October in Warsaw

October is a very "smart" month. In October lectures start at universities and we celebrate The Day of National Education (commonly known as a The Teacher's Day). October can also bring lots of joy to people... Why?

Continue reading to know more about October events and holidays in Warsaw.

October

What happens in October in Warsaw?

October 1

This day is usually the first day of new academic year in Poland. Likewise in the case of the new school year, there are academic new year celebrations. This is the official opening of the new academic year in Warsaw University (Uniwersytet Warszawski), one of the best universities in Warsaw and Poland. And the university I graduated from. Below is a video made by UW students from the opening of the academic year 2012/2013.



I know that it's just in Polish, but bear with it. Are you surprised by the veterans in the video? The "grandpa" on the video (speaking after the applause) received underground education on Warsaw University.

October 7

Seventh October is "The Folk Dance Day" or Dzień Tańca Ludowego in Polish. In the whole Poland, not only Warsaw, for two days of 6 and 7 October passers-by could see people dressed in regional clothes, dancing folk dances and encouraging people to try to break the record of doing the basic step in many folk dances called hołubiec.

How does it look like?

You can see it in the promo video by Warsaw University's folk dance and songs group "Warszawianka". I know it takes 2 minutes to see the step, but I love this video. :D The melody in the video is from 19th century song called Prząśniczka (The Spinner) by Stanisław Moniuszko. I like these 21st century arraignment too.

Do you want to see it slowly and learn by yourself? Try this video:

Still not enough of Polish folk dances? I advise to check out other promo video on Wytnij Hołubca channel on Youtube. You can also try the 15-minutes length video relation from Wytnij Hołubca in Warsaw and see how amateurs danced with the group members together.

October 14

The Day of National Education (Dzień Edukacji Narodowej) is commonly called The Teacher's Day (Dzień Nauczyciela). On this day the teachers usually get flowers from the students. When I was attending school we had some celebrations, but it's not worth talking about. More boring stuff only.

October 31

On 1st and 2nd November we commemorate the dead ones. before that, on 31st October we had a Dziady celebration. Dziady was a before-Christian custom for Slavic and Baltic ethnic groups to commemorate our dead ones. Giving food to their souls, lighting up fires to show them way back home, etc. I've never did that. The dziady custom I know only from the literature. At schools we have to read a poem called Dziady by Adam Mickiewicz, often referred as one of the greatest Polish poets.

Dziady are nowadays performed by neopagan groups, so it's possible to see it.

Nowadays Warsaw and Poland are full of the Halloween parties which are just against Polish tradition. In Poland it's usually a calm, family holiday.

Annual events

October is full of film festivals. Probably the most notable is Warsaw Film Festival (Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy) - an international film festival held from 1985. During the festival there are competition and non-competition sections. Warsaw Film Festival is one of 14 events recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations as international film festivals - next to Cannes, Venice, Berlin and others.

Another international film festival in October is Warsaw Jewish Film Festival (Warszawski Festiwal Filmów o Tematyce Żydowskiej). During the festival there are shown films only with the Jewish elements in them. The Honorary David Awars in 2013 gets Tadeusz Konwicki, a Polish writer and film director, for his contribution in keeping the memory of world of Polish Jews.

Have you been to Warsaw? Have you attended any of the events mentioned above or some other? What did you think about them?

See you in Warsaw!