If you’re fascinated by the vibrant culture of Poland, you might be wondering what makes their weddings so unique. Traditional Polish weddings are renowned for being lively and engaging, offering a memorable experience for all attendees. This guide is designed to provide an insider’s look at Polish wedding customs, helping you understand what to expect if you’re considering incorporating these traditions into your own celebrations or simply wanting to learn more about the culture.
Polish Wedding Traditions Include:
In the Catholic tradition, the Family Blessing is a cherished ceremony that marks the beginning of a new chapter in a couple’s life. The ritual, which takes place during the wedding mass, serves as a reminder to God of the couple’s commitment and devotion to one another. As part of this sacred rite, bread and salt are traditionally offered to the newlyweds, symbolizing their nourishment and sustenance for a lifetime together.
Following the ceremony, the celebration truly gets underway with a massive feast that brings family, friends, and community together in joyous revelry. However, it’s not all sugar and spice as the vodka flows freely, and the partying continues well into the night, with the ‘Poprawiny’ or Second Day of Partying being just as anticipated as the wedding itself!
As a highlight of this lively celebration, the ‘Oczepiny’ or Unveiling takes place, where the bride’s friends help her prepare for her new life by styling her hair and dressing her in traditional Polish attire. Hours of dance and merriment follow, as the newlyweds are showered with love, laughter, and good fortune on their special day.
The Family Blessing
As the big day unfolds, the wedding party assembles at the bride’s home for a poignant family blessing ceremony. Taking place on a Saturday, this pre-church ritual serves as the inaugural step in the wedding process. With the bride and groom at its center, the ceremony sees the couple’s parents bestowing special blessings upon them.
The proceedings begin with the bride’s mother performing a sacred rite: she blesses the newlyweds with holy water before presenting them each with a crucifix, which they tenderly kiss. The bride’s father follows suit, imparting his own blessing and sprinkling the couple with holy water.
As the ritual unfolds, the groom’s parents, godparents, family members, and friends are invited to participate in the benediction, creating a heartwarming atmosphere that culminates in an outpouring of affection, including hugs, kisses, and tears of joy.
The Ceremony
In Poland, a significant majority of people are Catholic, with 87% of the population identifying as Roman-Catholic (Eurydice). This cultural backdrop often leads to beautiful church weddings. In fact, many Polish couples prefer intimate gatherings and limit the number of guests invited to their celebration. As a result, you might only receive an invitation to the ceremony at the church, without being invited to the reception.
To avoid any confusion, it’s crucial to carefully read your wedding invitation to determine which celebration you’ve been invited to. Look out for keywords such as ‘ślub’ and ‘wesele’. While ‘ślub’ typically refers to the church ceremony, ‘wesele’ is often used to describe the reception. If you do receive an invitation to the party, you can expect a lively atmosphere with food, drinks, and merriment.
Bread and Salt Tradition
In Polish wedding traditions, a unique custom unfolds after the church ceremony. The newlyweds arrive at their reception venue, where they’re greeted by their parents with an unexpected yet meaningful offering: bread and salt. This seemingly simple gesture holds profound symbolic value. The bread signifies a wish for the couple to never experience hunger or hardship, while the salt represents the need to confront life’s challenges together.
As part of this tradition, the father of either the bride or groom presents the happy couple with two shot glasses – one filled with vodka, and the other with water. This marks their first wedding toast. The bride gets to make the first selection, choosing between the two glasses without knowing which contains what.
According to custom, the partner who ultimately selects the vodka-filled glass is said to become the dominant force in the relationship.
Both the bride and groom must then consume their chosen drinks in one swift motion before throwing the shot glasses behind their backs. If these vessels break upon impact, it’s believed that the couple will enjoy a long, happy life together – a cherished blessing indeed.
Polish Wedding Food
Polish weddings are renowned for their abundant food offerings, which typically include an assortment of appetizers, sweet treats, fruits, and more. According to tradition, the festivities begin with a hearty ‘rosół’ (chicken soup), a staple of Polish cuisine. The second course usually features various meat dishes accompanied by potato and vegetable salads. Additionally, guests can look forward to four to five entrees, alongside an endless supply of vodka.
When it comes to cake, Polish wedding traditions mirror those in the United States – with the bride and groom cutting the first slice together before sharing it with their guests.
The Vodka
At a traditional Polish wedding, one thing is certain: Vodka will flow freely. As the most popular drink at these celebrations, it’s common to see a bottle or two (or several) on each party table. And with so many toasts being raised throughout the day and night, it’s no surprise that Vodka takes center stage as the life of the party.
Polish Wedding Dance and Music
Polish weddings wouldn’t be complete without the rhythms and melodies of traditional music and dance. Be prepared for a lively atmosphere where you’ll spend hours dancing the night away to iconic Polish tunes, often with a partner by your side. While it’s customary to bring a plus one, don’t worry if you’re flying solo – many guests switch dance partners throughout the evening, giving everyone a chance to twirl with almost anyone, including the bride herself.
The pièce de résistance is typically the first dance between the newlyweds, but you’ll also get to enjoy a live band playing infectious Polish music that’s hard to resist singing along to, even if you don’t speak the language.
“Oczepiny” (The Unveiling)
Poprawiny: Wedding Festivities Continue a Second Day
In Poland, the wedding celebration doesn’t stop with just one night of partying. In fact, it’s common for the festivities to stretch on for a second day, known as Poprawiny. This more intimate gathering usually takes place on Sundays around lunchtime and goes late into the evening. The guest list is typically limited to the bride and groom’s closest relatives and friends, creating a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
While the tone is different from the first day’s celebrations, there’s still plenty of food and drink to go around. It’s worth noting that in the past, Polish wedding parties could last up to three or four days – talk about an extended honeymoon!
Polish Wedding Attire
In Polish wedding attire, tradition meets modernity. Historically, brides donned intricately embroidered skirts, often featuring flowers and foliage, paired with a crisp white blouse. Some added an ornate black vest for extra flair. While these classic looks still delight, contemporary couples have plenty of options to choose from.
For the big day, some Polish brides opt for elegant European-style dresses with full veils, while others prefer simpler gowns featuring blue accents.
According to custom, white symbolizes purity, and blue represents marital devotion. Other popular choices include traditional Polish wedding costumes or hand-painted dresses inspired by folklore.
Today’s modern Polish brides often select sleek, neutral-hued dresses from boutiques – think sand, champagne, or pale gold tones. For grooms, tradition calls for folk-inspired attire tied to their regional heritage.
Typically, a groom’s outfit consists of an embroidered black vest over a white shirt, complemented by a striped cummerbund and long white coat. Expect ornate floral and ribbon decorations, as well as loose striped peasant pants or black/white breeches paired with high boots.
Polish Wedding Hair
In Poland, the hairstyle of a maiden bride-to-be is steeped in tradition. She’s likely to adorn her locks with intricate braids, accompanied by a wreath or circlet featuring fresh flowers, myrtle leaves, rosemary, and vibrant ribbons. This beautiful headdress, known as a wianek, serves as a poignant symbol of her maidenhood. Some of these elaborate creations can take many hours to craft, resulting in truly breathtaking headpieces that are almost as lovely as the bride herself.
Meanwhile, the groom typically dons a stylish black hat adorned with flowers and ribbons, a stylish yet understated nod to the special occasion.