From The Peopling of New York City

CUISINE

The enjoyment of food, as in every culture, is a significant activity in the Polish community. Still today, the preparation of meals and mealtime is central to the polish-american lifestyle. One could consider it the most basic form of entertainment for the culture.

The diet of Polish Americans has also changed over the years. One marked change from Poland is the increased consumption of meat. Polish sausages, especially the kielbasa—garlic-flavored pork sausage—have become all but synonymous with Polish cuisine. Other staples include cabbage in the form of sauerkraut or cabbage rolls, dark bread, potatoes, beets, barley, and oatmeal. Of course this traditional diet has been added to by usual American fare, but especially at festivities and celebrations such as Christmas and Easter, Polish Americans still serve their traditional food. Polish Americans have, in addition to the sausage, also contributed staples to American cuisine, including the breakfast roll, bialys, the babka coffeecake, and potato pancakes.

SPORTS

Many notable Polish Americans have made their names household words in baseball. Included among these are the pitcher Stan Coveleski (1888-1984) whose 17-year career from 1912-1928 earned him a place in the Hall of Fame in 1969; Stan Musial (1920– ), right field, another member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, who played for St. Louis from 1941 to 1963; Carl Yastrzemski (1939– ), left fielder for the Boston Red Sox, was voted to the Hall of Fame in 1989; and Al Simmons (1902-1956), born Aloysius Harry Szymanski, who played center field for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1924-1944. In football there have been numerous outstanding Polish American players and coaches, Chicago's Mike Ditka (1939– ) a stand-out among these, playing as a tight end for the Bears from 1961 to 1972 and later coaching the team to a Super Bowl championship in 1985; a Hall of Fame player, Ditka has most recently worked as a television sports commentator.

DANCE: THE POLKA

FOLK MUSIC

Here are some Polish lyrics and English translations for a selection of Polish Polka songs. These are fairly typical of the songs which are often played at Polish weddings and other such celebrations.

Grandpa-Polish Siedzi dziadeczek zgarbiony Pyta młodzieniec zdziwiony Czy tu mieszka taka pana młoda co ma oczka i usta jak jagoda Czy tu mieszka taka pana młoda co ma oczka i usta jak jagoda

Mieszka tu se taka dama Marynka nasza spłakana Idź zanieś jej ładny kapelusik A ona ci za to da mocny uścisk Idź zanieś jej ładny kapelusik A ona ci za to da mocny uścisk

Poszedł i patrzy przez okno i woła chodź tu panienko A Maryna jakże oj wyjrzała Chytrego młodzieńca tak przestraszyła A Maryna jakże oj wyjrzała Chytrego młodzieńca tak przestraszyła

Leci i krzyczy gwałtownie Nie dla mnie ona nie, ach nie Dziadku oj dziadku Co to za dziewczyna Dziadek śmieje się i głową kiwa Co to za dziewczyna Dziadek śmieje się i głową kiwa

Grandpa-English A Grandpa is sitting crouched over. A young man is asking, surprised Is it a place where a young girl lives, who has beautiful eyes and lips? Is it a place where a young girl lives, who has beautiful eyes and lips?

There is a girl like this here Our Marynka, exhausting from crying Go to her and give her a nice little hat And she will give you a hug. Go to her and give her a nice little hat And she will give you a hug

He went and looked through the window And called: Come here girl. And Maryna, she looked out And scared the mean young man. And Maryna, she looked out And scared the mean young man.

He was running and yelling She is not for me, oh no Grandpa, oh grandpa What kind of girl is she? And Grandpa was just laughing and nodding. What kind of girl is she? And Grandpa was just laughing and nodding.

Karolinka-Polish Poszła Karolinka do Gogolina Poszła Karolinka do Gogolina A Karliczek za nią, a Karliczek za nią Z flaszeczką wina. A Karliczek za nią, a Karliczek za nią Z flaszeczką wina.

Szła do Gogolina, przed sie patrzała, Szła do Gogolina, przed sie patrzała, Ani się na swego synka szykownego Nie obejrzała Ani się na swego synka szykownego Nie obejrzała

Prowadźże mnie, dróżko, w ten, w szeroki świat Prowadźże mnie, dróżko, w ten, w szeroki świat Znajdę tam innego syneczka miłego Co mi będzie rad Znajdę tam innego syneczka miłego Co mi będzie rad

Nie goń mnie Karliczku, czego po mnie chcesz? Nie goń mnie Karliczku, czego po mnie chcesz? Jam ci już pedziała, nie byda cię chciała, Sam to przeca wiesz Jam ci już pedziała, nie byda cię chciała, Sam to przeca wiesz

Wróć się, Karolinko, bo jadą goście! Wróć się, Karolinko, bo jadą goście! Ja sie już nie wracam, ja sie już nie wracam, Bo są na moście. Ja sie już nie wracam, ja sie już nie wracam, Bo są na moście.

Wróć się, Karolinko, czemu idziesz precz? Wróć się, Karolinko, czemu idziesz precz? Nie odpowiem tobie, po swojemu zrobie To nie twoja rzecz Nie odpowiem tobie, po swojemu zrobie To nie twoja rzecz

Karolinka-English Karolinka went to Gogolin Karolinka went to Gogolin And Karliczek followed her, and Karliczek followed her with a bottle of wine And Karliczek followed her, and Karliczek followed her with a bottle of wine

She was going to Gogolin, looking in front She was going to Gogolin, looking in front And she even didn't look back at her boy And she even didn't look back at her boy

Lead me oh path, in this big world Lead me oh path, in this big world I'll find there another nice boy, who I'll like I'll find there another nice boy, who I'll like

Don't follow me Karliczek, what do you want from me? Don't follow me Karliczek, what do you want from me? I've already told you, I don't want you. You know that yourself I've already told you, I don't want you. You know that yourself

Karolinka, come back, the guests are coming Karolinka, come back, the guests are coming I'm not coming back, I'm not coming back, because they're on the bridge I'm not coming back, I'm not coming back, because they're on the bridge

Karolinka, come back, why are you leaving? Karolinka, come back, why are you leaving? I won't tell you, I'll do it in my own way. It's not your business I won't tell you, I'll do it in my own way. It's not your business

Source: http://www.pospieszna.com/polish_polka_folk.htm

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