Whether you are interacting with Poles living in your area, or visiting Poland for business or pleasure, it is important to understand a little of the culture, history, customs and beliefs of Polish people. A little effort made prior to travelling can really pay dividends on arrival in Poland. Polish people are generally proud of their country and they are very welcoming to visitors. This is especially true in rural areas away from the tourist trail where they may not get many foreign visitors.

Poland is a large country located in Central Europe. It is a member of the European Union, NATO, and according to the CIA it has a population of a little over thirty-eight million.

The past century has been a turbulent time for the Polish nation. Invasion by both Germany and Soviet Union during World War Two, and a long period following the war as a Soviet satellite state, have had a profound impact on Polish society. It is common even today to find a little suspicion of Poland’s neighbours lingering amongst older people in particular. Most recently this distrust has manifested itself following the tragic plane crash in Smolensk, which killed the President and many other senior Poles. Many Poles, including some in the media and political classes, are sceptical of the official report of the Russian investigators which appears to place all of the blame on the Polish crew, without making any criticism of Russian air traffic controllers, or the condition of the airport.

Another very important fact to understand about Polish people is the importance of religion in Polish society. Poland is a devout Catholic country, many Poles attend church regularly and follow Catholic customs and traditions. It is common in many homes and businesses for example to avoid eating meat on Fridays. A crucifix or other religious picture or ornament can often be found in school classrooms, offices, shop and homes. Pope John Paul II was Polish, and he remains a very popular figure in his homeland, where he is respected in particular in his role in the struggle against communism.

The family is a vital part of Polish life. It is not uncommon, especially in rural areas, for several generations of a family to live together, if not in the same home, then in homes close by. It is common for people to live with their parents well into adulthood, often continuing to live at home even after marriage. Holidays such as Christmas and Easter are all about getting together with family and spending a nice time together.

Since winning their freedom from communist rule, Polish people have made great strides in modernising their country and improving their living standards. Polish people are ambitious and hard-working, with many young Polish people travelling abroad to seek employment and educational opportunities not available at home. The British Office of National Statistics estimates over half a million Polish citizens migrated to the UK between 2004 and 2010 for example. Many of these people send money home to relatives still in Poland, and this money, along with money received from the European Union has fuelled much of the country’s economic growth.

For several decades following World War Two, Polish people were somewhat isolated from the wider world. Since their revolution in 1989 they have begun to take their full role in the greater global society. We are all benefiting from their contributions.