Obraz Maryi we frazeologii i paremiologii polskiej
The portrayal of the Virgin Mary in Polish phraseology and paremiology

Summary/Abstract: As piety of the common people has not only religious but also socialdimension, it is a tool for preserving cultural identity and spiritual enrichment.Popular piety manifests itself in various forms of worship as well as other nonliturgicalforms such as phrasemes and proverbs used in vernacular language. InPolish phraseology and paremiology, the Virgin Mary is portrayed as a motherwho takes care of people and participates in everyday life here on earth. Thereare seven set expressions in the Polish language that refer to the Virgin Mary, allof which highlight her features and roles: Matka Boga (Mother of God), MatkaBoska (God's Mother), Najświętsza (Holy Virgin Mary), and Matka ubogich(Mother of the Poor). These demonstrate the popular perception and portrayal ofthe Virgin Mary as the Mother of God and people. The apostrophe Matko Boska!(O, Mother of God!) and the playful reference to payday as Matki Boskiej Pieniężnej (Day of Our Lady of Money) are popular in everyday speech. Such asmall number of phrasemes referring to the Virgin Mary may result from respectand reverence to the Mother of God.There are 104 proverbs related to the Virgin Mary in the Polish language.They can be grouped as follows: weather (56 units), agriculture (25 units), customs (5 units), general (6 units), and other (8 units). The majority of theproverbs include weather forecast and farming tips like Na Marii Wniebowzięcienajprzedniejsze żęcie (It is best to reap grain on the day of the Assumption ofMary) or Na Marii Wniebowzięcie najprzedniejsze żęcie (When snow melts onthe day of Mother of God of the Blessed Thunder Candle, the crops will bescarce). Stemming from the natural, spontaneous and straightforward perceptionof the weather and the calendar year with all the consequences and distinctivefeatures, the proverbs have a deep relationship with popular piety. They describethe changing seasons of the year and climate, highlighting characteristic featuresof the spring, summer, autumn and winter. All the proverbs relate to the VirginMary, who is taken as a patroness of the awakening of nature, growing crops,germination of seeds as well as farming activities happening throughout the year.Proverbial references to weather forecasts and farming tips are animportant part of traditional folklore, shedding light on the sense of observationof previous generations. As such, they are a synthesis of folk wisdom, offeringpractical advice and "allegorical depiction of production and ludic approach thatrural communities developed towards the annual life cycle of the natural world,which influenced the living conditions of the people."

• Details
• Contents