Winter
Tłusty czwartek: Fat Thursday
The Thursday before Lent, when the whole country queues at bakeries for pączki. Millions are sold in a single day.
Polish phrases & culture
Speak Polish, even a little
Language, food, and customs are the keys to hearts: essential phrases, dishes worth trying, and living traditions that make your trip or studies easier and warmer.
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Phrase cards
Tap any card to flip it and see the meaning in Arabic.
Taste Poland
Dishes worth the trip
The classics of the Polish table, with labels to guide you, and notes on what is worth checking before you order.
Pierogi ruskie
pyeh-RO-ghee ROOS-kyeh
The famous dumplings, filled with potato and white cheese. The filling is traditionally meat-free, but they often arrive topped with fried bacon or lard, so ask how they are served.
Żurek
ZHOO-rek
Sour rye soup served in a bread bowl, usually cooked with white sausage and egg.
Bigos
BEE-gos
The "hunter's stew" of sauerkraut and mixed meats, simmered for hours.
Kotlet schabowy
KOT-let s-hah-BO-vy
Poland's schnitzel: a breaded pork cutlet served with potatoes.
Barszcz czerwony
barshch cher-VO-ny
Clear beetroot soup, meat-free on the Christmas Eve table, though the rest of the year it is often built on meat stock, so ask about the broth.
Zapiekanka
za-pyeh-KAN-ka
The legendary street-food baguette, classically baked with mushrooms and cheese, but most stands also sell it with sausage or ham, so check the toppings.
Oscypek
os-TSY-pek
Smoked highland sheep cheese, grilled and served with cranberry jam. It is traditionally set with animal rennet, which strict vegetarians may prefer to avoid.
Gołąbki
go-WOMB-kee
Cabbage rolls stuffed with rice and minced meat, usually pork.
Sernik
SER-neek
Polish cheesecake made with velvety white cheese.
Pączki
PONCH-kee
Rose-jam doughnuts, the heroes of Fat Thursday.
Obwarzanek
ob-va-ZHA-nek
Kraków's braided street bagel, sold from carts since the Middle Ages.
A note on halal and vegetarian eating
Pork is common in Polish cooking, so ask before ordering. The phrase "Bez wieprzowiny proszę" does the job. Recipes vary from kitchen to kitchen: soups are often built on meat stock, dumplings and potato pancakes may be fried in lard or share a pan with meat, and dishes that sound meat-free can still arrive with a bacon topping. Pierogi ruskie, clear barszcz, grilled fish, and potato pancakes are good places to start, but if you keep halal or a strict vegetarian diet, ask about the ingredients and how the dish is prepared. Halal labelling is uncommon outside dedicated restaurants, and the big cities have plenty of Middle Eastern and kebab places.
Around the year
Traditions you might just walk into
Time your visit right and you'll see Poland at its warmest.
Spring
Święconka: the Easter basket
On Holy Saturday, families bring decorated baskets of eggs, bread, and salt to church for a blessing.
Spring
Śmigus-dyngus: Wet Monday
On Easter Monday, don't be surprised by a splash of water, an old custom that delights children to this day.
Autumn
All Saints' Day: November 1
Families visit cemeteries and light candles; after dark, whole hillsides glow, one of Poland's most moving sights.
Autumn
Andrzejki: St. Andrew's Eve
A night of playful fortune-telling at the end of November. Melted wax poured through a key foretells the year ahead.
Winter
Wigilia: Christmas Eve
Twelve meatless dishes (fish included), a wafer shared with warm wishes, and an empty seat kept for an unexpected guest. Supper begins with the first star.
Good manners
Small gestures, big impressions
Do
Greet the room
A "dzień dobry" when entering a shop or office is expected. Add a handshake and eye contact at first meetings.
Stay formal at first
Address people as Pan (Mr.) or Pani (Mrs.) until you're invited to use first names.
Take your shoes off
When entering a Polish home, shoes come off at the door. Hosts often offer slippers.
Say Smacznego and finish your plate
Wish everyone a good meal before eating; a clean plate is the nicest compliment to the cook.
Don't
Don't shake hands in the doorway
An old superstition: step fully inside before greeting.
Don't bring chrysanthemums
They belong to funerals. Choose other flowers, always an odd number.
Don't hand over wrapped flowers
Remove the wrapping before giving a bouquet to your host.
Don't be late
Punctuality is respect, especially at offices, universities, and doctors' appointments.
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