The inspiration for my post is a fellow Polish American, my chrześniaczka, or goddaughter. Ela is a senior in high school and has begun the countdown to the final milestones of her secondary education. The big one coming up – the Prom. The Prom, a highlight for American high school students, is also a tradition that is celebrated by other cultures around the world, including in Poland.  Not surprising, the tradition there differs a little from how Prom is celebrated here.

For Polish students, their formal is a time to commemorate the completion of their time at liceum or technikum, depending on which secondary school they attended. Liceum is a more general secondary school, and technikum is very much like the vocational programs offered at high schools here in the states.  And formal is not an understatement. Though the men typically do not rent a tuxedo, as is customary here in the States, they are dressed in newly purchased suits and ties. The young ladies differ little from their American counter-parts, selecting lovely formal gowns in which to dance the night away.

Thinking back to my own Prom, I remember donning my first garter, a lacy red and black number that makes me shake my head just thinking about it. That same tradition is carried over to the studniówka celebration.  Young Polish ladies will wear red garters or red lingerie, which, according to my cousin, is traditionally thought to bring good luck for exams. Yes, good luck for exams, that was my first thought too.  Anyway. Ironically enough, the ladies are not the only ones who don red underwear. Apparently the young men like to celebrate in their own way, donning red boxers or underwear. Apparently these are worn with photo ops in mind, which I was sent a few samples of for my blog. Considering the content, I will spare you all. You can thank me later.

Prom here in the US is celebrated after exams. In Poland, however, the celebration is in anticipation of final exams (known in Polish as matura) and typically occurs one hundred days before final exams.  So the name of the celebration, fittingly enough, is called studniówka, literally translating to “one hundred days ahead”. For teenage Poles, this is a fantastic opportunity to let loose and have fun before the reality of finals and life hit.

The graduating class is not alone in their celebrating.  Their teachers take part in the celebration as well, providing the necessary chaperoning required of the party. However, during the studniówka, the graduating class typically toasts with a little champagne, and the teachers toast in their honor. This toasting really marks their completion of study, but it also celebrates their adulthood and achievement. And this differs greatly from the US; most high school students have reached adulthood, but they have not reached the legal drinking age of twenty-one.

Studniówka typically starts with a dinner, much like Prom. Dancing typically follows the dinner. However, in keeping with tradition, at the studniówka, the first dance is typically a polonaise and most likely one of Frederic Chopin’s.  And if you have been to a Polish wedding (if you haven’t, you’re really missing out but stay tuned, with wedding season upon us, it’s inevitable that a Polish wedding makes this blog), you know that most Polish parties have dance contests a plenty. Studniówka is no exception.

So there you have it – a Polish twist on the tradition that is Prom. I want to wish all the graduating students, in the US and in Poland, much success in your exams, great fun at your Proms and Studniówki and the very best wishes in your endeavors as you begin your adulthood!

Please share your own prom and studniówka stories in our comments.

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