Since 1992, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has been gathering information regarding cultural property lost from within post-1945 borders of Poland and has taken action aimed at its recovery.
The arduous process of regaining Polish cultural property
Since 1992, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has taken action aimed at the recovery of lost cultural property. Agnieszka Modzolewska explains the nuances of the process.
Poles happier than ever
New opinion poll shows that Poles believe that 2018 was a good year.
Poles have the reputation of being fond of complaining about all things possible but according to a survey by the pollster CBOS, Poles are becoming increasingly optimistic about their own lives as well as the development of Poland as a country.
The survey shows that 69% of Poles believe that 2018 has been a good year for them personally and 68% of the respondents state that the year has been positive for their families,
Only 10% argued that 2018 as a bad year for them and even less, 6% stated that 2018 had been a bad year for their family.
CBOS has a tradition of measuring the outlook of Poles on their situation in life every year in the weeks before New Years Eve. This years statistics show that Poles haven’t been as satisfied about the direction their life is taking since 1989, the year that communism fell in the Soviet satellite states.
50% of respondents argued that 2018 had been a good year for the country while only 16% were of the opposite belief.
The Polish economy has been growing at a record high speed, and the GDP growth for 2018 is expected to land on 5%. The average salary has increased by up to 7% while inflation will not exceed 2%. The swift economic development is expected to continue next year even if in a slightly slower rate as the world economy is forecasted the pass zenith of the current economic cycle.
Share love like never before
If you come to a Polish Christmas Eve dinner, you might experience something that could be the single most powerful tradition that stitches our families together. But watch out; you are getting into serious business.
First you need a prop, which will be a white Christmas wafer made from water and flour, not unlike the host used for the Eucharist but usually rectangular in shape, probably with a Nativity scene embossed on it. It is called ‘opłatek’ and you will get it from the head of the family. Then you will hear a bunch of generic wishes addressed to everyone but after that, the real deal begins. You approach every single person at the table, break a piece of their wafer, let them have a piece of yours, eat the acquired tidbit, and proceed to wish the other person the best blessings you can come up with. Sharing wishes is serious business in Poland: ‘Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year’ won’t do. They need to be personal, concerning the challenges, that you know of, your family member will face in the upcoming year. It shows that you are honest, care about this person, think about them, and that their problems are dear to you. This is also the best moment to reconcile with someone you have not spoken to for months. You cannot skip a person or brush them off with a ‘Merry Christmas’; this is someone you care for and want to encourage and share in their hopes even if you have struggled with them.
It is hard to say when this tradition was established, it seems like it has always been with us, especially that breaking and sharing bread was done by the earliest Christians. It changed its character and form over the centuries but its current flat rectangular shape supposedly originated during the time when Poland was partitioned, so that ‘opłatek’ could be sent in an envelope to a relative living abroad. The Christmas wafer is there to keep the unity of the family, to share love, and to remind us that we should be good to each other like bread, as st. Brother Albert Chmielowski would say.
Go to confession. Jordan Peterson tells you to
It is almost Christmas and everyone is getting prepared as much as they can. Why not clean up not only your house but also your heart, especially that one of the most influential youtubers of this year recommends it?
Jordan Peterson, a psychologist, philosopher, academic, YouTube phenomenon, and a major proponent of individual responsibility for one’s life and the world around, admitted on The Rubin Report that sometimes the load people take on themselves is just too much to bear and they need to come clean of their mistakes and faults. ‘You don’t have to be crushed into absolute dust by the fact that you’re not everything you should be’ he said to Ben Shapiro around 1:40:00 in. He noticed that it is easy to be cynical about and mock the Catholic sacrament of penance but then one might miss its real value of letting one live with the burden of being imperfect.
A few days later, Dr Peterson expanded on that thought on Jocko Willink’s podcast (around 1:08:00), where he praises the Church for getting the balance between the blame and mercy right by giving a chance to start anew without lifting the responsibilty for one’s wrongdoing off their shoulders. This responsibiity has to stay because, according to Peterson, ‘it’s either your fault or it’s someone else’s, and as soon as it’s someone else’s, then you’d better be careful because that idea (…) is definitely going to appeal to the worst in you.’
