1. POLISH
MYTHS AND LEGENDS

2. Stories about national, religious and fairy topics
Myths
Fictional stories with religious topics
Fables
Stories, where evil must be defeated
Legends
Stories about saints
Folk tales
Tales about local faith and traditions

3. Heroes of myths- a deity. TRIGLAV (god with three faces)
God of heaven, earth and the underworld.
Pregod, the father of the Slavic gods.
PERUN
God of sky and thunder.
Also worshipped by the Balts.
SWAROŻYC
(a son of Swarog)
God of the sun, very popular among gods.
The name ,,Swarzędz” probably comes from him.
ŚWIATOWIT
(sacred)
He had four faces directed to the four sides of the world.
God of war and divination.

4. Slavs worshipped nature.
Oaks were given special cult because gods lived in trees.

5. The most important places of Slavic worship :
the mountain of St. Anne
Bald mountain

6. Former Slavs believed that in the world there are fantasy creatures like demons and nyphms.

7. Customs in our country
*Drowning of straw dolls representing winter (on 21st March).
*Śmigus- dyngus – boys pour water over girls.
Kupala’s night- fun night and night for love. Kupala is the God of fertility and love.

8. LEGENDS HEROES Saints - for example Saint Kinga.
Sovereigns - for example Polish kings.
Heroes from folk stories - for example highwaymen, peasants.
Fantasy characters - for example witches, devils.

9. Legend about Piast Kołodziej
This story is about beginning of Piasts – a royal dynasty in Poland. The legendary founder of the dynasty was Piast Kołodziej. Mieszko I was the first prince of Poland ( 10th century) and his son, Bolesław Brave, was the first king ( 11th century).
Mieszko I Bolesław Brave

10. Poznań legend
-At the town hall tower there is a statue of goats. At noon goats appear to the people gathered in the Old Market.
-In Poznan there is the street of the Holy Martin. In November 11, on the name-day of Martin all inhabitants of Wielkopolska (Great Poland) eat Martin’s croissants, known by all people in Poland.

11. LEGEND ABOUT SAINT KINGA
Saint Kinga was Hungarian princess and she was the wife of a Polish king Bolesław Wstydliwy.
This legend explains the origin of the salt mine in Wieliczka.

12. Wawel- the hill in Cracow, the previous capital of
*Wawel- the hill in Cracow, the previous capital of Poland, where the royal castle was built.
*The legend about Wawel’s dragon explains the beginning of the cave in Wawel’s hill.

13. POLISH HEROES OF FAIRY TALES
Women
Strong men
Good orphans, the youngest sister.
Bad stepmother, bad duchesses.
Positive Heroes, for example: the sons of a miller.
Examples of negative heroes: robbers,
Bad nobleman.
Fantastic creatures
Animals,
for Example:
cats and bees.
Items, for example: magic shoes.
Creatures living in the water eg: mermaids, water spirits.
Witches and wizards eg: Baba Jaga.

14. The most popular Polish fables
About Waligóra and Wyrwidąb - a story about two very strong men, who freed a town from a dragon
Cat in boots – a story about a cat which helped a boy, Janek, to defeat evil wizard
Fairy – a story about an evil mother and her good daughter and an evil daughter. The evil mother and evil daughter were punished by the fairy for their cruelty and stupidity. The good daughter was rewarded.

16. Thanks for watching Poland
Klaudia Staszyńska Maja Stachowiak Michał Iwańczuk Janusz Walkowiak