SZKOŁA PODSTAWOWA NR 17 W KOSZALINIE

The most popular day among the friends and lovers around the world is 14th February St. Valentine’s Day. People send cards and flowers or give chocolates to celebrate this festival. 14th of February was first celebrated in Poland in 1991 and since then is very popular. We send poems and cards to our friends to celebrate and thank them for the friendship we share. Our school has its own tradition.

Every year in our school we have a Valentine’s post.

Every student can send a postcard, a letter a gift to his friend.

Before the Valentine’s Day a group of students segregates the cards for each class.

On Valentine’s Day the cards are distributed.

But we also have are own Polish festival to celebrate love and frindship. It is called ‘Noc Świętojańska’ or ‘Noc Kupały’ and is of Pagan origin. It is celebrated in June 23/24. It is a magical night.

Traditionally unmarried girls prepare a wreath from the herbs and flowers and decorate it with white ribbons. In the middle of the wreath they put white candles.

Then the girls gather at the river. They lit the candles and send the wreaths with the river flow. It is believed that when the wreath sails away the girl will meet her love within a very short period of time. Usually a boy who is in love with a girl tries to fish her wreath from the river.

At the same time boys prepare a huge fire which will burn the whole night. All participants sing and dance around the fire and jump over it. By doing so they believe that they clean their bodies and are protected from evil and misfortune.

There is also a legend connected with this festival. According to that legend during the night of summer solstice and just for a short period of time white flower of fern blooms. It is magical and a person who finds it will be very happy, wise and rich all his life.