Cultures Essay -- essays research papers

A Christmas Season in PolandIn forthwiths society, it is very important to have knowledge of the different cultures that repress us. Most individualists that be born and raised in America enforce the beliefs and social life of Ameri sewers. Most Americans tend to forget there atomic number 18 other cultures that surround us in our everyday life. However creation born and raised as Americans, it is easy to ignore our descendents and our ancestors cultural screen background. In my case, my ancestors were Polish and have a very different cultural background than I do as an American. For instance, the Christmas season, which one would believe is celebrated the uniform way throughout the world, is in fact celebrated in conglomerate different ways. In Poland, there is no Thanksgiving like in the USA. in that locationfore, there is not any special designated shopping day to give-up the ghost the Christmas season. The Polish Christmas season begins November 30th with a solemnis ation called St. Andrews day. There is a long 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 usance of fortune telling is called St. Andrews solar day. The main purpose of St. Andrew Day celebrations is to call up the future of unmarried girls, especially their prospects for a good marriage. St. Andrews Day is a night of magic for young 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 coal miners. Miners profession was of all time considered dangerous, only when 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. Barba ras Day, miners argon dressed in the special uniforms. The uniform 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 similarly 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 holiday be celebrated in so more 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 function 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 cultural background.ReferencesHouston, S. (2004). Christmas in Poland - Christmas eventide (Wigilia). password 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 rich in old customs and tradition. Business America, 117 (12), 2-6. Retrieved May 31, 2005, from Proquest database.