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    Polish Impressionism

    By
    redakcja
    -
    Polish Impressionism

    Impressionism was a trend in European culture – later also in American culture – that was initiated by painters in Paris and which lasted several decades during the period around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

    The name “Impressionism” comes from the painting Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise) by Claude Monet, exhibited at the Paris exhibition in 1874. It was introduced in a satirical sense by Louis Leroy, but its influence spread quickly and began to define a new artistic direction, referring not only to the visual arts, but also to music and literature.

    The goal of the Impressionists was to free themselves from the legacy of the Romantic era, the rigid principles of academism and pathos. The Impressionists were not interested in social issues, metaphysical problems or historical heroism. Rather, they tried to capture the ever-changing reality of life and perpetuate the subjective, fleeting impressions that it exerted on them.

    The Impressionists needed creative freedom in accordance with the possibilities of a given field of art and a corresponding, specific means of expression. Form gained significance and ultimately dominance. On artistic values, in poetry, painting and music, the sublime, sensual action of words, colors and sounds was brought to the fore, appealing to an audience increasingly sensitive to subtle nuances.

    Kids used to eat out of the palms

    By
    redakcja
    -
    Kids used to eat out of the palms
    Pixabay.com

    Indeed they were given pussies from pussy willows to swallow after coming back home from the mass on Palm Sunday, which was meant to keep children strong and healthy. But there is much more to the symbolism of palms on that day than a few rustic superstitions.

    Palm Sunday, the last Sunday before Easter, commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. This event is mentioned in all four Gospels: people were cheering, proclaiming Him the king, and covering the path before Him with their capes and palm leaves. There are writings confirming that Palm Sunday was celebrated as soon as the 4th Century in Jerusalem, while the custom of blessing palms originates from today’s France and was already known in the 7th Century.

    In Poland, people gather by the church where they have their palms blessed and the appropriate passage from the Gospel is read. After that, the congregation proceeds into the church, in order to recreate the event they had just listened to. During the ensuing mass, the Passion of Christ is read by three people sharing roles of the narrator, Christ himself, and other characters.

    Since palm trees are rather unavailable in Poland, the tradition was to make “palms” from pussy willows, as in Bavaria, Austria, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. One of the reasons for it is that a willow branch, even if dry and broken away from the tree, when it is put in the ground and watered, it will come back to life and become green again, so it serves perfectly as a symbol for resurrection. But the palms are usually much more elaborate than a few willow branches. Depending on the region, people also used raspberry and currant branches, box, vinca, vaccinium, and yew, decorated with ribbons and coloured paper.

    Some regions have developed their individual styles of the palm. The highlander palm is just willow, wicker or hazel branches. The Kurpie one is much more extraordinary, as it consists of a fir or spruce bough, wrapped in lycopodium, heather, bilberry leaves, and coloured paper. It can easily reach a few metres of height. These days, however, fewer and fewer people make their own palms. They are usually bought in stalls by the church. The most popular palm offered there is the colourful Vilnius palm: a short stick with dried flowers weaved around it, together with various types of moss and grass, dyed in vivid colours. Trying to promote the holiday and sustaining the tradition of individually prepared palms, many parishes around Poland organise contests for the tallest and most beautiful palms, which later decorate the church for the Easter period, adding to the joy of the season. 

    EU action against Poland before elections: just a coincidence?

    By
    redakcja
    -
    EU action against Poland before elections: just a coincidence?
    Shutterstock

    “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” The words of Albert Einstein. And whether or not God chooses to remain anonymous, the European Commission Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, does not. He was hitting back on Sunday at accusations of political bias from Poland’s government, as he campaigned as a candidate for May’s European elections

    On Wednesday, wearing his EU Commission hat, Timmermans had announced that the commission was taking fresh action against Poland over the government’s judicial reforms. In particular, he said, the new disciplinary regime for judges would have a “chilling effect” on judicial independence. On Thursday, Jarosław Sellin, a deputy culture minister in the Law and Justice (PiS) government, accused Timmermans of playing politics by launching the new infringement procedure ahead of the elections to the European parliament which take place in Poland on 26th May.

     

    Timmermans dismissed the accusations in comments he made to reporters in Warsaw Sunday, as reported by AFP.  “There is no link whatsoever even though the Polish government pretends this is linked to the elections,” he said. “This has nothing to do with the election.” “It is clear from all evidence that the way the new disciplinary measures work, it has a chilling effect on Polish judges, so it intimidates them,” Timmermans added.

