{"id":5761,"date":"2014-11-29T14:31:55","date_gmt":"2014-11-29T14:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/?p=5761"},"modified":"2014-11-30T17:35:54","modified_gmt":"2014-11-30T17:35:54","slug":"andrzejki-andrzejki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/andrzejki-andrzejki\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrzejki, Andrzejki!"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a single young lady in Poland on the night of November 29th, you have a unique, perhaps harrowing, opportunity before you; or a great excuse to flee the country:) The Eve of St. Andrew\u2019s Day (Andrzejki<\/strong>) has been associated with fortune-telling in Poland for centuries. The first written mention of the tradition goes all the way back to 1557, and while the seriousness of the proceedings has certainly lightened, the basic elements of this ancient custom remain unchanged from the Middle Ages. As St. Andrew\u2019s Day\u00a0marks the beginning of Advent, in those bygone days it was believed that the spirits of the ancestors were at their most accessible when they descended back to earth during this time. With conditions thus in place for a bit of crystal ball gazing, and with the long, cold and lonely Polish winter ahead, coupling was naturally the one thing on every girl\u2019s mind. Would she be married in the coming year? And what, pray tell, would her prince look like? Following the protocols of the day, a widow, unmarried spinster, or divorcee was then required to light the thirteen candles that would call forth the spirits into the room\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

Image by CDCobra on Flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The most common Andrzejki tradition carried on today uses hot wax as a conduit into the spirit world. The wax must be melted and then poured through the eye of a skeleton key into a bowl of cool water. Once cooled, the resultant form is then held in front of a light and the shadow cast reveals the appearance of your future partner, or something about their character. While for today\u2019s youth this glimpse into the future might only be as far-sighted as a few hours, centuries ago it was studied very closely.<\/p>\n

Today Andrzejki is a fun, carefree celebration of being young and single more than anything. And that means drinking and dancing. Always a big night out for students\u2014perhaps determined to forget whatever grotesque revelation they\u2019ve just received or change their fate.<\/p>\n

Here are few rhymes about this fun day:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

W dniu \u015aw. Andrzeja,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sprawd\u017a jaka w mi\u0142o\u015bci nadzieja…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Czy ten o kt\u00f3rym marzysz skrycie,<\/strong><\/p>\n

To ten jedyny na ca\u0142e \u017cycie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

On St. Andrew’s Day,<\/em><\/p>\n

See what kind of hope in love …<\/em><\/p>\n

Is this guy you desire secretly,<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s the only one in a lifetime?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2740<\/p>\n

Zebra\u0142a si\u0119 nasza gromada,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gdy ju\u017c wiecz\u00f3r zapada.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ch\u0119tna do zabawy w andrzejkow\u0105 noc,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bo dzi\u015b wr\u00f3\u017cb i magii moc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kt\u00f3ra pierwsza za m\u0105\u017c wyjdzie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I do kt\u00f3rej szcz\u0119\u015bcie przyjdzie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kt\u00f3ra dzi\u015b odpowied\u017a na pytanie znajdzie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A kt\u00f3ra sw\u0105 mi\u0142o\u015b\u0107 odnajdzie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Odpowiedzi na pytania i marzenia znamy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ale na wyniki jeszcze poczekamy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all got together,<\/em><\/p>\n

Once evening falls.<\/em><\/p>\n

Willing to play at St Andrew’s night,<\/em><\/p>\n

Because today divination and magic power.<\/em><\/p>\n

Which one will get married first?<\/em><\/p>\n

And which one will get happiness?<\/em><\/p>\n

Which today finds the answer to the question?<\/em><\/p>\n

And \u00a0which one will find the true love?<\/em><\/p>\n

Answers to these questions and dreams we know,<\/em><\/p>\n

But still we wait for the results.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2740<\/p>\n

W listopadow\u0105, ciemn\u0105 noc,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sw\u00f3j los wywr\u00f3\u017c\u0119 sobie,<\/strong><\/p>\n

A \u015bw. Andrzeja poprosz\u0119 o moc,<\/strong><\/p>\n

By powiedzia\u0142y mi o Tobie.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the November, dark night,<\/em><\/p>\n

My fate I \u00a0will predict,<\/em><\/p>\n

And St. Andrew ask for power,<\/em><\/p>\n

To tell me about you.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2740<\/p>\n

Andrzeju, Andrzeju<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prosimy dzi\u015b Ciebie,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pozw\u00f3l nam zobaczy\u0107<\/strong><\/p>\n

Co pisane nam w niebie.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew, Andrew<\/em><\/p>\n

We ask you today,<\/em><\/p>\n

Let us see<\/em><\/p>\n

What’s written to us in heaven<\/em>.<\/p>\n