Name days

Besides birthdays, the Polish celebrate name days ("imieniny"). There has been a time that name days were more popular than birthdays, with bigger celebrations.
Nowadays the birthdays have gained popularity as well, but still many folks celebrate bigger on their respective name day.

There is no such thing in the Netherlands. I knew about it because I worked with many Eastern Europeans in the past. 

Imieniny

"Imieniny" involves the gathering and socialising of friends and family at the celebrant's home, as well as giving gifts and flowers at home and elsewhere, like at the workplace. Calendars here often contain the names celebrated on a given day. If a name is celebrated on more than one day, it is customary to choose the first day after the birthday.

So for example my name. Wincenty being the Polish equivalent:

I celebrate my birthday on the 7th of March. The next possible nameday already is one day after on the 8th.
In fact I know more people who have their birthday and nameday on two consecutive days. So if you would not like it you could pick another date listed. It can be a bit tricky these custom chosen name day dates, you might be too late or early congratulating someone.

Polish legend Ferdek Kiepski also has troubles remembering name days

History
The Name Day has its history in the Polish tradition of naming children after Saints. The importance of the Saints and their Feast Days (the date that the Saint was cannonized) resulted in many parents looking to the local priest or to the Roman Calendar to name their children. They typically chose the name of a Saint that had a Feast Day close to the birth or baptismal date of their child.

Originally the day was for honoring one’s patron saint. But in modern times it is generally a time for parties and gift giving. But it still retains its importance. You should never forget a Name Day. And never forget a gift. A gift, however small, is appropriate.

You will return home with a full stomach, that's for sure!

Spice envelopes

A few days ago I wrote about the home pharmacies in Poland. I would not call it hoarding, but after witnessing the below it starts to look like it...

The Polish and their collections of spice envelopes. Another phenomenon which is really fascinating to see.

The collections come in all varieties.
From neatly ordened: 

To, I need to pick words carefully here, less neatly ordened:

Spice envelopes
(przyprawy w saszetkach, small bags. W torebkach, bigger bags).
Of course the bags of Knorr etcetera are used a lot in Dutch households, but just look at it! They do have a lot don't they? I beg your pardon, WE have a lot don't WE?

Another example that the Polish are taking their cooking very seriously and are curious to other flavors. I really expected a very traditional kitchen with little room for experimenting, but it turned out that it was me who was the traditional one. In Holland we have a saying which goes like: 'What a farmer does not know, he does not eat.'
That was me. Was.