Saint Andrew´s DaySaint Andrew´s DayHow people in Poland How people in Poland

celebrate itcelebrate it

Saint AndrewSaint Andrew

• he lived in Galilee ( present-day Israel )• a Christian apostle,

a brother of Saint Peter

• his occupation was a fisherman

• he is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia

Saint Andrew´s Day in PolandSaint Andrew´s Day in Poland

• the holiday is celebrated on the night of the 29th through the 30th of November

• on this day there should be a fun night party combined with some fortune telling

• the habit of fortune telling in Polish is called briefly AndrzejkiAndrzejki

• the main purpose of AndrzejkiAndrzejki is to predict the future of an unmarried girl, especially her prospects for a good marriage

AndrzejkiAndrzejki

• There are lots of games/fortunes that are typical for this day in Poland

• Here are some traditional games that are still played during the Andrzejki:Andrzejki:

1. Pouring hot wax1. Pouring hot wax• hot melted wax is poured through the hole in a

key into a bowl of cold water

• in the past not a usual key was used to this ritual but a key from door in the church was the best

• hardened wax is held up to the light and the future is guessed from its shadow cast on the wall

• the lights are usually off (except the light of the candle), which adds to an unusual atmosphere of this evening

Different meanings of the Different meanings of the shadows:shadows:

• heart or man = lovelove

• star = fortune and happy lifefortune and happy life

• flower = nice surprisenice surprise

• ring = engagementengagement

• owl or fox = dangerdanger

2. Lining up shoes2. Lining up shoes• shoes of all the girls are arranged in a straight

line at the back of the room (each girl takes off just one shoe)

• the girl whose shoe is at the end takes it and moves it to the front of the line

• all the girls take turn to move their shoes towards the door

• the girl whose shoe would first cross the doorstep would be married first

3. Throwing shoes3. Throwing shoes• all the girls are

gathered in the middle of the room

• each of them throws their left shoeleft shoe towards the door

• if the shoe falls down facing the facing the doordoor, it means fast wedding

4. The apple-peel toss4. The apple-peel toss

• each participating girl peels an apple so the entire skin comes off in a single strand

• she then flings the unbroken peel over her shoulder • the peel often lands on the floor and assumes the

shape of a letter which is said to indicate the name of her future fiancé or husband

• if the peel does not resemble any letter, that means the peel-tosser will not get engaged for some time

5. Pins5. Pins• for this game either

77 or 1313 pins are needed

• the pins are placed in a cup and shaken well before thrown on the table

• the letter formed by the pins is then read

Meanings of the lettersMeanings of the letters• AA – trip• EE – happiness in love or in work• HH – marriage• KK – success in work• LL – be careful• TT – help of friends• VV – somebody wants to use you• WW – be afraid, cheater• XX – happiness

6. Date of birth6. Date of birth• date of birth must be expressed as one

number

• the final numberthe final number will be the total sum of all the individual numbers

For example:For example:

21.01.1990 =

2+1+0+1+1+9+9+0=2323

2+3=52+3=5

Meanings of the numbers:Meanings of the numbers:

• 11 = ambitiuos• 2 2 = gentle• 33 = trustworthy• 44 = obstinate and sentimental• 55 = cheerful• 66 = sociable• 77 = romantic• 88 = underestimated• 99 = independent

7. Pieces of paper with male first 7. Pieces of paper with male first names in a bowlnames in a bowl

• the bowl is filled with water with a candle floating in the middle

• pieces of paper with male first names are

put on the edges of

the bowl • the first burnt paper

piece indicates the name of the future husband

8. Pieces of paper under 8. Pieces of paper under the pillowthe pillow

• girls and unmarried women put pieces of paper ( with the names of the boys they fancy ) under the pillow

• the first thing in the morning they take out one piece of paper

• the name on the paper reveals the name of the future husband

9. Three cups9. Three cups

• three cups are flipped upside down to cover marriage ring, small cross and a piece of green plant

• girls choose one cup which indicates their future fate:

• the ringthe ring - the marriage

• thethe crosscross - life as a nun in monastery

• the green plantthe green plant - the unmarried life

10. Barking dogs10. Barking dogs

• when the dusk comes, you should listen to the dog barkinglisten to the dog barking - from this direction the future husband will come

11. Dreams11. Dreams

• try to remember your dreamyour dream at St. Andrew´s night - if you see a man in a dream - this might be your future husband

• look at thethe water reflectionwater reflection in a well or in the mirror at midnight to see his face

Try some or all of the above games at your late-November get-together and see how much fun you and your group may have been missing.

If you’re attending an AndzejkiAndzejki dance, do not be surprised to see everyone engaged in a little fortune telling as a part of the celebration.

Thank you for Thank you for your attentionyour attention