Cultures Essay -- essays research papers

A Christmas Season in PolandIn todays society, it is very important to soak up knowledge of the different cultures that surround us. Most individuals that are born and raised(a) in America practice the beliefs and social life of Americans. Most Americans tend to stuff at that place are other cultures that surround us in our everyday life. However being born and raised as Americans, it is easy to ignore our descendents and our ancestors ethnic background. In my case, my ancestors were Polish and cod a very different cultural background than I do as an American. For instance, the Christmas season, which one would believe is celebrated the homogeneous way throughout the world, is in fact celebrated in various different ways. In Poland, there is no Thanksgiving like in the USA. Therefore, there is not any special designated shopping day to start the Christmas season. The Polish Christmas season begins November 30th with a celebration called St. Andrews Day. There is a longsighte d tradition of fortune telling especially for non-married girls on the November 30th in Poland. Since November 30th is under a patronage of St. Andrew the habit of fortune telling is called St. Andrews Day. The main purpose of St. Andrew Day celebrations is to predict the future of unmarried girls, especially their prospects for a good marriage. St. Andrews Day is a night of magic for offspring girls (Urban-Klaehn, 2005).      The next day of celebration during the Christmas season is St. Barbaras Day. One of the most celebrated days associated with workers group is St. Barbaras Day on December 4th. St. Barbara is a patron of char miners. Miners profession was always considered dangerous, but prestigious, therefore, this day called "Barbrka" or Barburka" was celebrated for centuries in a spectacular way. The name of the feast originates from St. Barbara as a patron (Pace, 1996).On St. Barbaras Day, miners are dressed in the special uniforms. The un iform consists of a black suit and hat with a feather. The color of the feather, white, red, or black, depends on the rank of the miner. Miners wear their decorative uniforms not only during Barborka, but also for weddings, funerals, and other important political or social ceremonies (Urban-Klaehn, 2005).      Christmas and St. Nicolas Days are not celebrated at the same time in Poland, but th... ...n Christmas season. However some practices are close to the same, the actions and the beliefs of Poles vary tremendously from those of Americans. How can the same spend be celebrated in so many different ways by so two different cultures? Although my ancestors are Polish, being born and raised in America, I practice the beliefs and practices of the American people. Is this a good thing or is it a bad thing? I do not have the answer to that question, but I know that it has to be a good thing to for every individual to have knowledge of his or her ancestors and cultur al background.ReferencesHouston, S. (2004). Christmas in Poland - Christmas Eve (Wigilia). News and Observer, pp. E1. Retrieved May 31, 2005, from Proquest database. Urban-Klaehn, J. (2005). Christmas in Poland St. Nicolaus Day (Dec. 6). Retrieved May 31, 2005, from http//www.bellaonline.com/about/polishcultureUrban-Klaehn, J. (2005). Christmas in Poland - Christmas Eve (Wigilia). Retrieved May 31, 2005, from http//www.bellaonline.com/about/polishculturePace R. (1996). Polish holidays are bountiful in old customs and tradition. Business America, 117 (12), 2-6. Retrieved May 31, 2005, from Proquest database.