We all faced this decision once when we left Poland and settled in Seattle. For many, leaving home is a dramatic and seemingly impossible choice. We did it, so we know firsthand how hard it is. Yet, because we’ve done it once, and sometimes many times, it’s not frightening anymore. After a while in one place, we start thinking that maybe it’s time to move again.
Spring is almost here, and we wanted to dedicate this issue to the season. Our editor, Ania Kaminska, has written a wonderful article about an old Polish tradition of drowning a Marzanna. You’ll find it below.
Dziadek i niedźwiadek to niezwykła książka – ciepła, poruszająca i pełna historycznej prawdy, choć opowiedziana w przystępny, niemal bajkowy sposób. Opiera się na autentycznych wydarzeniach, wspomnieniach żołnierzy i materiałach archiwalnych, a jednocześnie zawiera wątki fabularyzowane, które pomagają młodemu czytelnikowi lepiej zrozumieć realia tamtych trudnych lat. Jak opowiedzieć dzieciom o wojnie
Moving abroad brings a lot of “new”: new landscapes, new language, new people, new jobs, new living space, new shops, new food, etc. It is good to look into the future and the bright sides of these changes. Yet, alongside the “new,” there are “lacks” that cannot be replaced. One
Seattle has long been a melting pot of cultures, and for the Polish-American community, the Seattle Polish Foundation (SPF) is the heart that keeps its rich heritage alive. If you’ve ever bitten into a delicious pierogi at the bustling Pierogi Fest at the Polish Home or danced to the rhythm
I was prompted to write this article by two events, one last Saturday and one happening soon.
On Sunday, March 2, the Seattle Polish Film Festival organized a fundraiser for Ukraine and presented the movie “Erase the Nation” about the war in Ukraine. It was a sold-out event with lots of Poles, Ukrainians, and Americans in the audience.
Starting March 13, the Seattle Jewish Film Festival will present a Polish movie “The Death of Zygielbojm” (Śmierć Zygielbojma).
Living abroad comes with many challenges, some predictable, others unexpected. When my husband and I decided to leave Poland, I was excited for the new adventure: to see new places, meet new people, and gain new experiences. I knew I would miss my people and my familiar places. I understood
The Polish Home Association is happy to announce the opening of an Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center. We are creating a forum for artists associated with the Polish community to present their art and to popularize and promote art in our community.
President – Magdalena WysockaVice President – Barbara AugustyniakSecretary – Mira PawluśkiewiczTreasure – Henryka Posłuszny Congratulations!! We would like to invite you all to the Spring Bazaar at the Polish Cultural Center on April 12th, 2025 Noon to 5pm For any questions please email: polishbazaar@polishhome.org
This year Seattle Polish Film Festival will be happening in October, but if there is a Polish film showing up in Seattle area in the meantime, we’ll let you know about it, and remind you at the same time that we continue working on our festival to bring to you the best Polish films available.
This time we are encouraging you to check the film “The Death of Zygielbojm” (Śmierć Zygielbojma), directed by Ryszard Brylski. It will be streaming March 13 – April 13 during the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. For tickets please check the SJFF website: Home | Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Dzisiejsza książka to dzieło zupełnie niezwykłe – album, komiks, encyklopedia i książka przygodowa w jednym. A wszystko to zamknięte w pięknie wydanej, bogato ilustrowanej i… całkiem pokaźnej objętościowo publikacji. Mimo to myślę, że warto, aby obciążyła nasz bagaż po wizycie w Polsce lub stała się wyjątkowym prezentem od odwiedzających nas
The Polish Community in Seattle responded to this question with an incredibly strong YES. Since 2020, we have donated over $240,000 to the Seattle Polish Foundation through personal donations from individuals like you and me. We can be proud of ourselves and our generosity. These donations support our community, the Polish Cultural Center, and events like the Polish Festival and the Seattle Polish Film Festival. By donating, you also help members of our community who have fallen into hard times.
If you are not familiar with the Seattle Polish Foundation, I encourage you to visit their website, learn about their mission, recent fundraisers, and meet the members of the board of directors.
This year, the biggest fundraiser event in Washington State, GiveBIG, starts in a month and concludes on May 6-7. Visit the Seattle Polish Foundation page hosted by GiveBIG to find out about this year’s causes and specific fundraisers.
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Wendy Rader-Konofalski has a solo art show coming up soon at Victor’s Celtic Coffee Shop in Redmond just as her exhibit at the Polish Home is coming to an end. She will be showing a large variety of brand new paintings including a triptych called “We the People,” in a
Although history books highlight mostly well-known individuals whose names are etched onto pages, it is important to recognize the countless forgotten names without whom these prominent figures would not be who they were. Just as every architectural marvel requires architects, builders, suppliers, and craftsmen, every king relies on their subjects, and every tradition depends on the individuals who nurture it.
Each one of us has a personal history that intertwines with the broader narratives of society, nation, culture, and civilization. We carry the legacy of our ancestors while simultaneously contributing to the ongoing creation of history for our descendants. Consciously or not, actively or passively, we all weave a tapestry of history.
A few days ago, while driving on Route 2 towards Sultan, my Spotify Daily Mix playlist suddenly played a song I hadn’t heard in years. It was Republika’s “Biała Flaga” (“White Flag”), and the first verse was “Where are my friends?” (“Gdzie są moi przyjaciele?”). When I got home, the song was still in my head, and I kept asking myself this question: Where are our friends?
We left them behind when we moved. They left us behind when they moved. There were a few friendships from high school that survived our turbulent times and all the departures. Some lasted for years, but we stopped responding to their Christmas cards, and they stopped sending them. Some just faded away as we had nothing in common and nothing to say.
Then we ended up in Seattle and heard about the Seattle Freeze.
False friends in language, much like in life, can lead to misunderstandings. These are words in two languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings. For instance, the Polish “konfident” means an informant or betrayer, while the English “confident” refers to someone who is self-assured. Being aware of such false friends helps avoid miscommunication, ensuring that we use words correctly in different contexts, whether in everyday conversation or professional settings, and makes cross-language exchanges smoother. Read the article and turn false friands to your conversational companions.
Jak zainteresować dzieci takimi postaciami jak Chopin, Moniuszko czy Paderewski? To nie lada wyzwanie! Ale Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne i autorka Katarzyna Huzar-Czub znaleźli na to świetny sposób! Sięgając po książkę „Impro Frycek – czyli Chopin, jakiego nie znacie” dostajemy wesołą, rymowaną opowieść o Fryderyku Chopinie. Bez nudy, bez suchych dat,
It is February and winter is in full bloom. A snowy blanket covers our Pacific Northwest, and it’s so beautiful! But with cold weather the season comes for colds and flu. Since COVID-19, we don’t take colds and flu lightly. We want to be safe and prepared to enjoy life