As someone who occasionally writes about legends of not-mine cultures, I proactively keep myself in check by reading writings about my culture from the perspective of well-meaning outsiders. Witnessing the scale of confabulation in Western "Polish folklore" books keeps me sharp.
I'm currently reading a book on Polish customs written by a Polish-American woman who obviously cares deeply about her family's heritage. But I can tell no Polish person has read this ahead of publishing.
Feb 6, 2026 11:56We have this old-time greeting, traditionally said around Christmas and New Year's Eve: "Do siego roku!" - "To this/next/coming year!" as in: we wish you to survive the next couple of days, until the new year comes.
Don't question it, we have a weird sense of humor.
Alas.
The author of this lovely book was told something else and didn't bother to ask anyone to confirm.
"Once, a very long time ago, there lived in Krakow a very worthy and religious woman by the name of Dosia. She lived to be over a hundred years old, and was always healthy, happy and charitable."
"She died exactly on Christmas Eve; tears and lamentations for her lasted till the end of the year. So strong was her influence that upon seeing one another on New Year’s Eve, people would say “Zycze ci Dosiego roku,” or “Wishing you a Dosia year,” that is, live as long and successfully as Dosia."
All that to say: for the love of all that's printed, get a cultural consultant or a specialized editor if you want to talk about somebody else's stories ex cathedra.
