Arts & Culture

On the right bank of the Nile lies the town of Helwan which, today, belongs in the outskirts of Cairo. Patients from Europe, Turkey and America came here to improve their health. Two guesthouses were established by Poles in Helwan. They were "Willa Wanda" and Resort "Jola." Being medicinal resorts, they also constituted important centers of Polish identity on the Nile. Many eminent figures visited their rooms.

Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski is the author of 77 books published in 150 translations into 20 languages. In the interwar period he was one of the five most widely read writers in the world, and the total circulation of his books reached 80 million copies. After World War II, he was discontinued. Entered onto the list of banned authors, he disappeared from the register of Polish writers, and all his books were removed from libraries. Why?

65 years have passed since the end of World War II. The historical cataclysm, caused by the invasion of Poland by Germany and Russia, destroyed our country not only economically, but also burdened us with a system that was alien and hostile to the nation for many years.

The General Dąbrowski Palace is a historic palace in the village of Winna Góra in Greater Poland (45 km/28 miles south-east of Poznań), built in 1910 for Henryk Mańkowski in the neoclassical Polish national style. Since 2021, the cultural institution of the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region has been located here, which carries out its mission around the figure of General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski and pioneers (male and female) of the so called "organic work".

This May (2022) was the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great world-class Polish opera singer and actor Jan W. Kiepura. His road to the top of his artistic career is not a Cinderella's dream, but the result of persistent work and wise life choices. His singing won the hearts of music lovers in Europe and the world, but he always loved Poland the most and was ready to sacrifice a lot for her.

The Polish Institute of Culture and Research at Orchard Lake is a not-for-profit organization that serves the Polish American community, regionally and nationally, as a center for Polish and Polish American culture and research. As part of the Orchard Lake Schools and rooted in the teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, the Institute is part of an ancient, living tradition of Polish and Polish American culture and serves as center for research and cultural activity for people from throughout its region, across North America, and around the world.

Polish Fest has been an annual event for the last 40 years. Its first edition took place in 1982 during the four days of the Labor Day weekend on the city’s Summerfest grounds. In a perfect world we would be celebrating the 41th anniversary this year, but in reality, this year’s Polish Fest is being organized for the 39th time.

Gołuchów Castle is an early Renaissance, multi-story brick castle, with towers in each corner, built in 1550-1560 on a square plan for Rafał Leszczyński.

PACIM (Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota) sent me an unsolicited e-mail announcing the showing of the Death of Captain Pilecki at a small neighborhood movie theater. It piqued my interest. Little did I know by attending that I would be drawn by its message to act. Prior to and after the showing, Marek Probosz spoke and took questions.

Easter is considered the greatest Christian holiday. At this time, the greatest sacrifice for our salvation is celebrated in the form of the crucified body of Jesus Christ. It has been a solemn holiday for a long time, and Poland is one of the countries where it is remembered in a special way.

Wicker is nothing more than young shoots of several species of willow, which are used in braiding. This name is also the common name for the purple willow, known as a braid, basket, or weaving. The greatest number of wicker braids was made in former Poland around Easter. Therefore, in Poland, basketry is often called an Easter activity.