{"id":4539,"date":"2013-09-01T01:25:47","date_gmt":"2013-09-01T01:25:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/?p=4539"},"modified":"2014-06-06T21:58:41","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T21:58:41","slug":"what-does-really-sto-lat-song-is-about-and-how-to-wish-happy-birthday-in-polish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/what-does-really-sto-lat-song-is-about-and-how-to-wish-happy-birthday-in-polish\/","title":{"rendered":"What does really “Sto Lat” song is about and how to wish Happy Birthday in Polish"},"content":{"rendered":"

Birthdays (urodziny<\/strong>) can be a great barometer of cultural difference. Surrounded by tradition and often accompanied by standard etiquette, they can be a potential minefield for a foreigner.<\/p>\n

In Poland most people celebrate birthdays however they may not be celebrated with as much enthusiasm as is reserved for \u201cname days\u201d (https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/imieniny\/).<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

Image by A30_Tsitika on flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Perhaps one of the biggest cultural differences is the idea of \u201cwishes\u201d. In Poland it is common to give quite formal wishes to people and this can be seen on many occasions including Easter and weddings. Basically you reel off a string of things -for example, health, happiness etc \u2013 that are actually largely within the person\u2019s own control if anyone\u2019s, but certainly not yours. Whether you know the person particularly well, or genuinely wish any of these things for them, appears to be irrelevant.<\/p>\n

So what exactly do you say to your Polish Birthday Girl or Boy?<\/p>\n

Well, if you are pretty new at Polish and still finding words with far too few vowels a challenge, stick with \u201cSto Lat\u201d This literally means 100 years, and is the name of a reasonably famous Polish song that you are bound to hear if you spend any length of time in Poland.<\/p>\n

The words of the song are below.<\/p>\n

“Sto lat, sto lat, niech \u017cyje \u017cyje nam.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sto lat, sto lat, niech \u017cyje \u017cyje nam.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech \u017cyje, \u017cyje nam.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Niech \u017cyje nam!”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hundred years, hundred years, may you live a hundred years.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hundred years, hundred years, may you live a hundred years.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hundred years, hundred years, may you live a hundred years.<\/em><\/p>\n

May you live 100 years!<\/em><\/p>\n

( I wonder what Poles sing at the celebrations of people older than 100?)<\/p>\n

If all this is making you nervous, don\u2019t panic too much. Sto Lat is often accompanied by vodka, which somehow makes the pronunciation easier:)<\/p>\n

However, if you are at the level where you can master more than the two word \u201csto lat\u201d \u00a0then you can try:<\/p>\n

Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji urodzin<\/strong> \u2013 all the best on your birthday<\/p>\n

Przeysy\u0142am najserdeczniejsze \u017cyczenia z okazji urodzin<\/strong> – I’m sending the warmest wishes on your birthday.<\/p>\n

\u017bycz\u0119 zdrowia, szcz\u0119\u015bcia, rado\u015bci, u\u015bmiechu\u2026..<\/strong> \u2013 I wish you health, luck, happiness, smile\u2026..<\/p>\n

If you arrive bearing gifts then hand them over accompanied by:<\/p>\n

Zrobi\u0142am to dla Ciebie<\/strong> – I made this for you (if you are female).<\/p>\n

Zrobi\u0142em to dla Ciebie<\/strong> \u2013 I made this for you (if you are male).<\/p>\n

To jest prezent z mojego kraju<\/strong> \u2013 This is a gift from my country.<\/p>\n

Belated birthday:<\/p>\n

Przepraszam za sp\u00f3\u017anione \u017cyczenia urodzinowe<\/strong> – sorry the birthday wishes are late<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re in Poland on your birthday? Well, you definitely need to celebrate Polish-style:<\/p>\n

Chcia\u0142abym zaprosi\u0107 Ci\u0119 na moje urodziny<\/strong> \u2013 I would like to invite you to my birthday party (if you are female).<\/p>\n

Chcia\u0142bym zaprosi\u0107 Ci\u0119 na moje urodziny<\/strong> \u2013 I would like to invite you to my birthday party. (if you are male.)<\/p>\n

B\u0119d\u0105 osoby na przyj\u0119ciu\/imprezie kt\u00f3re m\u00f3wi\u0105 po polsku i angielsku<\/strong> – There will be people at the party who speak both Polish and English.<\/p>\n

If you succeed in getting the message through about the party and nothing is lost in translation, then it\u2019s time to say\u2026<\/p>\n

Dzi\u0119kuj\u0119 za przyj\u015bcie<\/strong> – thank you for coming,<\/p>\n

Dzi\u0119kuj\u0119 bardzo za \u017cyczenia urodziny<\/strong> -thank you for the birthday wishes.<\/p>\n

Do nast<\/b>\u0119pnego razu… <\/b>(Till next time…)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Birthdays (urodziny) can be a great barometer of cultural difference. Surrounded by tradition and often accompanied by standard etiquette, they can be a potential minefield for a foreigner. In Poland most people celebrate birthdays however they may not be celebrated with as much enthusiasm as is reserved for \u201cname days\u201d (https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/imieniny\/). Perhaps one of the…<\/p>\n

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