Editing Poland (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Poland}}
[[File:Sigismund's Chapel 01 AB.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Coat of arms of Poland|Polish White Eagle]] is Poland's enduring [[National symbols of Poland|national and cultural symbol]].]]
The culture of Poland is closely connected with its intricate 1,000-year [[History of Poland|history]], and forms an important constituent in the [[Western world|Western civilisation]].<ref>Adam Zamoyski, The Polish Way: A Thousand Year History of the Poles and Their Culture. Published 1993, Hippocrene Books, Poland, {{ISBN|978-0-7818-0200-0}}</ref> The Poles take great pride in their national identity which is often associated with the colours white and red, and exuded by the expression ''biało-czerwoni'' ("whitereds").<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biało-Czerwoni – definicja, synonimy, przykłady użycia |url=https://sjp.pwn.pl/slowniki/Bia%C5%82o-Czerwoni.html |website=sjp.pwn.pl}}</ref> National symbols, chiefly the crowned [[white-tailed eagle]], are often visible on clothing, insignia and emblems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jakubowska |first=Longina |year=1990 |title=Political Drama in Poland: The Use of National Symbols |journal=[[Anthropology Today]] |publisher=[[Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland]] |volume=6 |pages=10–13 |doi=10.2307/3032734 |jstor=3032734 |number=4}}</ref> The architectural monuments of great importance are protected by the [[National Heritage Board of Poland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zabytki nieruchome |url=https://www.nid.pl/pl/Dla_specjalistow/Badania_i_dokumentacja/zabytki-nieruchome/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707164736/https://www.nid.pl/pl/Dla_specjalistow/Badania_i_dokumentacja/zabytki-nieruchome/ |archive-date=7 July 2020 |access-date=7 July 2020 |website=www.nid.pl}}</ref> Over 100 of the country's most significant tangible wonders were enlisted onto the [[List of Historic Monuments (Poland)|Historic Monuments Register]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Album "100 pomników historii" |url=https://www.nid.pl/pl/Dla_wlascicieli_i_zarzadcow/Aktualnosci/news.php?ID=4114 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708061315/https://www.nid.pl/pl/Dla_wlascicieli_i_zarzadcow/Aktualnosci/news.php?ID=4114 |archive-date=8 July 2020 |access-date=7 July 2020 |website=www.nid.pl}}</ref> with further 17 being recognised by [[UNESCO]] as World Heritage Sites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Poland |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pl |access-date=29 July 2021 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref>

=== Holidays and traditions ===
{{see also|Christmas in Poland}}
[[File:Celebración de Todos los Santos, cementerio de la Santa Cruz, Gniezno, Polonia, 2017-11-01, DD 10-12 HDR.jpg|thumb|left|[[All Saints' Day]] on 1 November is one of the most important public holidays in Poland.]]

There are 13 government-approved annual public holidays – New Year on 1 January, [[Epiphany (holiday)|Three Kings' Day]] on 6 January, [[Easter Sunday]] and [[Easter Monday]], [[International Workers' Day|Labour Day]] on 1 May, [[3 May Constitution Day|Constitution Day]] on 3 May, [[Pentecost]], [[Feast of Corpus Christi|Corpus Christi]], [[Assumption of Mary|Feast of the Assumption]] on 15 August, [[All Saints' Day]] on 1 November, [[Independence Day (Poland)|Independence Day]] on 11 November and Christmastide on 25 and 26 December.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 19 grudnia 2014 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o dniach wolnych od pracy |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20150000090 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref>

Particular traditions and superstitious customs observed in Poland are not found elsewhere in Europe. Though Christmas Eve (''[[Wigilia]]'') is not a public holiday, it remains the most memorable day of the entire year. [[Christmas trees|Trees]] are decorated on 24 December, hay is placed under the tablecloth to resemble Jesus' [[manger]], [[Christmas wafer]]s (''opłatek'') are shared between gathered guests and a [[Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper|twelve-dish meatless supper]] is served that same evening when the [[Star of Bethlehem|first star]] appears.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opłatek i pierwsza gwiazdka czyli wigilijne tradycje |url=http://wegorzewo.wm.pl/407437,Oplatek-i-pierwsza-gwiazdka-czyli-wigilijne-tradycje.html |website=wegorzewo.wm.pl}}</ref> An empty plate and seat are symbolically left at the table for an unexpected guest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Do Poles Leave One Chair Empty on Christmas Eve? |url=https://culture.pl/en/article/why-do-poles-leave-one-chair-empty-on-christmas-eve |website=Culture.pl}}</ref> On occasion, [[Christmas carols|carolers]] journey around smaller towns with a folk [[Turoń]] creature until the [[Lent]] period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=turoń – słownik języka polskiego i poradnia językowa – Dobry słownik |url=https://dobryslownik.pl/slowo/turo%C5%84/57454/ |website=DobrySłownik.pl}}</ref>

A widely-popular [[pączki|doughnut]] and sweet pastry feast occurs on [[Fat Thursday]], usually 52 days prior to Easter.<ref name="Borodo 2020">{{Cite book |last=Borodo |first=Michał |url={{GBurl|id=eUrSDwAAQBAJ|q=t%C5%82usty+czwartek|p=112}} |title=English Translations of Korczak's Children's Fiction: A Linguistic Perspective |date=22 February 2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-38117-2 |via=Google Books}}</ref> [[Easter egg|Eggs]] for [[Easter Sunday|Holy Sunday]] are painted and placed in decorated [[święconka|baskets]] that are previously blessed by clergymen in churches on [[Easter Saturday]]. Easter Monday is celebrated with pagan ''[[śmigus-dyngus|dyngus]]'' festivities, where the youth is engaged in water fights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Śmigus-Dyngus: Poland's National Water Fight Day |url=https://culture.pl/en/article/smigus-dyngus-polands-national-water-fight-day |website=Culture.pl}}</ref><ref name="Borodo 2020" /> Cemeteries and graves of the deceased are annually visited by family members on All Saints' Day; tombstones are cleaned as a sign of respect and candles are lit to honour the dead on an unprecedented scale.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2018 |title=Summer in Warsaw &#124; Things You Can Do Only in Summer |url=https://www.xperiencepoland.com/all-saints-day-poland/}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Poland}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| image1            = Frederic Chopin photo.jpeg
| width1            = 147
| alt1              = Frédéric Chopin
| caption1          = [[Frédéric Chopin]] was a renowned classical composer and virtuoso pianist.
| image2            = Optreden Arthur Rubinstein in Concertgebouw, Bestanddeelnr 913-5228.jpg
| width2            = 139
| alt2              = Artur Rubinstein
| caption2          = [[Arthur Rubinstein|Artur Rubinstein]] was one of the greatest concert pianists of the 20th century.
}}

