiera się na autentycznych wydarzeniach, wspomnieniach żołnierzy i materiałach archiwalnych, a jednocześnie zawiera wątki fabularyzowane, które pomagają młodemu czytelnikowi lepiej zrozumieć realia tamtych trudnych lat. Jak opowiedzieć dzieciom o wojnie
Moving abroad brings a lot of “new”: new landscapes, new language, new people, new jobs, new living space, new shops, new food, etc. It is good to look into the future and the bright sides of these changes. Yet, alongside the “new,” there are “lacks” that cannot be replaced. One of them is the traditions celebrated in our homelands. They used to be so common and natural that we often only notice their absence when we can no longer observe them.
Seattle has long been a melting pot of cultures, and for the Polish-American community, the Seattle Polish Foundation (SPF) is the heart that keeps its rich heritage alive. If you’ve ever bitten into a delicious pierogi at the bustling Pierogi Fest at the Polish Home or danced to the rhythm
I was prompted to write this article by two events, one last Saturday and one happening soon.
On Sunday, March 2, the Seattle Polish Film Festival organized a fundraiser for Ukraine and presented the movie “Erase the Nation” about the war in Ukraine. It was a sold-out event with lots of Poles, Ukrainians, and Americans in the audience.
Starting March 13, the Seattle Jewish Film Festival will present a Polish movie “The Death of Zygielbojm” (Śmierć Zygielbojma).
Living abroad comes with many challenges, some predictable, others unexpected. When my husband and I decided to leave Poland, I was excited for the new adventure: to see new places, meet new people, and gain new experiences. I knew I would miss my people and my familiar places. I understood
The Polish Home Association is happy to announce the opening of an Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center. We are creating a forum for artists associated with the Polish community to present their art and to popularize and promote art in our community.