POLISHMYTHS AND

LEGENDS

Stories about national, religious and fairy topics

MythsFictional stories with religious topics

LegendsStories about saints

Folk talesTales about local faith and traditions

FablesStories, where evil must be defeated

Heroes of myths- a deity.TRIGLAV

(god with three faces)

PERUN

Pregod, the father of the Slavic gods.

God of heaven, earth and the underworld.

God of sky and thunder. Also worshipped by the Balts. SWAROŻYC

(a son of Swarog)

God of the sun, very popular among gods.

The name ,,Swarzędz” probably comes from him.ŚWIATOWIT

(sacred)

God of war and divination.

He had four faces directed to the four sides of the world.

Slavs worshipped nature.

Oaks were given special cult because gods lived in trees.

The most important places of Slavic worship :

-Ślęża

-the mountain of St. Anne

-Bald mountain

Former Slavs believed that in the world there are fantasy creatures like demons and nyphms.

*Drowning of straw dolls representing winter (on 21st March).

*Śmigus- dyngus – boys pour water over girls.

Kupala’s night- fun night and night for love. Kupala is the God of fertility and love.

Customs in our country

LEGENDS HEROES

• Saints - for example Saint Kinga.

• Sovereigns - for example Polish kings.

• Heroes from folk stories - for example highwaymen, peasants.

• Fantasy characters - for example witches, devils.

Legend about Piast KołodziejThis story is about beginning of Piasts – a royal dynasty in Poland. The legendary founder of the dynasty was Piast Kołodziej. Mieszko I was the first prince of Poland ( 10th century) and his son, Bolesław Brave, was the first king ( 11th century).

Mieszko I Bolesław Brave

Poznań legend

-At the town hall tower there is a statue of goats. At noon goats appear to the people

gathered in the Old Market.

-In Poznan there is the street of the Holy Martin. In November 11, on the name-day of Martin all inhabitants of Wielkopolska (Great Poland) eat Martin’s croissants, known by all people in Poland.

LEGEND ABOUT SAINT KINGA

Saint Kinga was Hungarian princess and she was the wife of a Polish king Bolesław Wstydliwy.

This legend explains the origin of the salt mine in Wieliczka.

*Wawel- the hill in Cracow, the previous capital of Poland, where the royal castle was built.

*The legend about Wawel’s dragon explains the beginning of the cave in Wawel’s hill.

POLISH HEROES OF FAIRY TALES

Strong men

Examples of negative heroes: robbers, Bad nobleman.

Women

Bad stepmother, bad duchesses.

Good orphans, the youngest sister.Positive

Heroes, for example: the sons of a miller.

Animals, for Example:cats and bees. Items, for

example: magic shoes.

Fantastic creatures

Creatures living in the water eg: mermaids, water spirits.

Witches and wizards eg: Baba Jaga.

The most popular Polish fables

About Waligóra and Wyrwidąb - a story about two very strong men, who freed a town from a dragon

Cat in boots – a story about a cat which helped a boy, Janek, to defeat evil wizard

Fairy – a story about an evil mother and her good daughter and an evil daughter. The evil mother and evil daughter were punished by the fairy for their cruelty and stupidity. The good daughter was rewarded.

Thanks for watching

PolandKlaudia Staszyńska Maja Stachowiak Michał Iwańczuk Janusz Walkowiak