Post by Bonobo on Oct 14, 2008 20:44:06 GMT 1
Poland keeps a communist relic
Poland Monthly
October, 2008
Anybody who has spent any time in Poland will be aware of the nation's devotion to the past.
From the numerous war memorials and plaques in Warsaw to the fresh flowers which frequently decorate them it's impossible to forget about the Second World War. In fact you may find it hard to believe that it ended over sixty years ago.
Along with strong memories of the war, there is also a tangible hatred for the more recent, communist past. Poles continue to dwell on it, constantly digging up new-old problems that should have been dealt with years ago. This makes you wonder further whether Poland has really been free for the last twenty years.
All this is understandable to some extent given that the country has suffered so much for so many years. What seems strange, however, is that Poles seem to be somewhat selective in their attitude.
This is nowhere more apparent than in their approach to national holidays. After 1989 a number of holidays which are based on celebrating Catholic traditions or Poland's past were added to the calendar, while others, which were deemed communist, were removed. Not all holidays are so easy to classify however, one of which is coming up this month. Poles continue to celebrate Teachers' Day on 14 October, happily ignoring any communist connotations.
Of course there are teachers\' days in other countries too, and they are celebrated on different days of the year. There is also the UNESCO International Teachers\' Day that since 1994 has been celebrated on 5 October. Furthermore, many would argue that Teachers\' Day in Poland isn't really a relic of the communist past, but is linked to 1773, when the first Polish Ministry of Education, the first institution of its type in Europe was founded by King Stanis³aw August Poniatowski.
But undoubtedly the reason why this day is celebrated is because of a communist ruling.
The idea to celebrate a teachers\' day was first suggested in 1957, though a different day was proposed – 20 November. It was then changed in 1972 and moved to 14 October, with minor amendments ten years later. It was then officially recognized as a special day for all teachers and education workers, who by law had a day free from teaching. Now 14 October in Poland sees teachers enjoying shorter lessons and concerts put on by students.
Teachers' Day is not an isolated case, with International Women\'s Day in March another example. A purely socialist holiday, like Teachers\' Day it carries a lot of connotations with the country\'s communist past. Although it was removed from the official calendar in 1993 by then Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka, Poles still choose to celebrate it, traditionally giving flowers to women of all ages.
So Poles seem to have a selective attitude to history, but that is perhaps a better sign than it first appears. If Poles are happy to ignore the communist connotations of Teachers\' Day or International Women\'s Day, it could be an indication that they\'re close to some form of reconciliation with the past.
Poland Monthly
October, 2008
Anybody who has spent any time in Poland will be aware of the nation's devotion to the past.
From the numerous war memorials and plaques in Warsaw to the fresh flowers which frequently decorate them it's impossible to forget about the Second World War. In fact you may find it hard to believe that it ended over sixty years ago.
Along with strong memories of the war, there is also a tangible hatred for the more recent, communist past. Poles continue to dwell on it, constantly digging up new-old problems that should have been dealt with years ago. This makes you wonder further whether Poland has really been free for the last twenty years.
All this is understandable to some extent given that the country has suffered so much for so many years. What seems strange, however, is that Poles seem to be somewhat selective in their attitude.
This is nowhere more apparent than in their approach to national holidays. After 1989 a number of holidays which are based on celebrating Catholic traditions or Poland's past were added to the calendar, while others, which were deemed communist, were removed. Not all holidays are so easy to classify however, one of which is coming up this month. Poles continue to celebrate Teachers' Day on 14 October, happily ignoring any communist connotations.
Of course there are teachers\' days in other countries too, and they are celebrated on different days of the year. There is also the UNESCO International Teachers\' Day that since 1994 has been celebrated on 5 October. Furthermore, many would argue that Teachers\' Day in Poland isn't really a relic of the communist past, but is linked to 1773, when the first Polish Ministry of Education, the first institution of its type in Europe was founded by King Stanis³aw August Poniatowski.
But undoubtedly the reason why this day is celebrated is because of a communist ruling.
The idea to celebrate a teachers\' day was first suggested in 1957, though a different day was proposed – 20 November. It was then changed in 1972 and moved to 14 October, with minor amendments ten years later. It was then officially recognized as a special day for all teachers and education workers, who by law had a day free from teaching. Now 14 October in Poland sees teachers enjoying shorter lessons and concerts put on by students.
Teachers' Day is not an isolated case, with International Women\'s Day in March another example. A purely socialist holiday, like Teachers\' Day it carries a lot of connotations with the country\'s communist past. Although it was removed from the official calendar in 1993 by then Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka, Poles still choose to celebrate it, traditionally giving flowers to women of all ages.
So Poles seem to have a selective attitude to history, but that is perhaps a better sign than it first appears. If Poles are happy to ignore the communist connotations of Teachers\' Day or International Women\'s Day, it could be an indication that they\'re close to some form of reconciliation with the past.
