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October is Polish Heritage Month

Poland Traditions & Interest

Tim Firkowski

Wednesday, 01 October 2014

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October is Polish Heritage month. Celebrate your Polish Heritage! Many Poles and Polish American groups celebrate this month to remember the contributions that Poles have made to this country. Beginning in 1981 Polish Americans have set October to celebrate.

The beginning of the largest immigration of Poles took place in the late 1800s, but it really all began in 1608 when the London Company hired some skilled craftsman from Poland to work in Jamestown, VA.

Poles have been a part of America's history and culture before it became a country and there were two immigrants named Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko that were leaders in the military during our Revolutionary War, which helped establish the independence of the United States of America.

More than one million Poles immigrated to the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today there are an estimated 10 million plus Polish Americans that make up about 3.2% of the populations here in the U.S. Polish Americans are the largest ethnic group of Slavic origin in the United States. Most Poles settled in the Midwest and Northeast but can be found in many areas of the States.

Poles are a proud and perseverant people and have struggled and succeeded against adversity throughout history. They have a fierce love for their independence as history shows during invasions of kings and conquers moved across Europe through Poland, which was in a poor geopolitical position. Poland survived invasions, the Holocaust and became a strong force in Eastern Europe after domination by the former communist Russia.

This year marks the 33rd Anniversary of the founding of Polish American Heritage Month set in October because in part, it is the month that General Casimir Pulaski died. This event began in Philadelphia, PA, and became a national celebration of Polish history, culture and pride. Let's all join Polish American organizations, schools, churches, libraries, and cultural groups throughout the United States in celebrating Polish American Heritage Month.

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About the author

Tim Firkowski

I have been doing genealogy research since 2002 & have worked full time as a Professional Genealogist since 2008. I specialize in Polish and American-Canadian Genealogy. As a member of APG, I was the 2010/2011 President of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (NEAPG). I have Certificates of Completion for studies in "Foundations of Forensic Genealogy" and "Advanced Forensic Genealogy Techniques". I have been a volunteer librarian at the local Family History Center, and a genealogy research consultant at “Ask the Expert” Ancestry Road Shows. I have traveled to Poland numerous times & researched in churches and archives. At conferences and special events, you may find me dressed up in my Sherlock Holmes outfit, or my Kujawy (the folk costume from the region in Poland where my ancestors came from).