Artists from Poland, including famous musicians such as [[Frédéric Chopin]], [[Artur Rubinstein]], [[Ignacy Jan Paderewski]], [[Krzysztof Penderecki]], [[Henryk Wieniawski]], [[Karol Szymanowski]], [[Witold Lutosławski]], [[Stanisław Moniuszko]] and traditional, regionalised [[folk music|folk composers]] create a lively and diverse music scene, which even recognises its own music genres, such as [[sung poetry]] and [[disco polo]].<ref>{{Cite book |url={{GBurl|id=T2YLEAAAQBAJ}} |title=Individuals and Their Social Context |date=31 December 2018 |publisher=Institute of Political Studies Polish Academy of Sciences |isbn=978-83-65972-34-7 |location=Poland |page=160}}</ref>

The origins of Polish music can be traced to the 13th century; manuscripts have been found in [[Stary Sącz]] containing [[polyphony|polyphonic]] compositions related to the Parisian [[Notre Dame School]]. Other early compositions, such as the melody of ''[[Bogurodzica]]'' and ''[[God Is Born]]'' (a coronation [[Polonaise (dance)|polonaise tune]] for Polish kings by an unknown composer), may also date back to this period, however, the first known notable composer, [[Mikołaj z Radomia|Nicholas of Radom]], lived in the 15th century. [[Diomedes Cato]], a native-born Italian who lived in Kraków, became a renowned lutenist at the court of Sigismund III; he not only imported some of the musical styles from southern Europe but blended them with native folk music.<ref name="The Music Courts of the Polish Vasas" />

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Polish baroque composers wrote [[liturgical music]] and secular compositions such as concertos and [[sonata]]s for voices or instruments. At the end of the 18th century, Polish classical music evolved into national forms like the [[polonaise]]. [[Wojciech Bogusławski]] is accredited with composing the first Polish national opera, titled ''[[:pl:Krakowiacy i Górale|Krakowiacy i Górale]]'', which premiered in 1794.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wolff |first=Larry |url={{GBurl|id=tgjQYHn7BTkC}} |title=The Idea of Galicia; History and Fantasy in Habsburg Political Culture |date=9 January 2012 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-7429-1 |page=57}}</ref>

{{Listen
| header      = '''[[Fryderyk Chopin]]'''
| filename    = Frederic Chopin - mazurka no. 4 in a minor, op. 17.ogg
| title       = Mazurka no. 4 in a minor, op. 17
| description = [[Mazurka]] ({{langx|pl|mazurek}}), stylised [[folk dance]] in [[triple meter]] (1832), commemorating the [[November Uprising]]
| help        = no
| pos         = left
}}

Poland today has an active music scene, with the jazz and metal genres being particularly popular among the contemporary populace. Polish jazz musicians such as [[Krzysztof Komeda]] created a unique style, which was most famous in the 1960s and 1970s and continues to be popular to this day. Poland has also become a major venue for large-scale music festivals, chief among which are the [[Pol'and'Rock Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7791/Artykul/3014515,Pol%E2%80%99and%E2%80%99Rock-Polands-biggest-music-fest-kicks-off |title=Pol'and'Rock: Poland's biggest music fest kicks off |website=polskieradio.pl |date=4 August 2022 |access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref> [[Open'er Festival]], [[Opole Festival]] and [[Sopot Festival]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guillain |first=Charlotte |url={{GBurl|id=PlF8Xr90I1cC}} |title=Poland |date=2012 |publisher=Raintree |isbn=978-1-4062-2826-7 |page=29}}</ref>

=== Art ===
{{Main|Art in Poland|Young Poland}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| image1            = Matejko Self-portrait.jpg
| width1            = 135
| alt1              = Jan Matejko
| caption1          = [[Jan Matejko]], leading Polish [[history painting|history painter]] whose works depict Poland's heritage and key historical events
| image2            = Lady with an Ermine - Leonardo da Vinci (adjusted levels).jpg
| width2            = 150
| alt2              = Lady with an Ermine
| caption2          = ''[[Lady with an Ermine]]'' (1490) by [[Leonardo da Vinci]] is displayed in the [[Czartoryski Museum]] in Kraków.
}}
Art in Poland has invariably reflected [[Art of Europe|European]] trends, with Polish painting pivoted on [[folklore]], [[Catholic art|Catholic themes]], [[History painting|historicism]] and [[Realism (arts)|realism]], but also on [[Impressionism]] and [[Romanticism in Poland|romanticism]]. An important art movement was [[Young Poland]], developed in the late 19th century for promoting [[Decadent movement|decadence]], [[Symbolism (arts)|symbolism]] and [[Art Nouveau]]. Since the 20th century Polish documentary art and photography has enjoyed worldwide fame, especially the [[Polish School of Posters]].<ref name="MFA" /> One of the most distinguished paintings in Poland is ''[[Lady with an Ermine]]'' (1490) by [[Leonardo da Vinci]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lady with an Ermine – by Leonardo Da Vinci |url=https://www.leonardodavinci.net/lady-with-an-ermine.jsp |website=LeonardoDaVinci.net}}</ref>

