If you recall your history lessons, you’ll remember it was Poland.
Every nation on the discussed list has contributed substantially, but our modern understanding was reshaped by a singular individual approximately five centuries ago. This remarkable person is Nicolaus Copernicus, a native Pole, whose mathematical demonstrations changed our view of the cosmos, establishing that the Earth revolves around the sun. He is, therefore, the forefather of modern astronomy.
Poland also produced Marie Curie and today, Poland continues to value scholarly endeavors and thrives as a cutting-edge technological hub, influencing and developing the world’s latest tech developments behind relative anonymity. Many northern European nations take pride in the allure and intellect of their blonde, blue-eyed citizens. The top contender is always Sweden in the minds of many due to their values and accomplishments, but in truth, Poland may deserve top recognition, and we are here to prove it.
In this article, we embark on a virtual journey to explore the nation of Poland.
Let’s turn this section into a tribute to Nicolaus Copernicus and all the scientific inventions that came after him from this country. We can visit the Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw with its hands-on approach to showing scientific discoveries, or the Jagiellonian University Museum Collegium Maius in Krakow, one of the oldest universities in the world and where Nicolaus Copernicus lectured his students over 500 years ago. The Museum of Technology in Warsaw is the way to go if you want giant exhibits. We will show you the wonders of Krakow in a bit so let’s showcase Warsaw, the nation’s capital, and visit the Copernicus Science Center.
"To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge."
This quote demonstrates the ultimate in using the scientific method, as it demonstrates both humility and the need to challenge theories and assertions and accept those items that are indisputable, of which there are very few in comparison to theories and assertions. In many ways, this is progress and a ‘threat’ to traditions. This becomes dangerous though when disputable theories and assertions become facts, simply based on a group of people refusing to be questioned by those not within their group.
While Copernicus was born in Toruń and studied in Kraków, it was in the city of Frombork, also located in Poland, where he spent the majority of his adult life and conducted his groundbreaking astronomical observations. Frombork, situated on the Baltic Sea coast, was home to the Frombork Cathedral, where Copernicus served as a canon and conducted his astronomical studies. It was in Frombork, and in a church-sanctioned by the powers that be at the time, that Copernicus developed his heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center, challenging the prevailing geocentric view of the time, and hence that same power that originally supported him.
"It is hard to believe in something that was written by someone [the authors of the Bible] wasted from drinking wine and smoking some weed"
Across the world, from the EU and the UK to Canada and the USA, there stands a universally challenging question: What does freedom of religion truly encompass, and to what extent can one’s religion be subject to criticism? Each of these nations, in some form or another, imposes penalties and in some cases jail time for religious expression, depending on its context.
In the United States, the cherished principle of religious freedom implies each citizen’s right to freely practice their faith. This nation was indeed born as a sanctuary for those escaping religious persecution. By contrast, in Canada and the United Kingdom, freedom of speech means individuals cannot make comments that could provoke violence against perceived disadvantaged or minority groups or in essence the concept of freedom from ‘religion’. In a country like France, the laws firmly uphold freedom of speech. This allows for the criticism of any religious belief or ideology, which many perceive as exceptionally balanced and fair. Who could find a reason to object? If we take a closer look at the world’s most watched major conflict, we see these perspectives playing out in various ways. Undoubtedly, people’s views on the conflict in the birthplace of many world ideologies and faiths would differ depending on their understanding of religious freedom.
Let’s delve into the life of Doda, Poland’s most prominent contemporary pop artist, who faced fines, but not jail time, for a “religious insult” by saying the quote above in an interview. A musician herself I’m sure many of her songs were written in an intoxicated stupor, nonetheless, that event offers a glimpse into Poland’s perspective on religious freedom. For those who prefer France’s perspective, any criticism against atheism, secularism, or another construct of faith should have gone unnoticed. This delicate aspect differs from one country to another, each shaping its understanding based on its inherent norms and traditions, despite the UN’s attempts to establish global standards based on promoting atheism and secularism as a means of helping religious minorities.
It leaves you pondering, does a universal viewpoint on religious freedom, that promotes a single viewpoint, bring resolution towards global discord? Isn’t conflict usually justified by a power that feels the need to promote a superior, single viewpoint? To rephrase Copernicus’s quote previously mentioned in this article, I humbly admit that an answer to this complex question eludes us—no amount of scholarly reading can solve it. As simple as it is to compute that the Earth orbits the sun using a computer algorithm, the workings of the human mind will forever be enigmatic, probably why the best solution is to live and let live.
When in Warsaw, visit the ‘Stodola’ club, a historic venue that has been a hub for Polish music since the 1950s, and if you’re lucky Doda might be performing there. In tribute to Doda, our journey will include an exploration of the secular, religious, and traditional customs that have learned from each other that make Poland great. Of course, we also include her music here.
"Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes."
