A visit to the Polish Pavilion this week will prove to be a party and you may make a new friend or two.

Alexandra Malkiewicz, the social media chairperson for the Polish Pavilion, says that her Polish heritage has been celebrated all her life.

"My entire family participates in the Pavilion and the culture. It just brings us all closer because we know what we need to do at Christmas or Easter, we all know what to do.

"It just allows me to celebrate my Polish culture because everybody in my family celebrates it as well," says Malkiewicz.

Celebratory clothing

Patrick Gutowski is the Vice President of The Polish Dance Ensemble SPK Iskry.

In the dance performed by Gutowski and Malkiewicz, they wear traditional Polish dance costumes that especially represent the celebratory nature of Poles.

Malkiewicz says, "This particular costume is Lachy Sadeckie. They're known to be the wedding crashers so they're every lively and very colourful. The jackets are made out of the wool from the southern region of Poland.

"Basically, the more embroidery, colours, buttons, and everything you have on your jacket the richer you are."

Gutowski explains that these, "Every region has different ways of stitching - different flowers that they put on."

Even the accessories have meaning to these costumes. Malkiewicz explains how young polish women represent their eligibility for marriage by wearing flower crowns. Women with chustas, or headscarves, are married.

Journey to Canada

Gutowski's parents - unlike Malkiewicz' - were born in Poland and chose to come to Canada.

Gutowski says, "They travelled through Greece first because of the whole communist system, so they got out of there.

"They lived in Greece for a few years and then came to Canada to try and make a better life."

Both Malkiewicz and Gutowski are fluent in Polish as their families keep the language alive in their homes, despite being surrounded by Anglophones in Winnipeg.

Traditions

"Christmas is huge for us. Mostly, it is Christmas Eve actually - that's the bigger one. It's much more important than Christmas day.," says Malkiewicz.

"We have the usual Roman Catholic traditions, but we have our own Polish ones like setting 12 places settings at the dinner table and then setting an extra place setting for anybody - somebody who couldn't be there."

Gutowski knows his favourite thing about the Polish culture right away: "One of the favourite things is food, obviously."

For both Malkiewicz and Gutowski, it is more than just food and parties for them and their culture.

"Polish traditions are always centred around bringing your family together and making new friends"

"For example, anytime someone comes over to your house - this is an old one and not many people do it anymore - you give them a piece of bread, some salt, and a shot of vodka. Obviously, the shot of vodka helps ease those social interactions and then you always have to give someone a little bit of food"

The Pavilion

Gutowski and Malkiewicz invite you to their performances at the Pavilion - a guaranteed good time in their opinion.

Malkiewicz says, "Our performances are always lively, very entertaining, our costumes are super colourful. We do have a school of dance ... the little ones are super adorable."

"Our senior group is, I'm biased because I am in it, but we're pretty good," jokes Malkiewicz.

The food is plenty and good, but goes fast."We have perogies, sausage - which are always crowd favourites.

"We have run out perogies many times, so always come early," advises both Gutowski and Malkiewicz.

Looking for a token to remember your evening in Polish culture? Malkiewicz says, "All of our souvenirs are straight from Poland."

Visit the Polish Pavilion during the second week of Folklorama, from Sunday, August 11 to Saturday, August 17, 2019, at the RBC Convention Centre (375 York Avenue, North Building, Main Floor).