Internationally renowned Polish artists include [[Jan Matejko]] (historicism), [[Jacek Malczewski]] (symbolism), [[Stanisław Wyspiański]] (art nouveau), [[Henryk Siemiradzki]] (Roman [[academic art]]), [[Tamara de Lempicka]] ([[art deco]]), and [[Zdzisław Beksiński]] (dystopian [[surrealism]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cross |first=Mary |url={{GBurl|id=QYHwLta1SooC|p=47}} |title=Madonna: A Biography |date=31 August 2017 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-33811-3 |page=47 |access-date=31 August 2017 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Several Polish artists and sculptors were also acclaimed representatives of [[avant-garde]], [[Constructivism (art)|constructivist]], [[Minimalism|minimalist]] and contemporary art movements, including [[Katarzyna Kobro]], [[Władysław Strzemiński]], [[Magdalena Abakanowicz]], [[Alina Szapocznikow]], [[Igor Mitoraj]] and [[Wilhelm Sasnal]].

Notable art academies in Poland include the [[Kraków Academy of Fine Arts]], [[Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw]], [[Art Academy of Szczecin]], [[University of Fine Arts in Poznań]] and the [[Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts|Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław]]. Contemporary works are exhibited at [[Zachęta]], [[Ujazdów Castle|Ujazdów]], and [[MOCAK, Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków|MOCAK]] art galleries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarzyński |first=Piotr |date=12 February 2013 |title=Ranking polskich galerii ze współczesną sztuką |url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kultura/1535435,1,ranking-polskich-galerii-ze-wspolczesna-sztuka.read |access-date=4 May 2021 |website=www.polityka.pl |language=pl}}</ref>

=== Architecture ===
{{main|Architecture of Poland}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| image1            = St Mary's Krakow.jpg
| width1            = 152
| alt1              = Saint Mary's Church in Kraków
| caption1          = [[St. Mary's Basilica, Kraków|St. Mary's Basilica]] on the [[Main Market Square, Kraków|Main Market Square]] in [[Kraków]] is an example of [[Brick Gothic]] architecture.
| image2            = Ayuntamiento, Poznan, Polonia, 2014-09-18, DD 67-72 HDR.jpg
| width2            = 133
| alt2              = Poznań City Hall
| caption2          = The 16th-century [[Poznań Town Hall|City Hall]] of [[Poznań]] illustrates the [[Renaissance in Poland|Renaissance]] style.
}}

The [[architecture of Poland]] reflects [[Architecture of Europe|European architectural]] styles, with strong historical influences derived from [[Architecture of Italy|Italy]], [[Architecture of Germany|Germany]], and the [[Low Countries]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Facca |first1=Danilo |url={{GBurl|id=-VhTDAAAQBAJ|dq=polish+architecture++italy+germany|p=16}} |title=Polish culture in the Renaissance: studies in the arts, humanism and political thought |last2=Lepri |first2=Valentina |date=2013 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-88-6655-489-9 |location=Firenze |pages=14–16}}</ref> Settlements founded on [[Magdeburg rights|Magdeburg Law]] evolved around [[Town square|central marketplaces]] (''plac'', ''rynek''), encircled by a grid or [[Concentric objects|concentric]] network of streets forming an [[old town]] (''stare miasto'').<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magocsi |first=Paul Robert |url={{GBurl|id=p-d_DwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+central+squares+magdeburg|p=37}} |title=Historical Atlas of Central Europe – 3rd Edition |date=2018 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-1-4875-2331-2 |location=Toronto |page=37}}</ref> Poland's traditional landscape is characterised by ornate churches, [[Kamienica (architecture)|city tenements]] and [[Ratusz|town halls]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Karczmarzyk |first=Włodzimierz |url={{GBurl|id=fWlZAAAAIAAJ|q=cities+of+poland+kamienica+churches+town+halls}} |title=Views of Polish towns |date=1990 |publisher=Interpress |isbn=83-223-2392-1 |location=Warsaw (Warszawa) |page=30}}</ref> [[Cloth hall|Cloth hall markets]] (''sukiennice'') were once an abundant feature of Polish urban architecture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Szolginia |first=Witold |title=Architektura |date=1992 |publisher=Sigma NOT |isbn=978-83-85001-89-8 |location=Warsaw |page=152}}</ref> The mountainous south is known for its [[Zakopane Style|Zakopane chalet style]], which originated in Poland.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brockington |first=Grace |url={{GBurl|id=jDmhStoaGsEC|dq=zakopane+chalet+style+originated+in+southern|p=116}} |title=Internationalism and the Arts in Britain and Europe at the Fin de Siècle |date=2009 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=978-3-03911-128-2 |location=Bern |page=116}}</ref>

