Thursday 10 November 2011

What Independence Day means for Poles

Popped into Auchan this evening on account of the fact that all the shops are closed tomorrow for the 11 November Independence Day public holiday. The hypermarket was heaving - these kinds of queues one sees in the run-up to Christmas. Yet this is a Thursday evening... had the shops not been closed on a Friday, would everyone had gone bonkers to fill up their trolley?

As I stood and queued, I pondered on the meaning of 11 November, a new public holiday, instituted after the fall of communism (which had 22 July as its commemoration of the Birth of the New Order). How does 11 November compare to Poland's other holidays?

All Souls/All Saints has a very special meaning in the hearts of Poles. It's a time to visit graves; as a holiday it is extremely significant. The same goes for the tradition-rich celebrations of Christ's Mass and of Easter. Secondary religious feasts that entitle Poles to days off - Corpus Christi and Pentecost Sunday (shops are forced to shut) divide the believing from the rest.

But Independence Day, celebrating Poland's return to the map of Europe as a sovereign nation after 123 years? Is it something more than an excuse for a punch-up between neo-fascists and neo-Nazis* on one side and assorted lefties and gays on the other?

What should a patriotic Pole do... Listen to voices telling him to stay indoors with the radio switched on - or go into the centre of town to listen to patriotic speeches and get drawn into political harangues between extremists?

I remember my first Independence Day in Warsaw; 1997. Krzysztof ('Toyah') and his family came up to stay with us; we trooped off to Plac Piłsudskiego to the commemoration. We neared the back of the crowd; some politician was speaking. Sense, as it sounded to me; hitting all the right patriotic buttons; yet in front of us some man was ranting "I can't listen to this bulls***!" as he stormed away. "Some communist?" I asked Krzysztof. "Not at all," he answered. "A right-winger, angry at the hypocrisy of a old communist like President Kwaśniewski" - for it was he speaking - "uttering such sentiments!" And so it proves we can't really know what's going on (insofar as it Polish politics go).

Stay indoors. Read history. Research what your forefathers did. Think about a map of Europe without a Poland on it. Make it an Independence Day of your mind. Don't get drawn into a futile debate as to who's a real patriot and who isn't. And it will be freezing outside.

* The difference between the two lies these days in religion. Poland's neo-fascists tend to be ultra-conservative Catholics, while the neo-Nazis are rather tattooed pagans with a penchant for death metal. What unifies them is a lack of tolerance for lefties, gays and peoples of other races. In the UK, types that in Poland end up being neo-Nazis are quickly identified as such by their health visitors, attracting the attention of the public prosecutor should they persist in their ways.

This time last year:
Words fail me: the Polish for "to fail"?

This time two years ago:
Autumn in Dobra

This time four years ago:
Autumn ploughing

9 comments:

Andrzej K said...

In much the same way as the neo fascists and football hooligans highjacked the English flag of Saint George as their own the same is happenning in Poland as regards overt ostentatious patriotism and the 11th November.

The difference is that in the UK the fringe were condemned by all the major political parties whilst in Poland we have the disgusting scenes we had last year when supporters of PiS behaved abysmally at the Powazki cemenary by hissing at the President and applauding Kaczynski, who if he had an ounce of politesse in him would have siganlled to the elderly deluded to behave with appropriate decorum.

student SGH said...

It means... RIOTS, not just a punch-up (btw - what's the Polish for 'punch-up?)

On last publi holiday I was proud of captain Wrona who masterfully touched down the plane wothout landing gear. Yesterday I was ashamed of those brainless fearful (didn't even have courage to show their faces) creatures who threw cobblestones at police and set cars into flames.

Now no wonder everyone speaks the police should be entitled to beat them to a pulp, as they deserve. Next time maybe they'd think before setting up such march (I actually doubt they are capable of thinkig at all).

And what the hell do yesterday's goings-on have in common with patriotism and celebrations of Independence Day?

Andrzej K said...

True to form Kaczynski has siad how disgusting it was that German left wing hooligans attacked Polish right wing hooligans just because they carried the Polish flag. And the worst thing is that the brainless morons who listen to Rydzyk's diatribes will believe that only they are true patriots.

And another thing. The Marian fathers not satisfied with going against the wishes of the Polish emigres who founded Fawley Court have now sought to stifle a priest who has the temrity to follow Christ's teaching to love your neighbour. Indeed interesting times (in the Chinese sense).

adthelad said...

@studentSGH

You've been taken mate, hook, line and sinker.

student SGH said...

@adthelad

Enlighten me then! Show me where the truth lies (I suppose not in TVN24 or Gazeta Wybiorcza)!

With hindisght when I look back on what happened on Friday more and more I feel something's amiss...

student SGH said...

@adthelad

Enlighten me then! Show me where the truth lies (I suppose not in TVN24 or Gazeta Wybiorcza)!

With hindisght when I look back on what happened on Friday more and more I feel something's amiss...

adthelad said...

@studentSGH

I only meant your report or reaction to the march is a little one sided - nt that I support vandalism and riot but that was a contrived event in more ways than one. Look around -

http://wiktorinoc.blogspot.com/2011/11/marsz-niepodlegosci.html

http://cameel.salon24.pl/363488,moj-marsz-niepodleglosci-videorelacja

http://blog.rp.pl/ziemkiewicz/2011/11/12/marszu-nie-mozna-nie-wspierac/

http://gracjan.salon24.pl/363991,ob-ciach-galeria-zdjec-z-marszu-niepodleglosci

adthelad said...

and last but not least
http://dorotakania.salon24.pl/363198,inny-swiat-gazety-wyborczej

It's been on the cards that government would want to bring in more crowd/ protest restricting legislation so let's not all feign surprise when we see their well telegraphed actions.

adthelad said...

@student
@Michał
Sorry, found another goody
http://www.rp.pl/artykul/9157,751204-Marsz-Niepodleglosci-i-Krytyka-Polityczna---Ziemkiewicz.html