Weddings in Poland 2010

During the first couple of days in Poland, Linda and I were on our own. Our tour had not started. We had purposely left the time uncommitted to give a chance to get over jetlag and to allow for things like late arrival, which an earlier post showed was very possible.  On Saturday, July 24, we walked around primarily in the Old Town part of Warsaw. One thing we quickly noticed, every church had a wedding going on; and, as we spent the day walking around, every church was always having a wedding. And, every wedding had a chauffered old car for the bride and groom which had every door handle decorated with fresh flowers.

When on the private part of our tour, going to the Mozdzen home area, we asked our guides about what we had seen. True in every church there are so many weddings that on Saturdays, beginning at 8 AM, and Sunday, beginning at Noon, there is a wedding scheduled for every hour. At present old cars are the preferred mode of transportation for the newly weds. Weddings are scheduled as much as 2 years in advance to get a particular date and time.

Weddings are very expensive in the major cities, like Warsaw.  Weddings go on for 2-3 days beginning with the exchange of vows; and, the bride and groom are expected to be present till the very end of all celebrations. An average wedding costs 80-120,00 zloty (pronounced: z-wa-ty). The current exchange rate is 3.3 zloty per dollar or about $30,000.00 for an average wedding.  It is not unusual to have weddings cost 500,000 zloty ($140,000.00). Our guide telling us this, said that she has a 23 year old daughter who had been told that she will get 100,000 zloty for her wedding. She can spend it as she wishes.

Our guide also went on to say that most young people in Poland today do not get married, they just begin living together and become married by law automatically after 5 years.  They do not see any reason to get married in a church. However, that is not so true in the country towns, they get married and do not have such expensive weddings, even though the celebration still goes on for 2-3 days.

Polish Baptistism

Linda and I stopped for coffee and a wonderful apple pie (more about the great food later post) across the street from one of Warsaw's many churches. We were doing what many people in Poland everywhere do: sitting at a sidewalk restauracja; enjoying the summer day; and, peopler watching, especially the many young couples holding hands while walking and the even more whole families (babies to grandparents) strolling around the very broad main streets. In addition we were viewing in awe the Warsaw the Poles had rebuilt from everything of cultural significance being purposefully blown to bits to leave the Poles with nothing.

So, across the street, at the church there was a large group gathering. Like a tourist, what is going on. Grab camera and arrive to find a family dressed in local folk costumes. It seems such dress is worn for special family occasions such as Baptisms. Can identify the parents with baby?

Weddings in Poland is next............

Solomon Strumpfinn comes home to Warsaw Poland

Ann Levin asked Linda if as part of our trip we could help her get part of her Uncle Sol back to his beloved Poland that he left as a very young man in the late-1930's. We contacted Nozyk Synagogue and they generously offered to have special prayers at Shabbat on Saturday, 24 July. After a couple of days touring Warsaw, it was decided the most appropriate place for Uncle Sol's ashes was the rose garden at the foot of the monument honoring Adam Mickiewicz, one of Poland's greatest poets and across the street from where Frederic Chopin last resided before leaving for Paris.

Both of these world famous men lived much of their lives away from their beloved country. Both after death were returned to Poland; Chopin's heart is entombed in a church just down the street from here; and, Mickiewicz is buried a short distance from here. Nowe Swiat, the street where both Chopin and Mickiewicz are honored is part of one of the Poles greatest achievements, the complete rebuilding of a city where the Nazis in a fit of rage dynamited every structure. Nearly every building was reduced to rubble. The Polish people with no financial or equipment assistance from the Communists, rebuild Warsaw to be as it was before WW II with their own money and after job labor. Rest in peace, Uncle Sol. You are now part of an inspiring story that we all must never forget.

Those that following this blog, please continue to visit. Our next post will cover weddings in Warsaw. Many pictures. Till next time..................

Nozyk Synagogue: the only synagogue in Warsaw to survive World War II

It is an Orthodox Synagogue and is very much active leading a growing Jewish Community in Warsaw. On Saturday, 24 July, they offered special prayers for Solomon Strumpfinn as part of Shabbat. Because we were there on the Sabbath, no photos were allowed inside. The synagogue has just been fully restored, financed by Warsaw's Municipal Government and the local Jewish Community. Learn more at: http://seekingpolishroots.bloodspot.com
And, at http://warszawa.Jewish.org.pl/en

Warsaw Chapter of the Harley Club

Want a Harley to ride in Warsaw

If you ask "How much?" You need to shop else where.

Inside the Warsaw Harley store

Even the sales clerk in the Harley store stated that only the well-to-do shopped in his store. The leather jackets in the photo had 3-5000 zloty price tags. That is $1000 plus. Of course, they are tailored to fit properly. Nice!