The earliest architectonic trend was [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] ({{circa}} 11th century), but its traces in the form of [[Rotunda (architecture)|circular rotundas]] are scarce.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marcinek |first=Roman |url={{GBurl|id=1LkjAQAAIAAJ|q=first+style+poland+romanesque}} |title=Poland |date=2002 |publisher=Kluszczyński |isbn=978-83-88080-42-5 |location=Kraków |pages=16, 158, 170}}</ref> The arrival of [[brick Gothic]] ({{circa}} 13th century) defined Poland's most distinguishable medieval style, exuded by the castles of [[Malbork Castle|Malbork]], [[Lidzbark Castle|Lidzbark]], [[Gniew Castle|Gniew]] and [[Kwidzyn Castle|Kwidzyn]] as well as the cathedrals of [[Gniezno Cathedral|Gniezno]], [[St. Mary's Church, Gdańsk|Gdańsk]], [[Wrocław Cathedral|Wrocław]], [[Frombork Cathedral|Frombork]] and [[St. Mary's Basilica, Kraków|Kraków]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kujawińska-Courtney |first1=Krystyna |url={{GBurl|id=txwrBwAAQBAJ|dq=brick+gothic+style+poland|p=115}} |title=European Culture in Diversity |last2=Williams |first2=Evan |date=2011 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars |isbn=978-1-4438-3295-3 |location=Newcastle |pages=115–116}}</ref> The [[Renaissance in Poland|Renaissance]] (16th century) gave rise to Italianate courtyards, defensive [[palazzo]]s and [[Sigismund's Chapel|mausoleums]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roszkowski |first=Wojciech |url={{GBurl|id=zqwSEAAAQBAJ|dq=renaissance+architecture+poland|p=45}} |title=Cultural Heritage of East Central Europe: A Historical Outline |date=2015 |publisher=Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN |isbn=978-83-64091-55-1 |location=Warsaw (Warszawa) |pages=44–46}}</ref> Decorative [[Attic (architecture)|attics]] with [[pinnacle]]s and [[arcade (architecture)|arcade]] [[loggia]]s are elements of [[Mannerist architecture|Polish Mannerism]], found in [[Poznań]], [[Lublin]] and [[Zamość]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Miłobędzki |first=Adam |url={{GBurl|id=QAMtAQAAIAAJ|q=pa%C5%82ac%20biskup%C3%B3w%20kielce%20manieryzm}} |title=The architecture of Poland: a chapter of the European heritage |date=1994 |publisher=International Cultural Centre-Międzynarodowe Centrum Kultury w Krakowie |isbn=978-83-85739-14-2 |location=Poland |pages=52–56 |language=pl}}</ref><ref name="Mikos" /> Foreign artisans often came at the expense of kings or nobles, whose palaces were built thereafter in the [[Baroque in Poland|Baroque]], [[Neoclassical architecture in Poland|Neoclassical]] and [[Revivalism (architecture)|Revivalist]] styles (17th–19th century).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stanley |first=John |year=2004 |title=Reviewed Work: Literary Activities and Attitudes in the Stanislavian Age in Poland (1764–1795): A Social System? by Jan I.J. van der Meer |journal=Canadian Slavonic Papers |volume=46 |issue=1/2 |pages=226–229 |jstor=40870954}}</ref>

Primary building materials [[Lumber|timber]] and [[brick|red brick]] were used extensively in Polish folk architecture,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rączka |first=Jan Władysław |url={{GBurl|id=zb8VAQAAIAAJ|q=architektura%20polski%20drewno%20ceg%C5%82a}} |title=Walka o polski styl narodowy w architekturze |date=2001 |publisher=Politechnika Krakowska |isbn=978-83-7242-153-1 |location=Poland |language=pl}}</ref> and the concept of a [[fortified church]] was commonplace.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dmochowski |first=Zbigniew |url={{GBurl|id=0oBQAAAAMAAJ|q=fortified+church+tradition+poland}} |title=The Architecture of Poland: An Historical Survey |date=1956 |publisher=Polish Research Centre |location=London |page=241 |oclc=636790894}}</ref> Secular structures such as [[Dwór (manor house)|''dworek'' manor houses]], [[farmhouses|farmsteads]], [[Granary|granaries]], [[Gristmill|mills]] and country [[inn]]s are still present in some regions or in open air museums (''[[Open-Air Museum|skansen]]'').<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kosmaczewska |first1=Joanna |url={{GBurl|id=U0EpEAAAQBAJ&dq=polish+manors+taverns+open+museum|pg=SA4-PA30-IA3}} |title=Tourism and Socio-Economic Transformation of Rural Areas: Evidence from Poland |last2=Poczta |first2=Walenty |date=2021 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-37738-5 |location=Milton |pages=4–30}}</ref> However, traditional construction methods faded in the early-mid 20th century due to urbanisation and the construction of [[functionalist architecture|functionalist]] [[housing estate]]s and [[residential architecture in Poland|residential areas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Centroni |first=Alessandra |url={{GBurl|id=vXJTCwAAQBAJ}} |title=Restauro e ricostruzione |date=3 January 2016 |publisher=Gangemi Editore |isbn=978-88-492-9191-9 |location=Italy |page=121}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Polish literature|History of philosophy in Poland}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| image1            = Wańkowicz Adam Mickiewicz.jpg
| width1            = 154
| alt1              = Adam Mickiewicz
| caption1          = [[Adam Mickiewicz]], whose [[Epic poetry|national epic poem]] ''[[Pan Tadeusz]]'' (1834) is considered a masterpiece of [[Polish literature]]
| image2            = Joseph Conrad, Fotografie von George Charles Beresford, 1904.jpg
| width2            = 138
| alt2              = Joseph Conrad-Korzeniowski
| caption2          = [[Joseph Conrad]], author of popular books such as ''[[Heart of Darkness]]'' (1899) and ''[[Nostromo]]'' (1904)
}}

The [[Polish literature|literary works of Poland]] have traditionally concentrated around the themes of patriotism, [[spirituality]], social [[allegory|allegories]] and moral narratives.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dyczewski |first=Leon |url={{GBurl|id=aCRm0K8Y-2sC|q=polish+literature+patriotic+morals|p=184}} |title=Values in the Polish Cultural Tradition |date=29 July 2002 |publisher=CRVP |isbn=978-1-56518-142-7 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The earliest examples of Polish literature, written in [[Latin]], date to the 12th century.<ref name="Koca 2006" /> The first [[Polish language|Polish]] phrase ''Day ut ia pobrusa, a ti poziwai'' (officially translated as "Let me, I shall grind, and you take a rest") was documented in the [[Book of Henryków]] and reflected the use of a [[quern-stone]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.ideo.pl |first=Ideo Sp. z o.o. – |title=The manuscript with the first ever sentence in Polish has {{sic|be|nolink=y}} digitalized – News – Science & Scholarship in Poland |url=http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,370714,the-manuscript-with-the-first-ever-sentence-in-polish-has-be-digitalized.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821212328/http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,370714,the-manuscript-with-the-first-ever-sentence-in-polish-has-be-digitalized.html |archive-date=21 August 2017 |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=scienceinpoland.pap.pl |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has been since included in [[Memory of the World Programme|UNESCO's Memory of World Register]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The first sentence in Polish in the UNESCO register |url=https://poland.pl/tourism/unesco-sites/first-sentence-polish-unesco-register/ |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=#Poland}}</ref> The oldest extant manuscripts of fine [[prose]] in [[Old Polish language|Old Polish]] are the [[Holy Cross Sermons]] and the [[Bible of Queen Sophia]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Polish Libraries – Wiesław Wydra: The Oldest Extant Prose Text in the Polish language. The Phenomenon of the Holy Cross Sermons. |url=http://polishlibraries.pl/article.php?a=14 |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=polishlibraries.pl}}</ref> and [[Almanach cracoviense ad annum 1474|Calendarium cracoviense]] (1474) is Poland's oldest surviving [[Printing press|print]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carter |first=F.W. |title=Trade and Urban Development in Poland: An Economic Geography of Cracow, from Its Origins to 1795 |date=2006 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-02438-9 |page=364}}</ref>

