'Hanysy' and their region

by Aleksandra Józefczuk
Gimnazjum nr 2 im. św. Walentego w Bieruniu

Bieruń is in Silesia, which is quite dissimilar to the rest of Poland. In Silesia people celebrate birthday but in the rest of Poland name day, but they are Gorole, we are Hanysy.
And we’ve got the coal –our blessing and course.





    The deep differences are caused by history of this land, which belonged to Czech Republic and Germany. This land wasn’t Polish for decades, my great-grand father took notes in German and couldn’t count in Polish at all. One of my great-grandfathers was a Silesian insurgent (he wanted to be a Pole) and the second had to be a German soldier. The nature of this land and its people is very complicated, enriched by the variety and that is why it’s so unique.

Nikiszowiec

    The second factor which formed this region, beside the political dependence, is the coal. In Silesia, there are many coal mines, thanks to extremely hard and dirty work, people in Silesia had money and good social conditions – over one hundred years ago coal miners lived in familoki (blocks of flats built with red brick). Silesians think that one of such estates Nikiszowiec should be on the UNESCO list. When a coal miner was coming home, he had a bath and had to change his clothes, then there was a family dinner, housewives took good care of the house and children; everything was really clean. People were helpful and they knew each other very well on the estate. But it was for those who kept to certain rules, religion and hierarchy. Respect for the older was very important. The work at the coal was extremely dangerous, exhausting and stressful – only for though people. On the one hand foremen were addressing the labourers in vulgar way, but on the other hand everyone greeted each other with God bless. When the death was so close, the faith in God was crucial. Though coalminers gave all the money to their wives, they gave them a little back for beer in a bar with friends, so they could relax a bit.

Communism has changed Silesia again – the heavy engineering was crucial, the price of development of coal industry was high – the degradation of the environment. More modern coalmines needed many hands to work – people from all Poland moved to Silesia, some of them were looking for money, better life, some just wanted to escape from obligatory army services. Those who come from Poland are called Gorole – it’s quite like Spanish gringo. Hanysy – Silesians made fun of them, as they couldn’t speak local dialect.

For many people who love travelling discovering the local cuisine is an inseparable part of visiting a new region. Silesian dishes are affected by history, climate and coal. Coalminers who worked their fingers to the bone, could afford expensive beef,  but generally they ate greasy and heavy meals. Nowadays, many Silesians can’t imagine a wedding reception, a christening or even Sunday dinner without broth with noodles, beef rolls, dumplings and red cabbage. Everyday dishes were much more frugal - bread soup or soup made from fermented rye flour - żur were eaten for breakfast. Among other well known local specialties, there are also - bread with lord, sauerkraut or blood sausage. Housewives baked their own bread and kołocz – a yeast cake with cheese, poppy seeds or fruit. 
It’s not an easy task to describe this part of Europe in a few words – as there are more aspects that should be taken into consideration – even the language –  our dialect has got more in common with Old-Polish language from 15th century than with contemporary Polish.
Everything that makes us different from the other regions  – enriches Polish culture, we appreciate it and we are proud of being Hanysy.
   
Links:
http://www.national-geographic.pl/ludzie/czesc-pracy-krotka-historia-slaskiej-doli
 https://www.katowice.eu/PublishingImages/miasto/o-mie%C5%9Bcie/informacje-o-mie%C5%9Bcie/historia-miasta/historia-nikiszowca/nikiszowiec_foto_monika_winkler.jpg
http://culture.pl/sites/default/files/images/imported/KUCHNIA/KLUSKI/full_kluski_ag_1_770.jpg