     

    As Timmermans would no doubt agree, justice must be done and manifestly seen to be done and not, as is alas, all too often the case, seen to be believed. And herein lies a slight difficulty. While the Commission’s action against Poland is no doubt wholly separate from Timmermans’s own political views, and the fact that he was speaking at a joint press conference with Robert Biedron, the leader of Poland’s new progressive Spring party at a campaign event for the European elections was no doubt a coincidence, it does allow others to take a less charitable view.

    On Thursday, Sellin said of Timmermans: “He has a political interest in it because he is in the heat of the election campaign,” the Polish PAP news agency reported. “He wants to be the chief European commissioner on behalf of the socialists, he fights for this position and wants to renew his mandate.” Appearing in Warsaw on a platform with an opposition party leader was thus grist to PiS’s mill.

    And, of course, this is but the latest salvo in the battle between EU and the PiS government over the latter’ extensive reforms which it insists are needed to tackle corruption and to reform a judicial system still haunted by the communist era. The EU has already launched unprecedented proceedings against Poland under article 7 of the EU treaty over “systemic threats” to the rule of law that could ultimately see its voting rights in the EU suspended. In fact, suspension seems unlikely since all the other 27 EU member states would have to agree and Hungary, also under the same procedure, has said it will veto such a move.

    Timmermans aside, those bastions of EU propriety, France and Germany, also expressed concern, as reported by Reuters, over the independence of Polish courts at a meeting of EU ministers on Tuesday, supporting the EU Commission view  that the new disciplinary system for judges, is intended to intimidate them into sentencing in line with the wishes of the ruling party.  “We hope that the infringement procedure launched by the European Commission last week regarding the new disciplinary regime for judges will allow some improvements, in particular regarding the right to an effective remedy before an independent and impartial court,” a Franco-German statement said. 

    “We want to seize the opportunity … to stress, once again, our concerns regarding the overall situation created by the reform of the judiciary system in Poland,” the joint statement said.  “In our view, the combined effect of the legislative changes could put at risk the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers in Poland”. Concerns over the rule of law in Poland that led to the launch of the Article 7 procedure had not been completely and properly addressed, it continued. “We reaffirm our support to the Commission in this regard… In view of the recent developments, we propose to hold a new session of the hearing of Poland after the European elections … in June.”

    It seems that this saga will run and run. The Polish government has always maintained that the reforms are necessary, and that the EU does not understand Polish circumstances, the EU countering that, in effect, it understands only too well and knows a breach of EU principles when it sees one. In such a climate, some coincidences are just too convenient.

    Let's Visit Praga!

    By
    redakcja
    -

    Praga – the ugly, beautiful side of Warsaw is located on the “other side” (the right bank) of the Vistula River. It attracts its fans with old, cobblestone streets and historic architecture, little communist-style “bary mleczne” (milk bars) and a cool, alternative nightlife, as well as the unpretentious nature of its residents. 

    Until the late 18th century, Praga developed as an independent township of a commercial nature. It consisted of several Jurydyks (districts outside of Warsaw city limits) – Praga Biskupia, Książęca, Kamion, and Golędzinowa. In 1791, the independent jurisdictions were abolished and Praga was incorporated into the City of Warsaw. Its infrastructure at the time included workshops, inns, saltworks, mansions and palaces. Praga enjoyed a good location on the trade and communication routes of the period. 

    Today the historical, somewhat chaotic history of Praga is reflected in its fascinating mix of people and places across the river from its larger and more prosperous neighbor, Central Warsaw.  
     

    Spring: the most pro-life season

    By
    redakcja
    -
    Spring: the most pro-life season
    https://www.facebook.com/marszswietoscizycia/

    As the life around is waking up with a fresh boost, the pro-life movement in Poland also comes back with new power to stand against the “culture of death”.

    Some are limited to a few major cities, others take place throughout the country; some fight for a change in abortion laws, while others concentrate more on promoting the culture of life and family values; most of them involve doing something practical for the cause, like collecting diapers and other necessary products for families or single parents in need, all are peaceful and happy: pro-life marches really abound in Spring.