The poets [[Jan Kochanowski]] and [[Nicholas Rey]] became the first [[Renaissance in Poland|Renaissance]] authors to write in Polish.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dwujęzyczność w twórczości Jana Kochanowskiego |url=http://fp.amu.edu.pl/dwujezycznosc-w-tworczosci-jana-kochanowskiego/ |website=fp.amu.edu.pl}}</ref> Prime literarians of the period included [[Johannes Dantiscus|Dantiscus]], [[Andreus Fricius Modrevius|Modrevius]], [[Wawrzyniec Goślicki|Goslicius]], [[Matthias Sarbievius|Sarbievius]] and theologian [[John Laski]]. In the [[Polish Baroque|Baroque]] era, [[Jesuits|Jesuit philosophy]] and local culture greatly influenced the literary techniques of [[Jan Andrzej Morsztyn]] ([[Marinism]]) and [[Jan Chryzostom Pasek]] ([[Sarmatism|sarmatian]] memoirs).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Evonne Levy |url=http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520233577 |title=Propaganda and the Jesuit Baroque |date=April 2004 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-23357-7 |access-date=24 May 2017}}</ref> During the [[Polish Enlightenment|Enlightenment]], playwright [[Ignacy Krasicki]] composed the first Polish-language [[The Adventures of Mr. Nicholas Wisdom|novel]].<ref>{{Cite book |url={{GBurl|id=Ue3cAgAAQBAJ|p=166}} |title=The Encyclopedia of the Novel |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |others=Associate editors:Olakunle George, Susan Hegeman, EfraÃn Kristal |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-118-77907-1 |editor-last=Peter Melville Logan |access-date=24 May 2017 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Poland's leading 19th-century [[Romanticism in Poland|romantic poets]] were the [[Three Bards]] – [[Juliusz Słowacki]], [[Zygmunt Krasiński]] and [[Adam Mickiewicz]], whose epic poem ''[[Pan Tadeusz]]'' (1834) is a national classic.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eunice L. Blavascunas |url={{GBurl|id=ZsEzM8Gbl68C|p=98}} |title=The Peasant and Communist Past in the Making of an Ecological Region: Podlasie, Poland |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-549-65633-3 |page=98}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In the 20th century, the English [[Impressionism (literature)|impressionist]] and early [[Literary modernism|modernist]] writings of [[Joseph Conrad]] made him one of the most eminent novelists of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) Official Website |url=http://www.josephconradsociety.org/ |access-date=10 February 2016 |website=josephconradsociety.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Joseph Conrad Society of America |url=http://josephconrad.org/ |access-date=10 February 2016 |website=josephconrad.org}}</ref>

Contemporary Polish literature is versatile, with its fantasy genre having been particularly praised.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Booker |first=M. Keith |title=Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Cinema |date=2020 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-5381-3010-0 |page=261}}</ref> The philosophical [[science-fiction|sci-fi]] novel ''[[Solaris (novel)|Solaris]]'' by [[Stanisław Lem]] and ''[[The Witcher]]'' series by [[Andrzej Sapkowski]] are celebrated works of world fiction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2023 |title=O Wiedźminie i Wiedźmince |url=https://rynek-ksiazki.pl/aktualnosci/o-wiedzminie-i-wiedzmince/ |website=Rynek książki}}</ref> Poland has six [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel-Prize winning]] authors – [[Henryk Sienkiewicz]] (''[[Quo Vadis (novel)|Quo Vadis]]''; 1905), [[Władysław Reymont]] (''[[The Peasants]]''; 1924), [[Isaac Bashevis Singer]] (1978), [[Czesław Miłosz]] (1980), [[Wisława Szymborska]] (1996), and [[Olga Tokarczuk]] (2018).<ref name="Facts on the Nobel Prize in Literature" /><ref name="Gopnik 2007" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 2019 |title=Tokarczuk and Handke win Nobel Literature Prizes |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49976107}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Polish cuisine}}
[[File:Healthy-regional-dishes-1329449.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kielbasa]] sausage, a staple of Polish cuisine, with [[pickled cucumber]]s and [[rye bread]]]]

The cuisine of Poland is eclectic, with many regional varieties, sharing some similarity with other neighbouring cuisines.<ref name="Puri">{{cite book |last=Puri |first=Vinod |date=2023 |title=Science of Food Nutrition and Health |chapter=The Cuisine of Central Europe |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2m_SEAAAQBAJ&dq=polish+%22cuisine%22+similarities+german+czech&pg=PT527 |location=Chicago |publisher=Austin Macauley Publishers |isbn=9781398454125 |access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> Among the staple or regional dishes are [[pierogi]] (filled dumplings), [[kielbasa]] (sausage), [[bigos]] (hunter's stew), [[kotlet schabowy]] (breaded cutlet), [[gołąbki]] (cabbage rolls), [[borscht|barszcz]] (borscht), [[żurek]] (soured rye soup), [[oscypek]] (smoked cheese), and [[tomato soup]].<ref name="Marc Heine" /><ref name="Strybel 2003" /> [[Bagel]]s, a type of [[bread roll]], also originated in Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amanda Fiegl |date=17 December 2008 |title=A Brief History of the Bagel |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-the-bagel-49555497/ |access-date=6 May 2023 |website=smithsonianmag.com}}</ref>

