1. The Silesian Culture
Monuments, ceremonies, customs
and traditions

2. A diversity, being an effect of the various cultural influences
characterizes the culture of the Silesian province and its different
traditions and new forms of the world presented by contemporary
authors. Our province is a multicultural area, formed by influence of
populations inhabiting it(the Polish, German, Czech and Jewish).
Despite the cultural variety, people of Silesia are really fond of their
little homeland .

3. Silesia on the map of Poland
Silesia may be divided into Lower(Zielona Góra, Legnica, Wrocław, Brzeg,
Namysłów) and Upper(Opole, Katowice, Racibórz, Ruda Śląska).

4. The coat of arms of Silesia

5. The coat of arms of Ruda Śląska

6. The Silesian dialect
The native population of Upper Silesia and some
of the part of Lower Silesia uses the Silesiand
dialect that is, by many, considered the separate
language. Many languages have been
responsible for forming the Silesian dialect:
Polish, Chech, German (the Germanic Silesian
dialect) and partly Slovak. The phrases and
words are more similar to the Old Polish
language.

7. Monuments of Silesia

8. Ruda Śląska - the Church of Saint Mary of Lourdes
The church built in the style of late Baroque was built in 1806 on the
spot of the previous temple from 1670. The part of the iinterior was
saved from the first temple.

9. The church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary in Gliwice – a wooden, gothic church build in XVI
century

10. Ruda Śląska - The church of Holy Trinity
The church was built in the beginning of XX century.

11. Industrial monuments
Upper Silesian Industral Region
The biggest industrial region of Poland.
Branches of industry that have been
developed: mining industry, the smelting
industry, transport industry, the power
industry, the engineering industry, coking
industry, chemical industry.

12. Zabrze - "Guido” coal mine
Established in 1855 is derives its name from name of count von
Guido Henckel Donnersmarck. Deposits were exhausted before
the World War II. From 2007 again it is made available for
touring It is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Silesian
province.

13. The unforgotten trip underground

14. Andrew’s Shaft
Historic hoisting tower that supports the old mineshaft, located in Ruda
Śląska.

15. „Pokój” mill
Blast furnace of the Mill "Pokój" in Ruda Śląska was signed into a list of vintage buildings. The
Silesian monument conservation officer acknowledged that the object had valuable
advantages from a point of view of the development of technical thought, and is a certificate
of a bygone era as well as a significant characteristic of the city.

16. Silesian Opera in Bytom
Built in neoclassical style almost 100 years ago.

17. The Silesian Theatre of Stanisław Wyspiański in
Katowice – one of the biggest theatres in the
Upper Silesia

18. Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble
Śląsk originally focused on the folk traditions of Upper Silesia, Cieszyn
Silesia, and the Beskids. It was later expanded to include all Polish
regions. The ensemble has performed more than 6,000 shows for over
20 million people worldwide.

19. Customs and
traditions
People of Silesia are connected to the traditions of
their region.

20. Traditional Silesian
costumes

21. Traditional Silesian dinner
The traditional Silesian dinner is filling, fattening, but in the taste
sensational.
In Silesia, meat rolls, dumplings and the cabbage are a typical dish. They
are often served during events important for the region i.e.: the
Christening party, the first Communion and the marriage ceremony.

22. Pieśni i tańce
Traditional Silesian dances

23. Beerfests
The traditional form of entertainment.

24. The Ladies’ party
The other characteristic Silesian type of a party. The party for women
only.

25. Birthday
The Silesia is the only region where people celebrate birthday instead of
name day.
The most important is the 50th birthday.

26. The hornn of plenty- the sweet
beginning of the school year
The customary gift given to the children that begin a
primary school – a huge bag of sweets.

27. Dovecotes
Passion passed on from the generation to
generation, for years, inseparably
connected with Upper Silesia - breeding of
racing pigeons.

28. Wedding traditions

29. The evening before the wedding
During the evening before the wedding
there is a tradition of meeting at would-bebride’s home and smashing various dishes.
There is a big, loud party with music and
singing.

30. Creating or forming of gates
It is a tradition that takes place usually
after the wedding, the newly married are
stopped by friends, family or people that do
not know them. They do not let the couple
until they get some gifts (usually little bottles
of vodka).

31. Miners’ day – traditional Polish holiday
celebrated also by people, pursuing
connected professions with seek other fossil
fuels and geologists on 4th December, in the
name of St Barbara, patrons of the good death
and the difficult work among others of
fishermen, soldiers, stonemasons, prisoners,
mill workers, sailors, miners and many other.

32. Miner’s day
The celebration of Miner's Day has some constant elements for years. In
the morning mining orchestras march through the streets. There are
masses in churches and in mines and the traditional festivities follow
them.

33. Miner’s day celebration
The most traditional and spectacular form of celebrating
Miner’s day is a beerfest.

34. Easter traditions
Easter – one of the most important christian traditions.

35. Easter traditions
Easter is holiday with a lot of customs and the
traditions.There are special meals with ham, eggs,
cookies and sausages. In the morning people exchange
good wishes while sharing a hard-boiled egg blessed in
church the day before. On Easter Monday young men
have custom of dousing young women with water. On
Easter people bring gifts to each other and hide
presents or chocolate eggs.

36. Christmas
Christmas in Silesia

37. Chrismas supper
We sit down to the dinner after appearance of the first
star in the sky. We use a white tablecloth. Under the table
we put hay and coins. On the Christmas Eve table you
should find twelve dishes. Every one should try, that is
supposed to ensure happiness through the year. The most
popular Polish dishes are: borsch with ravioli, fried carp,
cabbage with peas, cabbage with mushrooms, cabbage
with dumplings or compote of dried fruits.
Moreover on the traditional Silesian Christmas Eve menu
there are : moczka (gingerbread soup with nuts and dried
fruit), siemieniotka (soup from hemp), gingerbread with
marzipan and poppy heads (sweet delicacy of the poppy,
honey, nuts and dried fruit as used in cooking and rolls
soaked in the milk).

38. Thanks for your attention!