The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POLISH WEDDING CUSTOM

MY FATHER, SECOND GENERATION IRISH, WAS QUITE
SURPRISED WHEN HE AND MY MOTHER RETURNED TO MY
POLISH GRANDMOTHER'S HOME AFTER MY PARENT'S
WEDDING CEREMONY AT CHURCH. A BAND WAS PLAYING IN
FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND MY GRANDMOTHER WAS WAITING JUST
INSIDE THE DOOR. IN ONE HAND SHE HELD A CRUCIFIX, IN
THE OTHER A LOAF OF BREAD. AS THE COUPLE ENTERED
THE VESTIBULE, MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED THEM TO CHOOSE
EITHER THE CRUCIFIX OR THE BREAD. MY FATHER, OF COURSE,
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND POLISH BUT HE GOT THE IDEA ANYWAY.
HE AND MY MOTHER CHOSE THE CRUCIFIX. MY MOTHER SAID
THE CUSTOM WAS MERELY SYMBOLIC AND NOBODY EVER CHOSE
THE BREAD. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS CUSTOM BEING
PERFORMED AMONG MY POLISH COUSINS OF MY GENERATION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: 02-20-1967