Editing Kashubians (section)

==Language==
{{main|Kashubian language}}
In the 2021 Population Census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics Poland / National Census / National Population and Housing Census 2021 / Final results of the National Population and Housing Census 2021 |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/national-census/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/final-results-of-the-national-population-and-housing-census-2021/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=stat.gov.pl}}</ref> about 87,600 people declared Kashubian as their language used at home, a decrease from 108,100 in the 2011 Census.<ref>http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/LUD_ludnosc_stan_str_dem_spo_NSP2011.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118132604/http://stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/LUD_ludnosc_stan_str_dem_spo_NSP2011.pdf |date=18 November 2017 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

The classification of Kashubian as a language or dialect has been controversial.<ref name="Barbour2">Stephen Barbour, Cathie Carmichael, ''Language and Nationalism in Europe'', Oxford University Press, 2000, p. 199, {{ISBN|0-19-823671-9}}</ref> From a [[Historical linguistics|diachronic]] point of view of historical linguistics, Kashubian, like [[Slovincian language|Slovincian]], [[Polabian language|Polabian]] and [[Polish language|Polish]], is a [[Lechitic languages|Lechitic]] [[West Slavic languages|West Slavic language]], while from a [[Synchronic analysis|synchronic]] point of view it is a group of Polish dialects.<ref name="Barbour2"/> Given the past nationalist interests of Germans and Poles in Kashubia, [[Stephen Barbour|Barbour]] and Carmichel state: "As is always the case with the division of a [[dialect continuum]] into separate languages, there is scope here for manipulation."<ref name="Barbour2"/>

A "standard" Kashubian language does not exist despite attempts to create one, rather a variety of dialects are spoken that differ significantly from each other.<ref name="Barbour2"/> The vocabulary is influenced by both German and Polish.<ref name="Barbour2"/>

There are other traditional Slavic ethnic groups inhabiting [[Pomerania]], including the [[Kociewiacy]], [[Borowiacy]] and [[Krajna|Krajniacy]]. These dialects tend to fall between Kashubian and the Polish dialects of [[Greater Poland]] and [[Mazovia]], with Krajniak dialect indeed heavily influenced by Kashubian, while Borowiak and Kociewiak dialects much more closer to Greater Polish and Mazovian. No obvious Kashubian [[Stratum (linguistics)|substrate]] or any other influence is visible in Kociewiak dialect.<ref>[http://www.gwarypolskie.uw.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=429&Itemid=35 Kociewie: Dialect of the region (in Polish)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115002851/http://www.gwarypolskie.uw.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=429&Itemid=35 |date=15 November 2013 }}</ref> This indicates that they are not only descendants of [[Pomeranians (Slavic tribe)|Pomeranians]], but also of settlers who arrived in Pomerania from Greater Poland and [[Masovia]] during the [[Middle Ages]], from the 10th century onwards.

In the 16th and 17th century [[Michael Brüggemann]] (also known as Pontanus or Michał Mostnik), [[Szimón Krofey|Simon Krofey]] (Szimon Krofej) and [[J.M. Sporgius]] introduced Kashubian into the Lutheran Church.<ref name=Hauptmann/> Krofey, pastor in [[Bytów|Bütow]] (Bytow), published a religious song book in 1586, written in Polish but also containing some Kashubian words.<ref name=Hauptmann/> Brüggemann, pastor in [[Schmolsin]], published a Polish translation of some works of [[Martin Luther]] ([[catechism]]) and biblical texts, also containing Kashubian elements.<ref name=Hauptmann/> Other biblical texts were published in 1700 by Sporgius, pastor in Schmolsin.<ref name=Hauptmann/> His ''[[Schmolsiner Perikopen]]'', most of which is written in the same Polish-Kashubian style as Krofey's and Brüggemann's books, also contain small passages ("6th Sunday after Epiphany") written in pure Kashubian.<ref name="Hauptmann">Peter Hauptmann, Günther Schulz, Kirche im Osten: Studien zur osteuropäischen Kirchengeschichte und Kirchenkunde, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2000, pp.44ff, {{ISBN|3-525-56393-0}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=qHL3-GAJE-YC&dq=slowinzen&pg=PA45] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164813/https://books.google.com/books?id=qHL3-GAJE-YC&dq=slowinzen&pg=PA45|date=26 March 2023}}</ref> Scientific interest in the Kashubian language was sparked by [[Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz|Christoph Mrongovius]] (publications in 1823, 1828), [[Florian Ceynowa]] and the Russian linguist [[Aleksander Hilferding]] (1859, 1862), later followed by [[Leon Biskupski]] (1883, 1891), [[Gotthelf Bronisch]] (1896, 1898), [[Jooseppi Julius Mikkola]] (1897), [[Kazimierz Nitsch]] (1903). Important works are [[S. Ramult|S. Ramult's]], ''Słownik jezyka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', 1893, and [[Friedrich Lorentz]], ''Slovinzische Grammatik'', 1903, ''Slovinzische Texte'', 1905, and ''Slovinzisches Wörterbuch'', 1908. [[Zdzisław Stieber]] was involved in producing linguistic atlases of Kashubian (1964–78).

