Customs and traditions in Poland -part 3. St Andrew’s Day (Andrzejki)

St Andrew’s Day (Andrzejki)

It is a special day. On this day we celebrate a tradition of future telling, especially for non married girls.

This event, in Polish called Andrzejki, has been celebrated in Poland since the turn of 16 and 17th centuries. The main purpose of Andrzejki celebrations is to predict the future of an unmarried girl, especially her prospects of finding a good relationship.

 

There were many rituals and games associated with the celebration of Andrzejki.

One of the typical just-for-fun activities said to show whom a girl will get engaged to and marry is wax-pouring. That’s right! Each girl gets a turn pouring a portion (perhaps about 1/4 cup) of molten bee or candle wax into a basin of cold water. The wax may be heated until it melts in a metal dipper or held over a stove or flame. Candles are typically used at functions and larger gatherings. On contact with the cold water the wax immediately hardens into one shape of another.

Either the shape itself or the shadow it casts when held up to a strong light is said to predict matrimonial future. The shape may resemble someone’s head, the first letter of a name or some other object associated with a particular person. Traditionally the molten wax is poured in a thin stream through the eye of large, old-fashion key which is said to unlock the future.

Another Andrzejki game is the apple-peel toss. Each participating girl peels an apple so the entire skin comes off in a single strand. If it breaks, she is disqualified. She then flings the unbroken peel over her shoulder. The peel often lands on the floor and assumes the shape of a letter which is said to indicate the name of her future fiancé or husband. If the peel does not resemble any recognizable letter, that means the peel-tosser  will not get engaged for quite some time.

A contemporary Andrzejki game uses shoes to predict who will be the first person in the room to marry. Each person in the room takes off one shoe. Line up the shoes along the wall of the classroom, beginning with the door. Once all the shoes are lined up, pass the last shoe to the front of the “line”, keeping to the perimeter of the room. Continue passing the shoes along the wall until the first shoe “walks” out the door. The owner of the shoe will be the first person in the class to marry.