Poles Miss Their Lost Tradition...

Kamila Papis, Poland

Recent studies conducted for Krakus brand confirm that for most Poles their youth was the happiest time of their lives, regardless of its point in the Polish history. Youth is associated with the time of carefree outdoor fun, the smell of Christmas tree and the taste of true aromatic food.

Poles miss tradition, especially family reunions and joint holidays. They also love the taste of traditional Polish food, which, in their opinion, was once much better. 

Contrary to popular belief, Polish women do not dream of courteous men. The fight for equal rights for women has made them believe that some male gestures are superfluous: hand-kissing or letting women go through the door first are considered to be needless remnants of the past. Interestingly, more men see these customs as valuable, and would like to rescue them from oblivion.

The post-1989 change at the political and economic scene as well as opening to the world caused a significant shift in Poles' lifestyles, habits and hierarchy of values. And yet, not all new phenomena are thought to be positive. Poles generally accepted the trend towards women's rights but also largely succumbed to the erosion of certain family rituals, such as joint meals. However, they retained many of past tastes and scents which they now long for. So what that you can buy pretty much anything today, and more and more Poles can afford the things that were often an unattainable dream in the times of socialism (own car, trip abroad), since the new rules of life (consumerism and materialism) have taken away the sense of security and the time for joint fun and traditional cuisine? Fast food and the products of aggressively competing food producers do not match the delights of the palate offered by traditional holiday ham at mom's home.

• Study commissioned by Krakus brand was conducted between October 15 to October 17, 2010 by Polish research centre TNS OBOP on the representative group of 1000 Poles aged 18+.