Poland's Holidays
Many of Poland's holidays offer travelers special opportunities to observe or participate in Polish annual traditions. Whether you're waiting in the cold for New Year's fireworks in Krakow's Market Square or you're watching a Corpus Christi procession, your experience with seasonal celebrations in Poland will offer you plenty of photo opportunities, unique memories, and a greater understanding of Polish culture and history. For example, today, November 11, is Poland's Independence Day, which celebrates the attainment of statehood by Poland in 1918.
Gingerbread in Eastern Europe
Sweet and spicy, easy to store, and perfect for cutting into decorative shapes, gingerbread has enjoyed a long history in Eastern Europe, and it is still a popular wintertime treat. In fact, some cities in Eastern Europe, like Torun, Poland, are renowned for their gingerbread. Gingerbread in Poland often takes the form of cookies, or pierniczki, but gingerbread houses are also popular. However, Poland isn't the only country in East or East Central Europe that enjoys gingerbread - you'll find recipes for gingerbread in cookbooks from most countries of the region.
Sample gingerbread at Eastern Europe's Christmas Markets or make some yourself for decoration or to share with loved ones during the holidays.
Barbara Rolek, About.com's Guide to East European Food, offers recipes and information about gingerbread:
Polish Gingerbread Fish Ornament photo credit: iStockphoto/roomauction
Russian Culture Monday: Ded Moroz
Russians call their version of Santa Claus Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost. While Ded Moroz shares some traits with the Western Santa, his outstanding qualities are all Russian. He wears a long, fur-lined coat decorated with embroidery and tall valenki, his chosen mode of transportation is a troika, and his companion is a lovely young girl called Snegurochka.
Ded Moroz makes his appearance on New Year's Eve rather than Christmas Eve, visiting the houses of good children all over Russia, who may have written to him at his address in Veliky Ustyug, his official hometown.
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Ded Moroz and Snegurochka photo credit: iStockphoto/oleg66
Christmas in Prague
You don't have to be in Prague on December 25th to celebrate Christmas in the Czech capital city. Enjoy holiday-related exhibitions and events if you travel before or after Christmas Day. Old Town Square, besides being the site for the Prague Christmas Market, also enjoys a visit from St. Nicholas on December 5th and is a major location for New Year's celebrations. Nativity scenes - both art masterpieces and live scenes - can be seen, and one near the Prague Loreto is the culmination point of the Three Kings Procession on January 5th.
More about Christmas in Prague:
Nativity Scene in Prague photo credit: iStockphoto/petrzurek
Christmas Markets Around the World
Going to be in the UK, Scandinavia, Germany, France, New York, Italy, or Eastern Europe in the weeks leading up to Christmas? If so, you'll want to take advantage of a seasonal treat for travelers: Christmas markets! Whether you're looking for a special decoration for your Christmas tree back home, are seeking a gift for a friend or relative, or love sampling traditional winter-weather foods, Christmas markets are the place to do it. Many Christmas markets are also visited by the local version of Santa or act as venues for Christmas-themed performances. Fern Arfin, About.com's Guide to United Kingdom Travel, has more:
Russian Culture Monday: Valenki
Russian traditional felt boots are called valenki (singular: valenok). Though they may seem like a knockoff of the popular sheepskin boots from Australia, valenki are, in fact, as much a part of Russian culture as samovars, vodka, and nesting dolls. They have been used for centuries to protect feet from the freezing temperatures and deep snow typical of Russian winters, and they have yet to disappear from Russian wardrobes as an element of cold weather wear. Utilitarian, and now stylish, valenki can be purchased at souvenirs shops, at designer boutiques, and online.
Because valenki are made of wool felt, they can shrink if they get wet. Galoshes that fit over valenki protect the boots from melting snow or rain. Besides being used for trekking about in the snow, valenki also make great shoes to wear around the house, especially after they're broken in.
Read more about valenki, valenki history, and shopping for valenki:
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Valenki photo credit: iStockphoto/zoom-zoom
Dracula and Romania
October 31st is the perfect day to pay homage to Romania's famous "vampire," Vlad Tepes. Vlad, a medieval Wallachian prince famous for his practice of impaling those who opposed him, is associated with sites in Romania significant to his reign. Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler, was a very real person who is famous both for his cruelty and his opposition to outside forces who wanted control over the region.
The legend of Vlad the Impaler morphed, through Bram Stoker's literary inspiration, into the legend of Count Dracula, whose pale features, bloody fangs, and cape have come to represent the most famous of all vampires. While Vlad Tepes was not a vampire, Romania has a strong vampire folklore tradition that refuses to die.
Explore the history and legend of Dracula and Romania:
Torun, Poland
On your next trip to Poland, if you're in the vicinity of Gdansk, you may want to consider taking a side trip to Torun. Torun is one of Poland's World Heritage Sites and has a picturesque medieval Old Town with an impressive town hall. It is also the birthplace of Nicholas Copernicus, and visitors to Torun can visit Copernicus-related sites here. If you go during the month of December, you can even visit the Torun Christmas Market.
Torun Town Hall Photo Credit: iStockphoto/tsz01
Russian Culture Monday: Samovars
Samovars are essentially kettles for heating water, but their significance does not stop there. Samovars are lasting symbols of Russian culture. They represent hospitality and warmth and act as functional art objects for the home. Samovars once had a special place in the Russian home, and they are still used on special occasions. For the traveler, the Russian samovar can be an elegant and functional souvenir that will lend an element of Russian culture to any social occasion.
Read more about the history and use of samovars:
Whether or not you travel to Russia, you can still purchase a samovar. In Russia, you need look no further than souvenir markets. Markets like Izmailovo Market in Moscow will offer both antique and modern samovars. Samovars can also be purchased online. Online auction sites sell samovars, but if you're looking for a special type of samovar, it might be best to shop from a website specializing in samovars. For example, you can buy a samovar directly from Tula, a city famous for its production of samovars, through the site Tula-Samovar.com.ru.
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Samovar photo credit: iStockphoto/Rumo_S
Christmas Souvenirs at Izmaylovo Market
Though it is not one of Eastern Europe's Christmas markets, Moscow's Izmaylovo Market is a great place to find Christmas-themed or winter-related Russian souvenirs and decorations. These items are available year round and include nesting dolls, fuzzy fur caps, lacquer boxes, warm woolen shawls, ornaments, and crafts depicting popular winter scenes and characters from fairy tales . Izmaylovo Market is also a great source for gifts like amber jewelry, art, or other handcrafted items.
Christmas Nesting Dolls photo credit: iStockphoto/DepthofField