    It is hard to discern where we are at when it comes to abortion in the Western world. The pro-life movement suffers a major blow as one of its bastions falls in Ireland, but then there is the “Heartbeat Bill” in Ohio. There are outrageous laws passed in New York against the unborn, but there is a massive success of the movie “Unplanned”, now on screens in the US. The battle in Poland is no different: we have witnessed a fair share of the so-called “Black Marches” postulating to give more power over the developing life to the mother and the doctor. Thay were successful to the extent that the current conservative government decided not to change the current “compromise” law to a more pro-life one after hundreds of thousands signatures were delivered to the parliament, in support of the cause.

    Yet, it appears that the movement is gaining momentum again as this Spring has already seen two major pro-life marches attracting ten of thousands of supporters. One, the National March for Life, happened on 24th March, while the other, the Sanctity of Life March, on 7th April. As for the latter, this year it focused on fatherhood as it seems to be more and more depreciated in current culture. There is another march coming on 9th June – March for Life and Family – and, judging from previous years, it might attract even more participants than the previous two. A Spring like this provides a ray of hope that more eyes will be opened to the truth about human life and its value, and that one day the general public will mature enough to want to respect it from the beginning to the end.

    No, Poland Isn’t a Step Closer to POLEXIT

    By
    redakcja
    -
    No

    The British press is enthusiastically reporting that Poland is one step closer to leaving the European Union, but it’s just not true.

    I read today in the British papers that Poland is “gearing up to leave the EU” and “follow in the footsteps of Brexit in a move that could spark the collapse of Brussels”. I have little to no respect for the press in the United Kingdom, so it should have come as no surprise to me that the papers would get something so incredibly wrong.

     

    The report took claims by the European Coalition that Law and Justice were leading the country closer to an exit from the European Union. Grzegorz Schetyna of the Civic Platform – part of the European Coalition (KE) – referred to a choice between a “strong, rich, democratic Poland in a strong Europe” or what Poland sees today, a “party state, on its way to leave the EU”.

     

    I have reported recently on tensions between the EU and Poland, and even unfair treatment of Poland and other Eastern European states by EU leaders, but I don’t for a moment believe that PiS is plotting POLEXIT. With Law and Justice facing a very real threat from the dodgy left-wing deal made by the European Coalition in the upcoming May elections, it would be electoral suicide to suggest a policy so overwhelmingly unpopular in Poland.

     

    An opinion poll in 2018 found that only 17% of Polish people supported leaving the European Union. Is the British press so lazy that they are unable to find this data? Or are they simply unwilling to do the work?

     

    I understand that shocking headlines like this get clicks, but misleading headlines like this help nobody. Brexit-leaning papers might like the idea of Poland leaving the EU, but even as a Brexiteer I accept that’s unlikely to happen any time soon.

    Poland as seen by… anime!

    By
    S
    -
    Poland as seen by... anime!
    https://youtu.be/YQL_SC6T-qU

    What would they know about Poland in that remote Japan? Maybe not much, but here and there one can find traces of Polish culture even in the exotic art of anime.

    Let us start with the obvious: Fryderyk Chopin and Maria Skłodowska-Curie are widely known throughout Asia. You can also read about the love the Japanese have for brother Zenon Żebrowski on Poland Daily. It is most natural that these figures would appear in anime as well.

    Chopin1Chopin2Sklodowska1

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    What is much less expected is that the iconic pieces of Polish not so abundant automotive history also found their way to the drawn medium. You can spot the legendary Polish Fiat 126p, a.k.a. Maluch, or even the fabulous family car with racing aspirations – FSO Polonez.

    MaluchPolonez

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Finally, time for the stereotypically Slavic flavour, and it is a flavour that smells of cigarettes and vodka. You can find a few classically popular brands of tobacco and strong alcohols, or even pure spirit. Sometimes they play a completely background role and are there just for the artist to show off their knowledge of foreign products, but sometimes they, well, push the whole narrative forward.

    Sobieski cigarettesŻytniaSpirit

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Oh, and obviously, when there is vodka involved, there also have to be… cucumbers! Or at least a jar that once held them in.

    Krakus cucumbers jar

    EU Takes Legal Action Against Poland Over Judicial Independence

    By
    redakcja
    -
    EU Takes Legal Action Against Poland Over Judicial Independence

    The European Commission has continued its crusade against Poland’s attempts at reforming its domestic judicial system, announcing new legal action to be taken against Poland. The EC also threatened Romania, telling the nation to refrain from pardoning corrupt politicians.

