If you have grown up knowing the red and white flag and the delecious smell of kielbasa and peirogi, than you were porbably raised Polish. That also means you definitly recongnize the contents of this list below!
1.Having to correctly pronounce your name
Let’s be honest, any time you knew your name was next on the list you're always ready to correctly pronounce it. Which usually is still never pronounced right, so you just settle with the “English” pronunciation.
2. You are always ready to basically give your back story after someone reads your name
After butchering your long Polish last name, you always get asked: “oh what nationality are you?” Which usually leads to you telling the story of your parents, grandparents, or even further back relatives, adventure off the boat from Poland.
3. The Pope is everywhere
Go to any Polish person’s house and you are guaranteed to see a picture of St. Pope John Paul II.
4. You are also bound to see some firanki
Firanki, or as others recognize as a strange lace-doily window curtain, are not an unfamiliar sight to a Polak. If you do not have them at your house, your Babcia (grandma) probably does!
5. Your house also probably has Polish alcohol
More specifically, your family probably has a bottle of Spirytus casually in their cabinets. You probably have also used said alcohol for medicinal purposes because its 96% proof!
6. You know a bunch of strange home remedies
You mother or grandma basically have a fix for just about anything which will always be followed up by a story from “back in the country”.
7. You were also told that you will get sick if…
You walked around without socks on wood floors, sat on any cold surfaces like the ground, or walked outside with wet hair, you were bound to get an ear full of how gravely ill you were going to get.
8. You also find yourself knowing all the songs at a typical Polish rager
Whether it's a typical Polish wedding that goes on for two days, or a typical weekend cleaning of the house, you know Disco Polo will be bumping and you also know pretty much every song that comes on.
9. Speaking of cleaning you do it a lot
If there is one thing you will take away from your Polish parents it is the need to clean. Even when the house is spotless, if guests are coming you need to do a full house wipe down from top to bottom. And if those guests try to walk around the house without taking their shoes off they are sure to get a side eye.
10. But all that cleaning is worth it when it comes to the holidays
Being Polish means you get to celebrate Christmas a whole day earlier than everyone else. Us Polaks have the big dinner on Christmas Eve and give each other wishes for the next year with some opłatki.
11. You are used to the adults being the loud ones
During the holidays you can expect the adults having fun. There is always alcohol and lots of loud Polish conversations. So you know not to expect to go to bed early those nights!
12. You’re also bound to hear a few curse words
Whether its the adults who have had a bit too much to drink or anyone who finds out you are Polish, you are sure to hear a “kurwa” at some point. Or you are asked how to say certain curse words in Polish.
13. You also have been caught “cursing”
You find yourself explaining to anyone who does not speak Polish that you weren't just calling someone a “bitch” on the phone but you were actually saying “być”
14. You know the reason why “pierogis” is just wrong
Whenever you hear someone say “perogies” it can just drive you up the wall because pierogi is actually plural already! The singular form of pierogi is pierog.
15. You are proud to be a Polak
Even though your family can have some weird traditions and grammar that confuses pretty much everyone who isn't Polish, you proudly have white and red pumping through your veins. Niech Żyje Polska!
