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Is Polish hospitality a stereotype?

Please do not accuse me of a lack of objectivity. I write rather subjective texts, therefore, you can imagine my title question is already an answer...

This weekend I went to my hometown to celebrate my aunt's 50th birthday with my relatives. As I do it always observing the Polish traditions of experiencing certain meetings, holidays, anniversaries or birthdays, also this time I come to the conclusion that we are indeed very generous and hospitable society. Usually after family parties, the topic of diet becomes a kind of mantra and everyone enjoys complaining about how much they ate but let's leave this matter of moods, that is not what I am going to consider. But just take a look, in most cases, we are very involved in preparing what requires work from us, but makes our loved ones happy.  We feel proud when we show our family a nicely set table full of dishes. We like to surprise with creativity or small cute detail. We are happy when nothing is missing and each guest finds something on the table that impresses him. We like cleanliness and aesthetics.

On the other hand, as a student of Spanish philology, I always smile when I think about Spanish family events. There are many differences. Everything takes place outside. Even pull tables outside and eat on the sidewalk in the street is one of the most normal things in the world. 






Children celebrate birthdays in public parks or playgrounds. Birthdays are not very special, although it depends on individual preferences. However, you will probably not hear any more words of wishes except "happy birthday". Spanish do not like to talk a lot in this case. At Christmas, they do not make wishes either, and the tables and dishes look the same as during any other family gatherings. Bachelor and bachelorette party are almost always funny tours around the village with an orchestra and strange clothes and requisites.



Spanish prefer to participate in open parties and street events including their housing estate or village. In Poland, we celebrate in a more closed group and space. They are more participants of large events than organizers of small meetings. I think that in Poland we have more potential when it comes to family celebrations’ traditions.


The only curiosity that is not known in our country and surprised me a lot was eating 12 grapes (mandarin pieces could be an alternative) at midnight on New Year's Eve. I remember that my friends bought grapes with seeds and I almost got to choke swallowing them as fast as the TV presenter dictated, but eventually I survived to the next year J

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