    Poland has been at loggerheads with the EU over the matter of judicial independence for years now. The disagreement has culminated in a Letter of Formal Notice being issued to the Polish government, accusing the nation of undermining the “judicial independence of Polish judges by not offering necessary guarantees to protect them from political control”.

     

    Since coming to power in 2015, the Law and Justice government has implemented multiple changes to the nation’s judicial system with a view to creating more effective oversight of how judges are appointed. The changes are designed to allow Poland to remove political and ideological influences from within the judicial system and allow elected governments and representatives to have a say over how much control potentially biased judges can have.

     

    The changes have not been welcomed by the European Union, and the infringement proceedings being put in place are unlikely to go down well with Law and Justice supporters – or in fact, anybody who cares about national autonomy. Many voters know that Law and Justice’s measures are designed to ensure an effective and fair legal system, but the EU has repeatedly and unashamedly attempted to shoot down changes – including a (seemingly) uncontroversial rule that would force Supreme Court judges over the age of 65 to retire.

     

    The EU claims that the move is designed to guarantee ‘rule of law’, but I fail to see how the changes being made by the Polish government affect the equality of every individual under national laws. Instead, I think this is a move by European socialists and communist sympathisers who don’t want politically-motivated and biased judges being forced out of Poland’s Supreme Court.

     

    Moves like this by the EU are not good for Poland-EU relations. I have come to understand (as British Brexiteer) why the Polish consider the European Union a force for good. I understand that many conservatives and even nationalists in Poland consider the EU a safety net, after a century of turbulence. However, for as long as the EU continues to attack Poland for addressing its own domestic issues, Polish people will be further alienated from this union.

     

    In May, the country will go to the polls to elect new MEPs – and with the battle between the European Coalition and Law and Justice, I feel like the EU attacking Poland will simply push more voters to side with Law and Justice.

    The Mazowsze Ensemble And Their Beautiful Costumes

    By
    redakcja
    -

    “Mazowsze” is one of the world’s largest folk music and dance groups, drawing upon the rich traditions of Polish song and dance. The name of the group comes from the central region of Poland — Mazovia, but the repertoire of “Mazowsze” has quickly expanded to include the folklore of other regions of the country.
    The folklore presented by the Mazowsze group becomes art of the highest value, art with a great emotional and visual component. 

    EU Parliament approves rules opposed by Polish hauliers

    By
    redakcja
    -
    EU Parliament approves rules opposed by Polish hauliers
    Shutterstock

    On Thursday the European Parliament (EP) approved new rules which Polish hauliers have said could adversely affect their businesses. The new rules, which would affect Poland most, were opposed by Polish MEPs.

    The EP will now start negotiations on the rules that will govern for international freight services with countries that are European Union member states. The main opposition to the new rules has come from Poland whose road haulage sector has boomed in recent years, with largest fleet of trucks used for road haulage in the EU according to Poland’s IAR news agency.

    As Poland has taken advantage of its lower cost base to dominate the sector, France and Germany have long complained that their hauliers are being undercut by the central and eastern European rivals in providing freight services. Polish transport companies fear that they will be required to pay employees more when they work abroad, rules that would prove bureaucratic make them less competitive.

    The main change to be introduced as a result of the Mobility Package is that drivers will be treated as delegated workers from the very day of travel. This means that their salary will dependent on the country in which they are currently travelling and not the country in which the company that hired them is based, as at present

    Polish MEPs have protested about the procedure adopted by the EP which added more than 1,000 amendments to the Mobility Package. Vice President of the EP Bogusław Liberadzi (Civic Platform) claims that MEPs “had no idea what they were voting over and did not want to know. They were determined to force through their solutions at any cost.”

    The voting appears not to have followed normal procedures. First the package was turned down four times in the EP.  Secondly, two out of three reports which were voted on had been previously rejected by the Transport Committee and, according to EP regulations, should not have appeared at the plenary session. Thirdly, the amendments were sorted by names and not content, allowing amendments which contradicted each other to appear.  The measure was forced through because of serious pressure from western European member states which wanted to use the Mobility Package as proof of a social Europe.

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