The Silesian Culture

Monuments, ceremonies, customs and traditions

A diversity, being an effect of the various cultural influences characterizes the culture of the Silesian province and its different traditions and new forms of the world presented by contemporary

authors. Our province is a multicultural area, formed by influence of populations inhabiting it(the Polish, German, Czech and Jewish).

Despite the cultural variety, people of Silesia are really fond of their little homeland .

Silesia on the map of PolandSilesia may be divided into Lower(Zielona Góra, Legnica, Wrocław, Brzeg, Namysłów) and Upper(Opole, Katowice, Racibórz, Ruda Śląska).

The coat of arms of Silesia

The coat of arms of Ruda Śląska

The Silesian dialect

The native population of Upper Silesia and some of the part of Lower Silesia uses the Silesiand dialect that is, by many, considered the separate language. Many languages have been responsible for forming the Silesian dialect: Polish, Chech, German (the Germanic Silesian dialect) and partly Slovak. The phrases and words are more similar to the Old Polish language.

Monuments of Silesia

Ruda Śląska - the Church of Saint Mary of Lourdes

The church built in the style of late Baroque was built in 1806 on the spot of the previous temple from 1670. The part of the iinterior was saved from the first temple.

The church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gliwice – a wooden, gothic church build in XVI century

Ruda Śląska - The church of Holy Trinity

The church was built in the beginning of XX century.

Industrial monuments

Upper Silesian Industral Region

The biggest industrial region of Poland. Branches of industry that have been developed: mining industry, the smelting industry, transport industry, the power industry, the engineering industry, coking industry, chemical industry.

Zabrze - "Guido” coal mine

Established in 1855 is derives its name from name of count von Guido Henckel Donnersmarck. Deposits were exhausted before the World War II. From 2007 again it is made available for touring It is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Silesian province.

The unforgotten trip underground

Andrew’s Shaft Historic hoisting tower that supports the old mineshaft, located in Ruda Śląska.

„Pokój” millBlast furnace of the Mill "Pokój" in Ruda Śląska was signed into a list of vintage buildings. The Silesian monument conservation officer acknowledged that the object had valuable advantages from a point of view of the development of technical thought, and is a certificate of a bygone era as well as a significant characteristic of the city.

Silesian Opera in BytomBuilt in neoclassical style almost 100 years ago.

The Silesian Theatre of Stanisław Wyspiański in Katowice – one of the biggest theatres in the Upper Silesia

Śląsk Song and Dance EnsembleŚląsk originally focused on the folk traditions of Upper Silesia, Cieszyn Silesia, and the Beskids. It was later expanded to include all Polish regions. The ensemble has performed more than 6,000 shows for over 20 million people worldwide.

Customs and traditions

People of Silesia are connected to the traditions of their region.

Traditional Silesian costumes

Traditional Silesian dinnerThe traditional Silesian dinner is filling, fattening, but in the taste sensational.

In Silesia, meat rolls, dumplings and the cabbage are a typical dish. They are often served during events important for the region i.e.: the Christening party, the first Communion and the marriage ceremony.

Traditional Silesian dances

Pieśni i tańce

BeerfestsThe traditional form of entertainment.

The Ladies’ partyThe other characteristic Silesian type of a party. The party for women only.

Birthday

The Silesia is the only region where people celebrate birthday instead of name day. The most important is the 50th birthday.

The customary gift given to the children that begin a primary school – a huge bag of sweets.

The hornn of plenty- the sweet beginning of the school year

Passion passed on from the generation to generation, for years, inseparably connected with Upper Silesia - breeding of racing pigeons.

Dovecotes

Wedding traditions

The evening before the wedding

During the evening before the wedding there is a tradition of meeting at would-be-bride’s home and smashing various dishes. There is a big, loud party with music and singing.

Creating or forming of gates

It is a tradition that takes place usually after the wedding, the newly married are stopped by friends, family or people that do not know them. They do not let the couple until they get some gifts (usually little bottles of vodka).

Miners’ day – traditional Polish holiday celebrated also by people,  pursuing connected professions with seek other fossil fuels and geologists on 4th December, in the name of St Barbara, patrons of the good death and the difficult work among others of fishermen, soldiers, stonemasons, prisoners, mill workers, sailors, miners and many other.

Miner’s dayThe celebration of Miner's Day has some constant elements for years. In the morning mining orchestras march through the streets. There are masses in churches and in mines and the traditional festivities follow them.

Miner’s day celebration

The most traditional and spectacular form of celebrating Miner’s day is a beerfest.

Easter traditionsEaster – one of the most important christian traditions.

Easter traditionsEaster is holiday with a lot of customs and the

traditions.There are special meals with ham, eggs, cookies and sausages. In the morning people exchange good wishes while sharing a hard-boiled egg blessed in church the day before. On Easter Monday young men have custom of dousing young women with water. On

Easter people bring gifts to each other and hide presents or chocolate eggs.

ChristmasChristmas in Silesia

Chrismas supper

We sit down to the dinner after appearance of the first star in the sky. We use a white tablecloth. Under the table we put hay and coins. On the Christmas Eve table you should find twelve dishes. Every one should try, that is supposed to ensure happiness through the year. The most popular Polish dishes are: borsch with ravioli, fried carp, cabbage with peas, cabbage with mushrooms, cabbage with dumplings or compote of dried fruits. Moreover on the traditional Silesian Christmas Eve menu there are : moczka (gingerbread soup with nuts and dried fruit), siemieniotka (soup from hemp), gingerbread with marzipan and poppy heads (sweet delicacy of the poppy, honey, nuts and dried fruit as used in cooking and rolls soaked in the milk).

Thanks for your attention!