Back in the day, well before most of us were born, Computers were massive and a toy for the corporate world and the government. Meet Jacek Karpiński, who in the early 1970s introduced the world to the first microcomputer, the K-202, a machine that was beyond what others had created at the time. Of course, the computing world evolves quickly and the K-202 is a memory like Commodore and Atari, but no one can deny fame to anyone who was the first to introduce such an important tool to the masses. The K-202 looked more like something that played music, not what computers look like today or even a few decades ago. But inside it was designed to control factories and process data, and could sit on anyone’s desk. Roughly a dozen or so were made before the then communist, secular Soviet rulers pulled the plug, as innovation and progress went contrary to the governing beliefs of the time.
Regardless, K-202 had a significant influence on subsequent technological developments in Poland and beyond. It inspired a new generation of Polish engineers and scientists, and it laid the groundwork for the development of future computing technologies. The best place to see this influence is in Poznan. Consider it the Polish equivalent of Silicon Valley. The best places to witness this technological transformation are at the Poznan Science and Technology Park and the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center. Poznan also has an EU-protected croissant for foodies. It’s called St. Martins Croissant and it’s only available in this city. It’s so famous that it has its own museum in Poznan. The croissant is celebrated every year on November 11th, Poland’s Independence Day, and St. Martin’s feast day. The trademark for the croissant is under the name ‘Rogal świętomarciński’. By the way, Poznan is colorful and beautiful as can be seen in the video here.
Close to Krakow is a natural wonder that for over 700 years the people of Poland extracted salt from while preserving its spectacular natural beauty in a way that would make even today’s conservation specialists envious. It’s called the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Across seven centuries, 300 kilometers of this marvel have been utilized and waiting to be discovered by tourists and locals alike. The tunnels feature stunning natural salt chambers, intricate man-made salt sculptures, and even an underground chapel made entirely of salt.
Halloween as a religious festival? Poland has a great modern history of secular, religious, and traditional customs that have learned from each other that make the country great. The ancient Celts may have invented the now candy-chomping, costume-wearing tradition, but Poland took similar traditions to another ‘spooky’ level. It’s the ancient Slavic festival of Dziady that we are exploring, when people feast and make offerings to the spirits of their ancestors.
The holiday has its roots in ancient Slavic pagan traditions, which believed in the spiritual presence of ancestors. It was thought that during Dziady, the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, allowing for communication and interaction. Later the concept was merged with the celebration of All Saints Day on November 1st and All Souls Day on November 2nd, as it made sense.
The tradition still uses the old Pagan traditions such as lighting candles, and leaving offerings of food for their ancestors. It is a testament to history that cultures expand, assimilate, and integrate all sorts of traditions to create a unique experience. When in town in November, try immersing yourself in what the locals do. Go to Bialystok at the Branicki Palace, for some of the best celebrations. By the way, Poland also has the world’s largest castle, Malbork Castle, constructed in the 13th century.
As one glance through tour packages of any kind in Northern Europe, adventure seems secondary, as it seems like everything caters to sitting around in a coffee shop, or fine dining. That’s OK, but if you live in Europe as I do, that’s everyday life and it can get kind of dull, repetitive, and mundane to also live that life when traveling. Heck, it’s the one thing I miss about the USA, where at least they switch things up a bit. Poland is a little like the USA in this regard.
So to change things up, we are now going to visit Krakow, without visiting a coffee shop or fine restaurant. Luckily Trip Advisor agrees with this scenario when visiting Krakow as the top few spots are dedicated to one thing, the education on what genocide really means, as this is the home of the unfortunately famed Auschwitz death camp. This is the number one rated tour for this adventure. It seems that next on the list are the salt mines previously mentioned and these thermal hot baths.
Krakow, a radiant heart of culture, is a city that demands more than just a fleeting acknowledgment. As for its charming architectural marvels and captivating sightseeing spots, simply take a walk and see things for yourself without a guide to help. Pivoting towards culture, the article introduces a taste of the vibrant nightlife with a highly recommended pub crawl – our top pick. Because Vodka is the most popular drink in Poland, let’s add this Vodka tasting tour as well to the itinerary.
Let’s take a break from our regular starchy subjects and delve into an intriguing, unexpected dessert fact. Did you know that Poland boasts the highest consumption of ice cream in Europe? It might seem peculiar – eating ice cream in a frosty climate surely seems like an engraved invitation to brain freeze, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, Poles truly savor this chilly delight. Ranking as the world’s seventh-largest exporter of ice cream, Poland’s Algida brand is one of their leading exports. Regrettably, my online hunt fell short when trying to unearth a Polish ice cream recipe. Fear not, as I have whipped up a recipe for Żurek, the perfect comforting soup to be enjoyed with bread. The good news about the video above is that it is authentic and will teach you how to speak Polish. As always we prioritize comfort food over fine dining, and when in Warsaw there is no better place for that than Hala Koszyki, a modern food hall located in the city center in a 19th century market building.
Astronomy and Astrophysics(Nicolaus Copernicus), Article 19.org(Doda), Culture.pl(Jacek Karpiński and Dziady), Trip Advisor.
All images are AI-generated using Fotor and are meant to describe the subject matter they portray figuratively, not factually.