Traditional dishes are hearty and abundant in pork, potatoes, eggs, cream, mushrooms, regional herbs, and sauce.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Byrd Hollar |first1=Melanie |url={{GBurl|id=_cUOEAAAQBAJ|dq=dunn+byrd+cuisine+poland|p=432}} |title=Cooking through history: a worldwide encyclopedia of food with menus and recipes |last2=Dunn |first2=John P. |date=2020 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-1-61069-456-8 |location=Santa Barbara |pages=431–432}}</ref> Polish food is characteristic for its various kinds of [[kluski]] (soft dumplings), [[soup]]s, cereals and a variety of breads and [[open sandwich]]es. Salads, including [[mizeria]] (cucumber salad), [[coleslaw]], [[sauerkraut]], carrot and [[Searing|seared beets]], are common. Meals conclude with a dessert such as [[Cheesecake|sernik]] (cheesecake), [[makowiec (pastry)|makowiec]] (poppy seed roll), or [[napoleonka]] ([[mille-feuille]]) cream pie.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Steves |first1=Rick |url={{GBurl|id=T09IDgAAQBAJ}} |title=Rick Steves Snapshot Kraków, Warsaw & Gdańsk |last2=Hewitt |first2=Cameron |date=15 August 2017 |publisher=Avalon Publishing |isbn=978-1-63121-624-4}}</ref>

Traditional alcoholic beverages include honey [[Mead in Poland|mead]], widespread since the 13th century, [[Beer in Poland|beer]], wine and [[vodka]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=gorzała – Słownik języka polskiego PWN |url=https://sjp.pwn.pl/sjp/gorzala;2462442.html |website=sjp.pwn.pl}}</ref> The world's first written mention of vodka originates from Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of vodka production, at the official page of Polish Spirit Industry Association (KRPS), 2007 |url=http://krps.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930131416/http://krps.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=27 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=18 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most popular alcoholic drinks at present are beer and wine which took over from vodka more popular in the years 1980–1998.<ref name="beverages" /> [[Grodziskie]], sometimes referred to as "Polish Champagne", is an example of a historical beer style from Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jim Hughes |date=4 February 2013 |title=Forgotten Beer Styles: Grodziskie |url=http://badassdigest.com/2013/02/04/forgotten-beer-styles-grodziskie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217050209/http://badassdigest.com/2013/02/04/forgotten-beer-styles-grodziskie |archive-date=17 February 2015 |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=badassdigest.com}}</ref> Tea remains common in Polish society since the 19th century, whilst coffee is drunk widely since the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Strybel |first1=Robert |url={{GBurl|id=UtA6-pyGJmMC|q=tea+19th+century+most+popular+in+poland|p=692}} |title=Polish Heritage Cookery |last2=Strybel |first2=Maria |date=31 March 2019 |publisher=Hippocrene Books |isbn=978-0-7818-1124-8 |access-date=31 March 2019 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

=== Fashion and design ===
{{Further|Category:Polish fashion}}
[[File:Robe à la Polonaise MET DT11155.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.7|Traditional ''[[Polonaise (clothing)|polonaise]]'' dresses, 1780–1785]]

Several Polish designers and stylists left a legacy of beauty inventions and cosmetics; including [[Helena Rubinstein]] and [[Maksymilian Faktorowicz]], who created a line of cosmetics company in California known as [[Max Factor]] and formulated the term "make-up" which is now widely used as an alternative for describing cosmetics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maks Faktorowicz: Polak, który stworzył kosmetyczne imperium |trans-title=Maks Faktorowicz: A Pole who created a cosmetic empire |url=http://kobieta.interia.pl/uroda/news-maks-faktorowicz-polak-ktory-stworzyl-kosmetyczne-imperium,nId,930672 |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=Interia Kobieta |date=7 February 2013 |language=pl}}</ref> Faktorowicz is also credited with inventing modern [[eyelash extensions]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maksymilian Faktorowicz – człowiek, który dał nam sztuczne rzęsy |trans-title=Maksymilian Faktorowicz – a man who gave us false eyelashes |url=http://www.polskieradio.pl/10/501/Artykul/1245535,Maksymilian-Faktorowicz-czlowiek-ktory-dal-nam-sztuczne-rzesy |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=Polskie Radio |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stella Rose Saint Clair |date=12 February 2014 |title=Makeup Masters: The History of Max Factor |url=https://www.beautylish.com/a/vxspr/the-history-of-max-factor |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=Beautylish}}</ref> As of 2020, Poland possesses the sixth-largest cosmetic market in Europe. [[Inglot Cosmetics]] is the country's largest beauty products manufacturer,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norbert Ziętal |date=13 July 2013 |title=Przemyski Inglot ma już 400 sklepów na świecie |trans-title=Przemysl Inglot already has 400 stores in the world |url=http://www.strefabiznesu.nowiny24.pl/artykul/przemyski-inglot-ma-juz-400-sklepow-na-swiecie |website=Strefa Biznesu |language=pl}}</ref> and the retail store [[Reserved]] is the country's most successful clothing store chain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=2 September 2016 |title=Reserved! Polish fashion chain moves into BHS flagship store |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/sep/02/reserved-polish-fashion-chain-moves-into-bhs-flagship-store |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

