Young Poles disinterested in politics, Zakopane introduces a pound, and Polis people experiment with their Christmas dishes.
Press reviewed by Alicja Baczynska
Young people no longer discuss current affairs and politics like their parents had done when they were their age, writes Gazeta Wyborcza. The twenty-somethings are aware of their power as voters, and are capable of uniting under a common cause such as ousting a disfavoured politician or party. But that’s as far as things go, as apart from such situations, they are disinterested in politics in general, writes the paper. Also, they believe there is no such thing as the common good. Ninety percent of them state they don’t have any moral responsibilities towards their country, region or city, as opposed to commitments towards their families, 79 percent stating so. For most of the respondents buying driving license or shunning paying taxes is not an option. They are, however, more divided in the case of cheating on exams, downloading music and movies illegally from the internet or paying the TV and radio license fee, writes the paper.
Popular mountain resort Zakopane has introduced a new currency, writes daily Polska. The Zakopane pound, worth 10 zlotys, a little over 2 euros, is accepted at 50 retail outlets throughout the town. The new tourist attraction serves only as a voucher –and so change is naturally given in zlotys. Only until 4 January will customers be able to pay with the new currency, as later on it will be solely treated a souvenir or collector’s item. Yet the city mayor has taken to the idea, and has already announced that the Zakopane pound will come back in the summer, adding that the council will try to make the currency respected in the entire town.
Sushi, caviar, and squid – are this year’s newcomers on the Christmas table, writes Dziennik. The newspaper claims Poles like to experiment with their food, yet they tend to make room for the more creative dishes, rather than leave out the more traditional ones. Restaurant owners state that this inclination towards exotic food manifests itself predominantly at Christmas parties at work, but innovations creep into Poles’ houses as well. And so carp is replaced by pike perch or salmon, and meat is served in the form of cold meats, and venison or wild boar pate. This is not meant to sabotage tradition, but to play with it a little, says a food critic quoted by the paper.
As many as 20 percent of Polish immigrants living in Britain will chose to spend Christmas there, writes Rzeczpospolita. Steep prices of airplane and bus tickets have left them looking for the Polish feel of Christmas abroad, with Christmas Eve feasts offered at one of London’s parishes and several Polish cultural centers. Yet others have opted for a trip to exotic countries, which is often cheaper than a two-way journey to their homeland, writes the daily.
Rzeczpospolita has also published the findings of a recent survey on Poles’ attitude towards Christmas as a day off. A whopping 84 percent of the respondents believe the 24 December should be a holiday, and most of them would gladly swap it with Labour Day celebrated on the 1st of May. Polish politicians are divided on the subject, with supporters claiming that they would prefer to spend the day with the family, and not the boss. Those opposed to the idea, believe it’s a time of a kind and friendly atmosphere at work. Chances are slim that it will be proclaimed a holiday, but there is also another option, and that is not going to work on Christmas Eve and working it off on some weekend, but that solution solely depends on the employer, writes the daily.