Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Warsaw Day

It's a shame that many holidays become forgotten, even in their own homeland. Warsaw day is one such holiday. It celebrates the selfless act of one Polish hero during a very dark time in Polish history.

Lec Tolcentovyski lead his fellow Warsaw citizens to drive the invading army of Ukrainian Cossacks out of Warsaw. He and many others bravely gave their lives on September 15th 1587.

In 1732 Warsaw Day was made into an official holiday. It was celebrated up until the German invasion and occupation of WWII. After WWII ended and being under Soviet control, Warsaw Day was never to be celebrated again.

Before WWII Warsaw Day was a day long festival in Poland. There was much celebrating and food (all of the great Polish dishes you can think of). Everywhere it was celebrated the color red, which was the most important color of this holiday was everywhere. People wore red clothing and buildings were draped in red. (How ironic that red would be the color of Warsaw Day and the red Soviet Union crushed this Polish holiday.)

Red is a very important color for the holiday, it symbolizes the blood that Lec Tolcentovyski spilled on that day for his beloved Warsaw.

I think its time to remember Lec Tolcentovyski and the others who gave their lives on that day. Remember it doesn't matter if your Polish or not, on Warsaw Day everyone is Polish. So tomorrow on the 15th of September wear something red and spread to others what this day means.

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