Historically, fashion has been an important aspect of Poland's national consciousness or [[Culture of Poland|cultural manifestation]], and the country developed its own style known as [[Sarmatism]] at the turn of the 17th century.<ref name="Biedronska-Slota 2005">{{Cite book |last=Biedrońska-Słota |first=Beata |url={{GBurl|id=_cPfAAAAMAAJ|q=sarmatism+16th+century}} |title=Crossroads of Costume and Textiles in Poland |date=2005 |publisher=National Museum (Muzeum Narodowe) |isbn=978-83-89424-46-4 |location=Kraków |page=20 |oclc=607873644}}</ref> The national dress and etiquette of Poland also reached the court at [[Versailles]], where French dresses inspired by Polish garments included ''[[Polonaise (clothing)|robe à la polonaise]]'' and the [[witzchoura]]. The scope of influence also entailed furniture; rococo [[Polish bed]]s with [[Canopy bed|canopies]] became fashionable in French châteaus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wrightsman Collection. Vols. 1 and 2, Furniture, Gilt Bronze and Mounted Porcelain, Carpets |url={{GBurl|id=twGT8P_68lEC|q=lit+a+polonaise+marie+leszczynska|p=586}} |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |via=Google Books}}</ref> Sarmatism eventually faded in the wake of the 18th century.<ref name="Biedronska-Slota 2005" />

=== Cinema ===
{{Main|Cinema of Poland}}
[[File:Andrzej Wajda 1974.jpg|thumb|right|[[Andrzej Wajda]] (1926–2016), renowned Polish film director]]

The [[cinema of Poland]] traces its origins to 1894, when inventor [[Kazimierz Prószyński]] patented the [[Pleograph]] and subsequently the [[Aeroscope]], the first successful hand-held operated film camera.<ref name="Ford 2009">{{Cite book |last1=Ford |first1=Charles |url={{GBurl|id=tiYkCQAAQBAJ|q=1894|p=13}} |title=Polish Film: A Twentieth Century History |last2=Hammond |first2=Robert M. |date=2009 |publisher=Eurospan |isbn=978-1-4766-0803-7 |location=London |pages=12–14, 118}}</ref><ref name="Haltof 2015">{{Cite book |last=Haltof |first=Marek |url={{GBurl|id=wReMBgAAQBAJ|q=1894|pg=PR11}} |title=Historical Dictionary of Polish Cinema |date=2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-322-88919-1 |location=Lanham |pages=195, 25, 5, 91}}</ref> In 1897, [[Jan Szczepanik]] constructed the [[Telectroscope]], a prototype of television transmitting images and sounds.<ref name="Ford 2009" /> They are both recognised as pioneers of [[cinematography]].<ref name="Ford 2009" /> Poland has also produced influential directors, film producers and actors, many of whom were active in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], chiefly [[Roman Polański]], [[Andrzej Wajda]], [[Pola Negri]], [[Samuel Goldwyn]], the [[Warner Brothers|Warner brothers]], [[Max Fleischer]], [[Agnieszka Holland]], [[Krzysztof Zanussi]] and [[Krzysztof Kieślowski]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tzvetkova |first=Juliana |url={{GBurl|id=Zk83DwAAQBAJ}} |title=Pop Culture in Central Europe |date=12 October 2017 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-4408-4466-9 |page=188}}</ref>

The [[Film genre|themes]] commonly explored in Polish cinema include [[historical film|history]], [[Drama (film and television)|drama]], war, culture and black realism ([[film noir]]).<ref name="Ford 2009" /><ref name="Haltof 2015" /> In the 21st-century, two Polish productions won the [[Academy Awards]] – ''[[The Pianist (2002 film)|The Pianist]]'' (2002) by Roman Polański and ''[[Ida (film)|Ida]]'' (2013) by [[Paweł Pawlikowski]].<ref name="Haltof 2015" /> Polish cinematography also created many well-received comedies. The most known of them were made by [[Stanisław Bareja]] and [[Juliusz Machulski]].

=== Media ===
{{Main|Mass media in Poland}}
[[File:Siedziba Telewizji Polskiej w Warszawie 2017.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of the publicly funded national television network [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]] in Warsaw]]
According to the [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Report]] (2015), 78 percent of Poles watch the [[Television in Poland|television]] daily.<ref name="Stepinska 2020">{{Cite book |last1=Agnieszka Stępińska |url={{GBurl|id=zHopEAAAQBAJ|dq=%25+of+population+watch+television+daily+poland|p=110}} |title=Populist Political Communication in Poland |last2=Artur Lipiński |last3=Dorota Piontek |last4=Agnieszka Hess |date=2020 |publisher=Logos Verlag |isbn=978-3-8325-8614-0 |location=Berlin |pages=110, 114}}</ref> In 2020, 79 percent of the population read the news more than once a day, placing it second behind Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cabrera |first=Isabel |date=2020 |title=World Reading Habits in 2020 [Infographic] |url=https://geediting.com/world-reading-habits-2020/ |access-date=29 September 2021 |website=geediting.com |publisher=Global English Editing}}</ref> Poland has a number of major domestic media outlets, chiefly the [[public broadcasting]] corporation [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]], [[free-to-air]] channels [[TVN (Polish TV channel)|TVN]] and [[Polsat]] as well as 24-hour news channels [[TVP Info]], [[TVN 24]] and [[Polsat News]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url={{GBurl|id=w4_2DQAAQBAJ}} |title=The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects, 4 Volume Set |date=6 March 2017 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-78404-4 |page=1160}}</ref> Public television extends its operations to genre-specific programmes such as [[TVP Sport]], [[TVP Historia]], [[TVP Kultura]], [[TVP Rozrywka]], TVP Seriale and [[TVP Polonia]], the latter a state-run channel dedicated to the transmission of Polish-language telecasts for the [[Polish diaspora]]. In 2020, the most popular types of newspapers were [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloids]] and socio-political news dailies.<ref name="Stepinska 2020" />

