The raucous annual revelry of Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in New Orleans are legendary and widely imitated. However, lesser-known celebrations have taken place for generations in other parts of the world, particularly in those countries where Christian traditions have made the 40 days before Easter a time of extreme sacrifice and solemnity.<\/p>\n
The last days of Carnival are called \u201cOstatki\u201d in Poland. This is a time of celebration, the last chance to dance, eat meat, pastries and other rich foods and alcohol before the beginning of Lent.<\/p>\n
Here is Polish poem about ostatki:<\/p>\n
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Ostatki<\/p>\n
Moje drogie dziatki,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n dzisiaj s\u0105 Ostatki.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Wi\u0119c sukni\u0119 wyci\u0105gamy<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n i na bal si\u0119 wybieramy..<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Wie to Dama, wie i dziedzic,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n dzi\u015b na sto\u0142y wje\u017cd\u017ca \u015aLEDZIK<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u015aledzik w occie i w \u015bmietanie,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u015bledzik jako g\u0142\u00f3wne danie!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u015aled\u017a w oleju i w przyprawach<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n bo dzi\u015b ko\u0144czy si\u0119 karnawa\u0142!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Trzeba \u015bledzia skonsumowa\u0107,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n aby potem nie \u017ca\u0142owa\u0107,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u017ce przespa\u0142o si\u0119 ostatki,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n jedzmy \u015bledzie wi\u0119c bez gadki!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n A \u017ce rybka p\u0142ywa\u0107 lubi<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n i bez p\u0142yn\u00f3w drog\u0119 gubi,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n powiem teraz bardzo kr\u00f3tko –<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n trzeba \u015bledzika popi\u0107 w\u00f3dk\u0105!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n A na balu du\u017co jemy<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n i ta\u0144czymy i pijemy,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n chocia\u017c b\u0119dzie bole\u0107 g\u0142owa.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Jutro \u015aroda Popielcowa.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n A od \u015arody Popielcowej,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n a\u017c do Niedzieli Palmowej<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n czterdzie\u015bci dni b\u0119dziemy po\u015bci\u0107,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n wi\u0119c si\u0119 warto dzi\u015b ugo\u015bci\u0107.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n My dear children,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Today is Shrove Tuesday.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n So I’m taking the dress out<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n and we are getting ready for the ball<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n lady and heir know about it,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n today Herring is served<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Herring in vinegar and sour cream,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n herring as the main dish!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Herring in oil and spices<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n because today carnival ends!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You need to consume herring,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n so you do not regret<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n that slept through the shrove,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n So let’s eat herring without saying!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And because fish likes to swim<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n and without fluid path is lost,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Now I say very briefly –<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n you need to wash down herring with vodka!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And at the dance we eat much<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n and dance and drink,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n although there will be a headache .<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And since Ash Wednesday,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n until Palm Sunday<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n forty days we fast,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n So it’s worth to have fun today.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n