Independence Day

Poland: Officially a country since 1918!

(The 123 years before that it was partitioned up by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. And before that it was, of course, Poland.)

Thursday, 11 November, was Poland’s Independence Day (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości).  In Poznań, they also celebrate St. Martin’s Day because it happens to coincide on 11 November. According to wikipedia, Święty Marcin was a Roman soldier turned monk who at one time cut his cloak in half because he could not pass by a beggar without giving him aid. And in Poznań, each year they make these croissant-looking pastries called rogale, which happen to be certified or patented with the EU.  They are geographically protected, so only Poznan can make them. Apparently when that happened a few years ago, the prices shot way up.  Funny!

Unfortunately I wasn’t close enough to see the parade well. Definitely not close enough to photograph the guy dressed up as St. Martin. But I caught glimpses- he was wearing Roman-looking armor, including a red cape.

The main area for the festivities are appropriately held at the corner of St. Martin’s Street and Independence Street, at the castle. It’s like someone planned this out or something!

    

On the left below is what I thought was some sort of bread/pastry, but it was grilled mountain cheese, we think from sheep milk? Turned out it was suuuuper salty. And on the right are another type of cookie. I tried these on All Saint’s Day, and they weren’t very good. Rather blah.

   

This puzzles me. There were two separate groups of Native American street musicians… I tried to listen for what language they were speaking as I walked past one group who were on break. I couldn’t tell. (Are you guys Polish? American? Do you live here? Do you speak your native language? And why did you dress that mannequin up in native garb?) It’s very odd to me. The Poles seemed to really like it. They were semi-circled around them 5 to 10 people deep!

 

Just after walking past these guys, I walked past some very excited Polish girls trading turns taking pictures with a man of African descent. He was apparently just a dude, out to enjoy the celebrations. Perhaps a student here. And some girls stopped him on the street and asked to take a picture pictures with him. They were all giggly. He was… smiling a little incredulously. Oh, Poland!

One of the most fun parts of Independence Day was when I met some friends and went back for the evening celebration. There was a band playing, and we caught the end of their concert… not bad! People were more festive, maybe it was just more young people and fewer young families…? But in any case, the mood seemed more celebratory. And then… the fireworks!! Yay fireworks! Although, I’ve gotta say, fireworks are best enjoyed on a warm summer night, preferably with very patriotic American music. :) If you can enjoy it in Yukon, America!, all the better.

Happy Independence Day!