saint andrew´s day
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Saint Andrew´s Day. How people in Poland celebrate it. Saint 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 Poland. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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