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by Natalia Linska (LOG)

Easter

Easter is the most important Christian festival. Christians are followers of Jesus Christ who lived about 2000 years ago in a country called Palestine. They believe that Jesus was the son of God. At Easter time Christians commemorate the last week of Jesus’ life.

Holy Saturday

On  Holy Saturday people go to church to have baskets blessed. In these baskets are: dyed eggs, a sugar lamb, salt, pepper, a piece of bread, a roll, a cake, ham and other things which are later eaten.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is a happy day for Christians because they believe that Jesus rose from the dead on this day. They believe that Jesus’ resurrection or coming alive shows that death is not the end of everything.

Easter Monday

On Easter Monday which is called ‘śmingus dyngus” (Wet Monday) people pour one another, even strangers,  with water. It is connected with symbolic coming to life of the nature.

Easter Eggs

Easter Eggs symbolize the birth of new life. Christians remember that Jesus, after dying on the cross, rose from the dead. This miracle showed that life could win over death.

Today, children prepare colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs – those made of plastic or chocolate candy

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The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated from the pagan festival of Easter. The goddess, Easter, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit.

There is also a tradition of the Easter bunny leaving a basket of treats such as Easter eggs and chocolates on Easter Day. Parents  often hide eggs in the garden for children to find. Sometimes their children leave out carrots for the Easter bunny. Parents tell their children to make ‘nests’ before Easter with their caps and bonnets and if they were polite the Easter bunny would leave them coloured eggs.

by Natalia Linska (LOG)

The place where I live is small. It is called Zwoleń and it is situated seven kilometres from Gostynin.  There are not many kinds of entertainment  like  a sports centre , a department store  or the theatre, but life here is calm and relaxing. There are a lot of green forests and beautiful lakes. Many people from the city come here on holiday to rest and relax.

There are a lot of holiday resorts and hotels nearby forests and lakes. In these resorts you can rent water equipment during holidays.

There are also stud farms, where everyone can learn to ride a horse or borrow a carriage with two horses and a driver to go on a horse trip.

You can go here for a long walk, breathe fresh air and if you are lucky  you can meet some wild animals e.g. deer, elk, fox, wild bear, badger, pine marten and many others. Occasional appearance of so many different  types of  animals makes perfect conditions for hunting. In summer  you can also pick up some berries, or in autumn if you wish to spend some time stepping on rustling leaves covering the forest bed you can go mushrooming.

My region is perfect for holiday. When the weather is fine and the sun is shining everybody  goes to the beach . They swim in the lake, sunbathe, build sandcastles, sail, catch fish, paddle a canoe or collect stones or pebbles.

On the fields grow beautiful and colourful flowers. You can collect them, make a bouquet and later in the privacy of your home admire their ephemeral beauty and scent.

My village is wonderful  for people who want  to get in touch with nature and spend holiday in a tranquil and peaceful place.

by Karolina Kowalska (LOG)

Sandomierz, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful Polish towns, is situated at he intersection of the  river Vistula and the river San, in the neighbourhood of the three geographical regions: the Sandomierska Upland, the Sandomierska Valley and the Lubelska Upland. It is assumed that the name of the town originated from the popular Slavonic name in the past -Sędomir. The first written accounts of the town appeared in the year 113 in the Gall Anonimus Chronicle. The chronicler mentions Sandomierz beside Cracow and Wrocław as one of the three major towns. Such high position of the town was caused by its geographical location which promoted trade.

Mediaeval architecture has been very well preserved. It emphasises the original character of the city. Sometimes knights’ displays are organized there, which attracts numerous tourists to the city.

In rays of the setting sun it is possible to admire the panorama of the Old Town from the deck of holiday ships, transporting tourists along the Vistula. More than 120 historic buildings are located in this riverside town. The most well-known are: The Opatowska Gate, numerous churches, burghers’ houses, the Renaissance Town Hall, the Cathedral, The House of Jan Długosz, The Castle and one of the oldest schools in Poland – Collegium Gostomianum.

This town is situated on seven hills, among which tourists can roam along picturesque ravines. There is also a nature reserve in the city limits called ”Pepper Mountains, which finishes on the eastern side of Świętokrzyski Mountains and it belongs to the geological natural reserve.

Numerous parties are waiting for tourists arriving in Sandomierz. The most well-known are: “Jagiellonian Fair”, “Days of Sandomierz”, “Sandomierz Strawberry Sunday”, “International Championships against the Sword of Zawisza Czarny” and a festival “Music in Sandomierz”.

Sandomierz has the unique climate and we feel there as if we were in a real medieval city. If you are in Poland, touring this city is a must.