The first activist of the Kashubian national movement was [[Florian Ceynowa]]. Among his accomplishments, he documented the [[Kashubian alphabet]] and grammar by 1879 and published a collection of ethnographic-historic stories of the life of the Kashubians (''[[Skórb kaszébsko-slovjnckjé mòvé]]'', 1866–1868). Another early writer in Kashubian was [[Hieronim Derdowski]]. The Young Kashubian movement followed, led by author [[Aleksander Majkowski]], who wrote for the paper ''[[Zrzësz Kaszëbskô]]'' as part of the "Zrzëszincë" group. The group would contribute significantly to the development of the Kashubian literary language. Another important writer in Kashubian was [[Bernard Sychta]] (1907–1982).

=== Cultural traditions ===
[[File:Szymbark chata traperów 31.12.09 p.jpg|thumb|A traditional wooden Kashubian home in [[Szymbark, Pomeranian Voivodeship]], [[Poland]]]]
[[File:Kashubian embroidery of Zukowo school.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Kashubian [[embroidery]] of [[Zukowo]] school]]
Similarly to the traditions in other parts of Central and [[Eastern Europe]], [[Pussy willow]]s have been adopted as an alternative to the palm leaves used in [[Palm Sunday]] celebrations, which were not obtainable in [[Kashubia]]. They were blessed by priests on Palm Sunday, following which parishioners whipped each other with the [[pussy willow]] branches, saying ''Wierzba bije, jô nie bijã. Za tidzéń wiôldżi dzéń, za nocë trzë i trzë są Jastrë'' ('The willow strikes, it's not me who strikes, in a week, on the great day, in three and three nights, there is the Easter').

The pussy willows, blessed by priests, were treated as sacred charms that could prevent lightning strikes, protect animals, and encourage honey production. They were believed to bring health and good fortune to people as well, and it was traditional for one pussy willow bud to be swallowed on Palm Sunday to promote good health.

According to the old tradition, on [[Easter Monday]] the Kashub boys chase girls whipping gently their legs with [[Juniperus communis|juniper]] twigs. This is to bring good fortune in love to the chased girls. This was usually accompanied by a boy's chant ''[[Dyngus, dyngus]] – pò dwa jaja, Nie chcã chleba, leno jaja'' ('Dyngus, dyngus, for two eggs; I don't want bread but eggs'). Sometimes a girl would be whipped when still in her bed. Girls would give boys painted eggs.<ref>Malicki L.: Rok obrzędowy na Kaszubach, Wojewódzki Ośrodek Kultury, Gdańsk 1986, p. 35-39</ref>

Pottery, one of the ancient Kashubians crafts, has survived to the present day. Famous is [[Kashubian embroidery]] and Kashubian embroidering [[Zukowo]] school is important [[intangible cultural heritage]].

Pope [[John Paul II]] visited in June 1987 and appealed to the Kashubes to preserve their traditional values including their language.<ref>Gustavsson S: Polish, Kashubian and Sorbian, in: The Baltic Sea Region: Cultures, Politics, Societies, pp. 264–266,2002;Uppsala University Library</ref><ref>http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:606396/FULLTEXT02 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090227/http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:606396/FULLTEXT02 |date=4 March 2016 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

===Today===
[[File:Witamiwilno.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Polish-Canadians wearing traditional Kashubian costumes in [[Wilno, Ontario]], the oldest Polish settlement in Canada.]]
In 2005, Kashubian was for the first time made an official subject on the Polish [[matura]] exam (roughly equivalent to the English A-Level and French Baccalaureat).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Poszytek|first=Paweł Poszytek|date=2005|title=Language education in Poland: National and regional language, foreign languages and languages of national and ethnic minorities|url=https://rm.coe.int/language-education-policy-profile-poland-country-report/16807b3b4a|journal=Poland Ministry of National Education|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090416/https://rm.coe.int/language-education-policy-profile-poland-country-report/16807b3b4a|url-status=live}}</ref> This development was seen as an important step in the official recognition and establishment of the language. Today, in some towns and villages in northern Poland, Kashubian is the second language spoken after [[Polish language|Polish]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-poland.html|title=What Languages are Spoken in Poland?|work=WorldAtlas|access-date=27 September 2017|language=en|archive-date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928060013/http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-poland.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and it is taught in some regional schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.omniglot.com/writing/kashubian.htm|title=Kashubian language, alphabet and pronunciation|website=www.omniglot.com|access-date=27 September 2017|archive-date=28 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928060049/https://www.omniglot.com/writing/kashubian.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2005 Kashubian enjoys legal protection in Poland as an official [[regional language]]. It is the only tongue in Poland with this status. It was granted by an act of the [[Polish Parliament]] on 6 January 2005. Old [[Kashubian culture]] has partially survived in architecture and folk crafts such as [[pottery]], plaiting, [[embroidery]], amber-working, sculpturing and glasspainting.

In the 2011 census, 233,000 people in Poland declared their identity as Kashubian, 216,000 declaring it together with Polish and 16,000 as their only national-ethnic identity.<ref name="stat"/> [[Kaszëbskô Jednota]] is an association of people who have the latter view.