There is still a couple of days before Christ is born again. We all groan under the burden of the passing year. If you are Catholic, why not straighten your paths and give yourself a chance to start with a clean slate?
9 miners murdered by the communist regime commemorated
On December 16th, Poles commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Wujek Mine Massacre. 9 miners were shot to death and dozens were injured in a deadly strike-breaking action perpetrated by communist police and army forces. The massacre was executed 3 days after the communist military junta under the command of General Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law in Poland in order to pacify the 10 million strong Solidarity movement which had been striking and protesting against the regime for more than a year
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy-Prime Minister Beata Szydło are participated in the holy mass and commemoration march from the church to the memorial in front of the mine.
The miners had decided to start the strike hours after their trade union leader, Jan Ludwiczak, had been arrested by the regime on the night before martial law was declared. Up to a thousand miners participated in the sit-in strike directed against the regime. Considerable forces were deployed on December 16th against the miners. Riot police were aided by Infantry Fighting Vehicles and tanks. After the riot police had failed the empty the mine with the help of water cannons, tear gas and batons, a commando-type special unit of riot police armed with automatic weapons was sent in. They quickly opened fire, killing 9 and wounding an additional 22 miners.
The pacification of the Wujek mine was the bloodiest single massacre during martial law and has ever since since served as a symbol of the violence used by the regime against the political dissidents in the year and a half of martial law.
Poles commemorate 37th anniversary of martial law
On December 13th 1981, the communist military junta of General Jaruzelski announced that they had declared a state of martial law in Poland in order to put a stop to the Solidarity movement. 10 million Poles had joined the first free trade union in the Soviet Block and used the movement to pressure the communist regime to start democratizing the country. In response, the regime deployed thousands of soldiers out on the streets on the morning of December 13th 1981, arresting thousands of solidarity activists. Up to 100 political dissidents were killed by the security forces.
Solidarity was formed in August 1980 as a protest against the firing of Anna Walentynowicz from from her job as a crane operator at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk. Walentynowicz was fired for belonging to an illegal trade union 5 months ahead of her planned retirement, severly limiting her future pension. Workers across Poland had had enough of being treated poorly and within a month 1 million people were on strike under the slogan „Bring Anna Walentynowicz Back to Work”. The government was forced to back down and allow for the movement to found the first legal trade union in the Soviet Block on August 31st 1981.
The 15th months Solidarity existed as a legal organization is known in Polish history as ”the Carnival of Solidarity”. The working masses, and all people longing for democracy and an independent Poland, were for the first time optimistic about future. It was all cut short by General Jaruzelski announcing the introduction of martial law. In a telewized speech on morning of December 13th, Jaruzelski claimed that Poland was on the edge of an abyss. He continued by saying that the strikes were damaging to the economy and that an atmosphere of hatred in which there were voices calling for acts of reprisals against the reds. Jaruzelski announced that a Military Council of National Salvation had been formed and that it would implement martial law across the country.
Apart from the deaths and arrests, a curfew was introduced, telephone lines disconnected, mails were yet again subject to censorship and all independent organizations, including Solidarity, were declared illegal. Key sectors of the Polish economy were placed under the control of the military and employees were subject to military courts if declared enemy’s of the state.
General Jaruzelski justified his decision as the smaller evil, claiming that his actions had prevented a Soviet invasion of Poland. Documents from declassified archives in both Poland and Russia later showed that there was no truth to the claim and that Jaruzelski had actually pleaded with the Soviet leadership to promise him help to put down the unrests in case the Polish Army would not be able to handle the problem on its own.
For many years after communism fell, Poles would gather on the night between December 12th and 13th in front of the villa Warsaw villa where Jaruzelski lived, to commemorate all the victims of martial law and Jaruzelski’s regime. Today, people mark the day by attending commemoration
marches and participating in or observing historical reenactment shows.