Poland is a major European hub for video game developers and among the most successful companies are [[CD Projekt]], [[Techland]], [[The Farm 51]], [[CI Games]] and [[People Can Fly]].<ref name="Marszałkowski 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Marszałkowski |first1=Jakub |url=https://www.parp.gov.pl/storage/publications/pdf/GIofP_2021_FINAL.pdf |title=The Game Industry of Poland |last2=Biedermann |first2=Sławomir |last3=Rutkowski |first3=Eryk |date=2021 |publisher=Polish Agency for Enterprise Development |isbn=978-83-7633-451-6 |location=Warsaw (Warszawa)}}</ref> Some of the popular video games developed in Poland include ''[[The Witcher (video game series)|The Witcher]]'' trilogy and ''[[Cyberpunk 2077]]''.<ref name="Marszałkowski 2021" /> The Polish city of [[Katowice]] also hosts [[Intel Extreme Masters]], one of the biggest [[esports]] events in the world.<ref name="Marszałkowski 2021" />

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Poland|Poland at the Olympics}}
[[File:National Stadium Warsaw aerial view 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Kazimierz Górski National Stadium]] in Warsaw, home of the [[Poland national football team|national football team]]]]
[[Motorcycle Speedway]], volleyball and association football are among the country's most popular sports, with a rich history of international competitions.<ref name="FIFA World Cup" /><ref name="FIFA Statistics" /> [[Track and field athletics|Track and field]], basketball, [[handball]], boxing, [[Mixed martial arts|MMA]], [[ski jumping]], [[cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skiing]], [[ice hockey]], tennis, fencing, swimming, and [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]] are other popular sports.
The golden era of [[football in Poland]] occurred throughout the 1970s and went on until the early 1980s when the [[Poland national football team|Polish national football team]] achieved their best results in any FIFA World Cup competitions finishing third place in [[1974 FIFA World Cup|the 1974]] and [[1982 FIFA World Cup|the 1982]] tournaments. The team won a gold medal [[Football at the Summer Olympics|in football]] at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] and two silver medals, [[1976 Summer Olympics|in 1976]] and [[1992 Summer Olympics|in 1992]]. In 2012, Poland co-hosted the [[UEFA Euro 2012|UEFA European Football Championship]].<ref name="warsaw-life" />

As of September 2024, the [[Poland men's national volleyball team|Polish men's national volleyball team]] is ranked [[FIVB World Rankings|as first]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIVB Men's Volleyball World Ranking |url=https://en.volleyballworld.com/volleyball/world-ranking/men |access-date=9 September 2024}}</ref> The team won a gold medal at the [[Volleyball at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1976 Summer Olympics]] and the gold medal at the [[FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship|FIVB World Championship]] [[1974 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship|1974]], [[2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship|2014]] and [[2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship|2018]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Poland 2014 |url=http://poland2014.fivb.org/en |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Finals |url=http://italy-bulgaria2018.fivb.com/en/results-and-ranking/round4 |access-date=13 October 2018}}</ref>
[[Mariusz Pudzianowski]] is a highly successful strongman competitor and has won more [[World's Strongest Man]] titles than any other competitor in the world, winning the event in 2008 for the fifth time.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Fedor |first1=Dariusz |url={{GBurl|id=c94sAQAAIAAJ|q=kubica%202008%20grand%20prix%20do%20polski}} |title=Polska, to tu się zaczęło |last2=Ramlau |first2=Łukasz |date=2009 |publisher=Agora |isbn=978-83-7552-707-0 |location=Poland |page=153 |language=pl}}</ref>

Poland has made a distinctive mark [[Speedway in Poland|in motorcycle speedway racing]]. The top [[Speedway Ekstraliga|Ekstraliga]] division has one of [[List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues#Outdoor sports|the highest average attendances]] for any sport in Poland. The [[Poland national speedway team|national speedway team of Poland]] is one of the major teams in international speedway. Individually, Poland has three [[Speedway Grand Prix]] World Champions, with the most successful being five-time World Champion [[Bartosz Zmarzlik]] who won back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020 as well as 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2021, Poland finished runners-up in the Speedway of Nations world championship final, held in [[Manchester]], England in 2021.<ref name="Speedway" />

In the 21st century, the country has seen a growth of popularity of tennis and produced a number of successful tennis players including World No. 1 [[Iga Świątek]], winner of five [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles titles; former World No. 2 [[Agnieszka Radwanska]], winner of 20 WTA career singles titles including [[2015 WTA Finals – Singles|2015 WTA Finals]]; Top 10 ATP player [[Hubert Hurkacz]]; former World No. 1 doubles player [[Łukasz Kubot]], winner of two Grand Slam doubles titles and [[Jan Zieliński]], winner of two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Poland also won the [[2015 Hopman Cup]] with Agnieszka Radwańska and [[Jerzy Janowicz]] representing the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blanka Konopka |date=10 June 2022 |title=Tennis fever hits Poland as clubs across the country report surge in interest |url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/tennis-fever-hits-poland-as-clubs-across-the-country-report-surge-in-interest-30967 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=thefirstnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2015 |title=Poland wins Hopman Cup as Agnieszka Radwanska and Jerzy Janowicz combine to beat Serena Williams and John Isner in Perth |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-10/radwanska-shocks-williams-in-hopman-cup/6010634 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=abc.net.au}}</ref>

Poles made significant achievements in mountaineering, in particular, in the [[Himalayas]] and the winter ascending of the [[eight-thousander]]s (e.g. [[Jerzy Kukuczka]], [[Krzysztof Wielicki]], [[Wanda Rutkiewicz]]). Polish mountains are one of the tourist attractions of the country. Hiking, climbing, skiing and mountain biking and attract numerous tourists every year from all over the world.<ref name="UNTWO 2008" /> Water sports are the most popular summer recreation activities, with ample locations for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing especially in the northern regions of the country.<ref>[http://www.polandforvisitors.com/travel_poland/summer_sports Summer Sports in Poland] at Poland For Visitors Online. Retrieved 2 November 2014.</ref>
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