#beyond the phrase 'you can always tell the Dutch but cant tell em much'

[obsidiannebula]

My dad said something a few weeks ago that's been rattling around in my brain ever since.

See, he always said we were Polish. I knew that my grandfather's grandparents were Polish immigrants. My eldest aunt on that side put together a family genealogy a while back, and I saw their names in there. But I never felt like we were connected to that heritage, beyond eating kielbasa regularly.

Then the other day my dad was watching Backyardigans with my daughter, and I came in while they watched the "Polka Palace Party" episode. And my dad told me that when his family attended Polish weddings as a kid, they would dance the polka. He said he couldn't remember the steps anymore, but wished he did.

Until that moment, I never really grasped how close I was to an actual cultural heritage. A culture my dad had participated in within his lifetime that my brothers and I knew almost nothing about.

At the library the other day I found a book of Polish traditions and folklore, so now I'm learning more about my ancestors' customs! I also taught myself to read the Polish alphabet. And I'm getting a Polish word of the day in my inbox. I can now say useful things like "kettle" and "the fork is on the dirty plate." I'm so handy to have around, I know.

I also messaged my aforementioned aunt after the library visit to ask her if she knew anymore. She said she could teach me to dance the polka! But she ALSO said that there was a festival later in the year that had been very important when they were growing up, and where it's held our ancestors actually helped found a Catholic church! So now me and L and my dad and my aunt are going to go on a family heritage trip later this year!

I'm just so excited to connect more deeply to my family, both living and dead