This year, Polish President Andrzej Duda, commemorated the event by issuing high orders to a couple of dozen dissidents of the Solidarity Movement. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki commented on the events 37 years ago by saying that it took away the last small remnents of freedom that Poles had.
Martial law was abolished on July 22nd 1983 but many political prisoners remained behind bars until an amnesty was issued in 1986.
Advent – The Spiritual awaiting for Christ
Four weeks before Christmas Polish people prepare for the birth of Christ. These weeks are known as Advent. It is a time of fasting, prayer and spiritual preparation for Christmas. It should not just be all about the parties, decorating, and shopping, lest we forget what this time of the year is truly about.
One of many living traditions are special early-morning masses called “roraty”, usually starting when it is still dark outside. Churchgoers light candles at different times during mass so they gradually bring light to the day which symbolizes the upcoming Nativity of Christ, a miracle that brought light and salvation to the world.
The word “roraty” originates from the first words of the introit, a psalm or antiphon sung or said while the priest approaches the altar for the Eucharist. The first prayer begins with the word “Rorate coeli”, translated from Latin means “Heaven, drop the morning dew”. This service has a very special atmosphere since it begins before sunrise in darkness. Candles are lit at the altar and in the hands of the people participating at the service. As the mass comes to an end, the sun has risen and the world is waking up with the sunrise.. Roraty has been celebrated in Poland since the 12th century and continue to be celebrated in cities and villages throughout the country to this day.
One of many living traditions are special early-morning masses called “roraty”, usually starting when it is still dark outside. Churchgoers light candles at different times during mass so they gradually bring light to the day which symbolizes the upcoming Nativity of Christ, a miracle that brought light and salvation to the world. There is also one special white candle at the altar, called “roratka”, wreathed in blue ribbon, which symbolizes Mary, the Morning Star, preluding Christ, the Sun.
The word “roraty” originates from the first words of the introit, a psalm or antiphon sung or said while the priest approaches the altar for the Eucharist. The first prayer begins with the word “Rorate caeli”, translated from Latin means “Heaven, drop the morning dew”. This service has a very special atmosphere since it begins before sunrise in darkness. Candles are lit at the altar and in the hands of the people participating at the service. As the mass comes to an end, the sun has risen and the world is waking up with the sunrise. Roraty has been celebrated in Poland since the 12th century and continue to be celebrated in cities and villages throughout the country to this day. Researchers believe that it has played a major role in the rise of devotion to the Blessed Virgin in our country.
Since roraty is a special kind of mass, every diocese that wants to celebrate it, needs a special permit from the Vatican. There used to be a range of customs regarding roraty throughout Poland but they were all unified by cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in 1961. Also, since Vaticanum II, it can be celebrated only in Advent on weekdays, when there is no other solemnity, like the Immaculate Conception. These days, roraty is directed especially to children, who find this unusual mass quite attractive and wake up before dawn to storm their local church with lanterns in hands and go in a procession to greet the Light coming to the world.
Stradivarius In the Warsaw Royal Castle
From December 7th until December 21st 2018, for the first in post-war Poland, Stradivarius has come in to the hands of Janusz Wawrowski. A virtuoso, one of the greatest Polish violinist of his generation, Wawrowski has been granted the opportunity to exclusively play these exceptional violins. It is all thanks to the sponsors Roman Ziemian and Stephan Morgenstern, the founders of the FutureNet portal.
The violins were given the honorable name of “Polonia” December 4th of 2018 and have been deposited in a glass case specially made for them, for public presentation. The construction of the display glass case will allow the removal of the existing safety barrier and bring the visitor closer to this rare instrument and observe all its structural nuances.
Stradivarius is considered to be the greatest violins ever made. These special kind of violins have been handcrafted by the master luthier Antonio Stradivari. Stradivari was believed to have been born in Cremona, Italy in 1644. Although the details of his childhood — including his birth place and how he managed to become the most skilled luthier in Cremona Italy — are not certain. One thing is undoubted though; Stradivari dedicated his life to crafting and perfecting the violin. He reached prominence within his lifetime and has gained even more admiration and recognition since his death more than 250 years ago.
