Last year, we had a presidential election in the US, and this week, Polish citizens will vote for their president. While it’s not my place to tell you whether to vote or which candidate to choose, I hope you will consider voting for someone who represents the entire country, not just their party. Now more than ever, we need a president who prioritizes the nation over party interests and personal gain. We need a leader with empathy, someone who unites rather than divides, and who promotes compromise instead of hatred.
See you at the polls on Saturday.
Early Bird Movie Pass Access to all the 2025 festival movies are available here. Visit SPFF website to get the latest news about this year festival.
Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago is a monumental work that exposes the brutal realities of the Soviet labor camps. Through harrowing personal accounts and meticulous research, he illuminates the oppressive system that crushed countless lives. It’s a compelling and essential read that continues to resonate.
Competition is open to all artists. Posters may be created in any media, but must be submitted electronically. Entries will be judged on their originality and artistic merit. The poster design should capture the essence of Polish/American cinema.
Submissions are now being accepted until 7/2/2025 for the 33rd Annual Seattle Polish Film Festival Poster. Be creative. Have fun. Win $250.
„Biedroneczko leć do nieba, przynieś mi kawałek chleba”
As a child, I whispered this gentle, magical plea to a ladybug whenever I saw one. I counted dots on the red wings to check my luck – seven were the most desired number. If possible, I carefully lifted boża krówka (“God’s little cow”) onto my hand with a blade of grass or a leaf, marveling at the soft tickle of her tiny feet on my palm. I observed her, and when the moment felt right, I raised my hand and blew lightly to encourage her to fly to heaven and bring me a piece of bread.
Like many Polish immigrants, I have a deep fondness for Polish bread. Each time I move to a new location, my first mission is to find stores that carry rye bread. There’s nothing quite like a fresh, warm loaf of rye bread. American wheat bread often feels bland, lacking flavor and filled with unnecessary additives. Polish rye bread, by contrast, is made simply from whole rye flour and water, offering an incredible taste and maintaining its freshness for many days.
After years living in Seattle, I have yet to find good rye bread, which led me to start baking it myself. In this issue, I will share a recipe and some stories about Polish rye sourdough bread. If you have a better recipe or know a place that makes and sells quality bread, please let us know.
GiveBIG 2025 concluded yesterday, but the website is still accepting donations. If you missed the event, you can still show your support and appreciation. This year’s fundraiser exceeded our wildest expectations, reaching 98% of our goal. Amazing! We are humbled by and grateful for your generosity. Thank you so much!
If you have a business or know someone who has a business and would like to advertise it to close to 2000 members of our community, please contact the editor.
„Tajemnica bułeczek Bollego” i inne historie z cyklu „Tappi i przyjaciele” – czyli o tym, jak dobre bułeczki mogą zmienić świat na lepsze
Few things evoke the essence of Polish home cooking like the rich aroma of freshly baked rye sourdough bread, or chleb żytni na zakwasie. This dense, tangy bread has nourished generations, carrying with it the deep flavors of tradition, patience, and natural fermentation. Unlike modern yeast-based breads, this one requires time, a living starter, and a touch of rustic spirit.
Seattle Polish Film Festival will be giving away two tickets to the opening of the Seattle International Film Festival. Everyone who buys an Early Bird SPFF pass between May 1st and May 12th will be entered into a lottery to win 2 SIFF Opening Night tickets.
George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” is a political allegory where farm animals overthrow their human owner, aiming for equality but end up under a more oppressive regime led by the pigs. It’s an allegory of the Russian Revolution, critiquing the corruption of power.
May 3 is one of the most important holidays in the Polish calendar. The Constitution Day of May 3 commemorates the adoption of the first constitution in Europe and the second in the world in 1791. More about the history of this holiday in this article.
The national flag of Poland (Polish: flaga Polski) consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width: white on the top and red on the bottom in 5:8 proportion. These two colors, formally recognized in the Polish constitution as the national colors, have a long and storied history tied deeply to Polish identity and heritage.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Adam Kubicki. Adam was a resident of Shoreline, Washington who passed away on Monday, March 31, 2025. He was only 45 years of age. Although cut short his time with us will be remembered.
Services for Adam will be handled by Sunset Hills Funeral Home, 1215 145th PL SE May 2nd at 1pm.
GiveBIG 2025 culminates on May 6-7. So far the response from our subscribers was phenomenal and we’ve already reached 30% of our goal. Thank you so much.
May 1st, 2nd and 3rd are big holidays in Poland. More about the history of these holidays below.
PS: don’t forget to register for the presidential elections before May 13. You can do it online at https://ewybory.msz.gov.pl
Seattle Polish Film Festival is cooperating with SIFF promoting two Polish/Polish connected films. The first one is “Under the Volcano”, in which a Ukrainian family on vacation in the Canary Islands suddenly find themselves stranded upon Russia’s invasion of their home country, sending them into fits of desperation and introspection as they wander the beaches speculating what comes next.
The other one is “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass”, in which the Brothers Quay spin another fantastical stop motion yarn with the surreal story inspired by the work of Polish writer Bruno Schulz, about a young man on a ghostly train ride toward a sanitorium that may exist out of time and space.
The tradition of the May holiday is a beautiful example of how old customs and modern customs can interpenetrate and complement each other. The celebration of May is a great opportunity to celebrate spring, work, family and friendship. It is worth cultivating this tradition and enjoying it, remembering its deep meaning and historical roots. We have more about this tradition below.
May is the month of the GiveBIG fundraiser, the largest in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about this year’s fundraisers and causes organized by the Seattle Polish Foundation.
We, the Seattle Polish News volunteers, also ask for your help. A one-dollar donation from each subscriber would cover our annual costs. If you enjoy this newsletter, please show your support.
Z okazji Dnia Ziemi chciałabym zachęcić do przyjrzenia się bliżej dwóm niezwykłym tytułom autorstwa Piotra Sochy i Wojciecha Grajkowskiego – “Pszczoły” oraz “Drzewa”. To książki, które zachwycają nie tylko formą, ale i treścią – i to czytelników w każdym wieku. Wielkoformatowe, pięknie zilustrowane, pełne wiedzy i artystycznego uroku, są prawdziwym
Czesław Miłosz’s Issa Valley is a semi-autobiographical novel set in early 20th-century Poland, in a region historically part of Lithuania. It follows the life of Thomas Dilbin, a young boy living with his grandparents in a rural valley. The story captures his journey from childhood to adolescence, exploring themes of
May is coming, and with it, fond memories of “majówka” — May picnics that have become a symbol of spring in full bloom, wonderful relaxation, and a preview of summer holidays. The long May weekend is one of the most anticipated times of the year in Poland. It’s usually the first opportunity in the calendar year for a vacation getaway.