Category Archives: history

Book Review: Push Not the River

Posted on 28 August 2014 by lkonieczny

Push Not the River, by James Conroyd Martin, is a historic, romantic novel written somewhat in the grand tradition of Doctor Zhivago or Gone With the Wind. To call it “fiction” would do it no justice at all–it is set … Continue reading →

Posted in history, History of Poland, My love of Poland | Leave a comment

70 Years Ago Today

Posted on 1 August 2014 by lkonieczny

70 years ago today, at 5 PM local time, the Warsaw Uprising began. After 5 long years of Nazi occupation, having suffered the devastating loss of the whole Jewish Population, having suffered the loss of many Polish lives with countless … Continue reading →

Posted in current events, history | 2 Comments

Battle of Grunwald

Posted on 15 July 2014 by lkonieczny

Today, July 15, 2014, marks 604 years since the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. It was at this battle that the combined forces of the Kingdom Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania once and for all decisively defeated the German … Continue reading →

Posted in historic sites, history, History of Poland, Poland Tour 2010 | Leave a comment

On this day in Polish history…. June 27th

Posted on 27 June 2014 by lkonieczny

June 27th is a significant day in Polish history for two events that happened on this day, 48 years apart, in 1581 and in 1629. Both events are a source of great pride for all of us who are of … Continue reading →

Posted in Famous Poles, history, History of Poland | Leave a comment

Święty Jan Paweł II — Saint John Paul II

Posted on 27 April 2014 by lkonieczny

Today is a historic day for many Poles all over the world. On this day, the first Polish Pope was made a saint. To me, personally, this is a very amazing event, and a day for celebration not only for … Continue reading →

Posted in current events, Famous Poles, history, My love of Poland, Politics | Leave a comment

Trail of the Eagles’ Nests

Posted on 9 January 2014 by lkonieczny

Are you interested in seeing a great view of “old Poland” along with some of the new? Well, you can. The Trail (route) of Eagles’ Nests (in Polish, Szlak Orlich Gniazd) is a marked hiking/bike trail in southwestern Poland generally running … Continue reading →

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Opłatek — A Polish Christmas Tradition

Posted on 24 December 2013 by lkonieczny

Today is December 24th, Christmas Eve. In many Polish households in Poland and throughout the world, tonight they will celebrate Wigilia, a traditional Polish Christmas Eve meal. Traditionally, once the youngest child see the first star in the sky (gwiazdka), … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, food, history, My love of Poland | Leave a comment

Life in Faschivka–where our Cousins Live

Posted on 18 December 2013 by lkonieczny

In 2011 my cousin Alicja and I (along with her husband and son, Wojtek and Filip) visited the town that was home to my great-grandfather, Aleksandr Cymbał and my great-grandmother, Katarzyna Kucharska, before they emigrated to the US in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011 Poland Trip, food, history, My Polish Family, Photos, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Battle of Khotyn (Chocim): November 11, 1673

Posted on 11 November 2013 by lkonieczny

It was 340 years ago today that a significant battle was fought at the fortress of Chocim (today Khotyn in Ukraine) between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s forces led by hetman (miliary chief commander) Jan Sobieski and the Ottoman Empire forces let … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011 Poland Trip, attractions, Famous Poles, historic sites, history, History of Poland, Kresy | Leave a comment

Kristallnacht–75 Years Ago, but only part of the story

Posted on 10 November 2013 by lkonieczny

Yesterday and today mark the events, 75 years ago, where the German Nazis, let by the SA, wreaked several nights of havoc upon the German Jews. It was a terrible time. Already persecuted and tagged “persona non grata” according to … Continue reading →

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