Stradivari designed and crafted more than 1,000 violins and instruments during his lifetime, nearly 650 of which still exist today. These violins and instruments are considered the finest ever made and continue to be the greatest in terms of their form, sound and beauty.
However, there is a caveat; they only work in the hands of the greatest virtuosos. They are capricious, like a living organism and only the genuinely highly skilled players bring out their full potential. Janusz Wawrowski has yearned them for years, believing that their absence marginalizes Polish artists in the international arena.
This Stradivarius is much more than a great violin. It is the ambassador of our music in the world. It’s story and amazing sound arouses interest immediately, whenever I mention it and whenever the Stradivarius appears! says Janusz Wawrowski
Before the Second World War Poland owned Stradivarius. Unfortunately, all these extremely valuable instruments were removed, sold or handed over. Now, for the first time in the post-war history of Poland, we have “our” Stradivarius. What’s more – it is an absolutely unique instrument!
Janusz Wawrowski is the only violinist with a long-term contract with Warner Classics and a laureate of the Phonographic Academy Fryderyk 2017 Award for classical music – album of the year, solo recital. He is a graduate and lecturer at the Music University of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw. Wawrowski is a laureate of many international violin competitions. He gave concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic, the Musikverein in Vienna, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, and the Conservatory.
Poland's future energy mix: clean coal, nuclear power and offshore windfarms
The annual UN Climate Change conference is currently taking place in Katowice Poland. Environmental activists are criticizing the Polish government for basing the country’s energy production on coal-based power plants. The Polish side argues that there is currently no feasible renewable energy source available as neither solar nor wind power is economically viable in Poland at the moment.
However, the future could lie in clean nuclear power but it will be a while before the reactors are up and running. In connection with the Climate Change conference, Polish President Andrzej Duda has vowed that he won’t let anyone murder the Polish mining sector.
Poland still has significant reserves of coal and intends to use them in the dozen years or so before Polish nuclear reactors will become operational. The Polish company JSW, the EU’s largest coking coal producer, has announced that it plans to increase output by 2,5 to 3 million tonnes a year.
Environmental activists present at the UN Climate Talks in Katowice are critical of the company’s plans, saying that there is no such thing as clean coal. Corrine Le Quere, a co-author of the Global Carbon Project Report, stated at the conference in Katowice that there is cleaner and dirtier coal but in the end, greenhouse gas emissions are unavoidable as long coal will be used on an industrial scale. In her opinion, the resource which in Poland is known as “the black gold” must replaced by wind and solar energy if the world is to be able to tackle climate change and deal with air pollution.
Representatives from JSW argue that renewable energy sources cannot be used to replace coking coal with today’s technology and that decades will pass before an alternative to coking coal could be developed for the blast furnaces needed in crude steel production. The company also points to the fact that despite this state of affairs, they are pulling their load to decrease emissions by investing in solar panels for other purposes and by converting methane gas into energy.
The CEO of JSW, Daniel Ozon, emphasizes that coking coal is distinct from thermal coal for power generation, has a long future as well as being is on an EU list of strategic minerals.
He maintains that there is simply no available technology that would be economically feasible for substituting coal in blast furnaces where crude steel is produced. Ozon is convinced that it will be another two or three decades until there is a good substitute that is economically feasible.
The Polish Minister of Energy, Krzysztof Tchórzewski, announced in November that nuclear power will be used to decrease carbon gas emissions in Poland and that he believes that nuclear energy will provide Poland with 10 gigawatts a year by 2040.
Another source of energy to be pursued by the ministry is offshore wind farms.The Polish state-owned power company PGE is planning to build wind parks with a capacity of 2.5 gigawatts per year. According to the plans, the wind farms will be completed after 2025.
The farms will be built 30 kilometers north of the Polish coast, as that specific location is the only place in Poland where winds are strong enough for wind power to be economically viable. A diverse energy basket including coal-based power plants, off-shore wind farms and nuclear power is envisioned in the governments energy strategy recently published in a document titled “Poland Energy Policy 2040”.