Polish Customs, Traditions and Folklore

Rating:
Summary: Great Encyclopedia of Polish Tradition and Customs
Review: According to my knowledge this is the most comprehensive book devoted to Polish customs available for English speaking readers. I recommend it especially for people with Polish ancestors or these who are interested in Polish traditions or anthropology. It may be also used as a reference book or the encyclopedia. But, the book is very interesting to read from cover to cover also. It contains an index and some pictures - I wish it had more!
Overall, Sophie Hodorowicz did a wonderful job - she arranged the majority of customs according to calendar - entangling the customs with the seasons of the year and the Christian feasts traditions.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource, Interesting Reading
Review: I chose this book to try and get a flavor of Polish customs for some projects I was writing on, and I was so pleased to find a treasure trove of the Polish heritage. This book is a goldmine. It's easy to read, and not necessary to read straight through. It covers all the feasts during the year, broken down by months, then it includes birth and death customs and Polish games and Pastimes for Children. My only "regret" is that when different Polish dishes or menus were mentioned that no recipes were given, but I guess that would have to be another volume. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: A great source of information
Review: This is a book full of interesting things, neatly organized by month. It talks about many, many customs, traditions, and proverbs, but doesn't mention much folklore, and leaves the reader wondering just *why* most of the customs she's talking about came to be. Still, it's highly readable, covers a lot, and there aren't many books on the subject, especially not in English, so this is something I'd highly reccomend to any Polish-American, and to other curious people.

Rating:
Summary: One Novelist's Resource
Review: What a wonderful service Sophie Hodorowicz Knab has provided for the Polish community and for those who write about the Polish past! I didn't come across this book until my last few months of working on PUSH NOT THE RIVER, but it was a big help, nonetheless. I only wish it had been around years before when I started my novel. When you read about Marzanna, the Goddess of Death, you'll know who provided some invaluable information.

POLISH CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, and FOLKLORE, like Miss Knab's other books, is accessible, authoritative, and intensely interesting!

James Conroyd Martin

Rating:
Summary: One Novelist's Resource
Review: What a wonderful service Sophie Hodorowicz Knab has provided for the Polish community and for those who write about the Polish past! I didn't come across this book until my last few months of working on PUSH NOT THE RIVER, but it was a big help, nonetheless. I only wish it had been around years before when I started my novel. When you read about Marzanna, the Goddess of Death, you'll know who provided some invaluable information.

POLISH CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, and FOLKLORE, like Miss Knab's other books, is accessible, authoritative, and intensely interesting!

James Conroyd Martin