How people in Poland celebrate it

• he lived in Galilee
( present-day Israel )
• a Christian apostle, a brother of Saint
Peter
• his occupation was a fisherman
• he is the patron saint of Scotland,
Greece and Russia

• the holiday is celebrated on the night of the 29th through the 30th of November
• on this day there should be a fun night party combined with some fortune telling
• the habit of fortune telling in Polish is called briefly Andrzejki
• the main purpose of Andrzejki is to predict the future of an unmarried girl, especially her prospects for a good marriage

• There are lots of games/fortunes that are typical for this day in Poland
• Here are some traditional games that are still played during the Andrzejki:

• hot melted wax is poured through the hole in a key into a bowl of cold water
• in the past not a usual key was used to this ritual but a key from door in the church was the best
• hardened wax is held up to the light and the future is guessed from its shadow cast on the wall
• the lights are usually off (except the light of the candle), which adds to an unusual atmosphere of this evening

• heart or man
= love
• star
= fortune and happy life
• flower
= nice surprise
• ring
= engagement
• owl or fox
= danger

• shoes of all the girls are arranged in a straight line at the back of the room (each girl takes off just one shoe)
• the girl whose shoe is at the end takes it and moves it to the front of the line
• all the girls take turn to move their shoes towards the door
• the girl whose shoe would first cross the doorstep would be married first

• all the girls are gathered in the middle of the room
• each of them throws their left shoe towards the door
• if the shoe falls down facing the door , it means fast wedding

• each participating girl peels an apple so the entire skin comes off in a single strand
• she then flings the unbroken peel over her shoulder
• the peel often lands on the floor and assumes the shape of a letter which is said to indicate the name of her future fiancé or husband
• if the peel does not resemble any letter, that means the peel-tosser will not get engaged for some time

• for this game either
7 or 13 pins are needed
• the pins are placed in a cup and shaken well before thrown on the table
• the letter formed by the pins is then read

• A – trip
• E – happiness in love or in work
• H – marriage
• K – success in work
• L – be careful
• T – help of friends
• V – somebody wants to use you
• W – be afraid, cheater
• X – happiness

• date of birth must be expressed as one number
• the final number will be the total sum of all the individual numbers
For example:
21.01.1990 =
2+1+0+1+1+9+9+0= 23
2+3=5

• 1 = ambitiuos
• 2 = gentle
• 3 = trustworthy
• 4 = obstinate and sentimental
• 5 = cheerful
• 6 = sociable
• 7 = romantic
• 8 = underestimated
• 9 = independent

• the bowl is filled with water with a candle floating in the middle
• pieces of paper with male first names are put on the edges of the bowl
• the first burnt paper piece indicates the name of the future husband

• girls and unmarried women put pieces of paper ( with the names of the boys they fancy ) under the pillow
• the first thing in the morning they take out one piece of paper
• the name on the paper reveals the name of the future husband

• three cups are flipped upside down to cover marriage ring, small cross and a piece of green plant
• girls choose one cup which indicates their future fate:
• the ring - the marriage
• the cross - life as a nun in monastery
• the green plant - the unmarried life

• when the dusk comes, you should listen to the dog barking from this direction the future husband will come

• try to remember your dream at St.
Andrew ´s night - if you see a man in a dream - this might be your future husband
• look at the water reflection in a well or in the mirror at midnight to see his face

Try some or all of the above games at your late-November gettogether and see how much fun you and your group may have been missing.
If you’re attending an
Andzejki dance, do not be surprised to see everyone engaged in a little fortune telling as a part of the celebration.