July 24, 2007
Because We’re Polish, People
He was a tall man with very gray hair. I’d guess his age was about seventy-five. He wore tan pants and a white short-sleeved dress shirt. A pair of suspenders completed the ensemble and I suspect kept his pants from falling off as he danced.
She was a young woman, no older than thirty and she wore a black skirt and red tank top. As she twirled around the dance floor, her blond hair whipped across her shoulders.
The smiles on their faces were the most genuine I’ve seen in quite a long time. To witness the joy on the old man’s face as he danced with her brought a smile to my own face. The woman was adorable as she danced, and she smiled and nodded at her partner with each twirl.
This display of friendship between two very different generations was beautiful and it always makes me feel wonderful to know that Polka music brings people together.
This past weekend I spent my time at the 29th Annual Pulaski Polka Days celebration. It’s been a tradition in my family to attend this event for the past eight years or more. My parents, my siblings and now my son enjoy listening and dancing to polkas.
I’ve had a love for polka music since I was a young girl. My father played bass guitar in a polka band and my mother played the concertina as a teen. Polka music is part of my Polish heritage and frankly, it’s in my blood. As the Polka Family Band says, “The love for the music binds us together; all of us are part of one big polka family.”
I can’t think of a truer statement.
Pulaski, Wisconsin is a town of 3,000 residents. People travel near and far to hear the sounds of the Polka Family Band, the Polka Country Musicians, the Dynabrass, Eddie Blazoncyk’s Versatones, The Knewz, New Phaze, Dennis Polisky & The Maestro’s Men, Chad Przybylski, Aaron Socha’s Livewire, The Maroszek Brothers, The New Generation and so many more of the nation’s top polka bands.
In years past, John Gora & Gorale, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, Change of Pace and Charm City Sound and the former Toledo Polkamotion have also performed at Pulaski Polka Days.
The talented musicians that make up a polka band put so much time and effort into their craft, their music; just to put a smile on our faces and a spring in our dance step. Many of these musicians have been members of several different bands. They truly are a polka family. I’d give you a timeline, but it is insanely difficult to keep up with polka gossip. (You don’t believe me? It’s true. Trust me. Some of you polka maniacs reading this know exactly what I’m talking about.)
I know that many people roll their eyes at the mention of Polka music, but it’s only because they’ve never experienced a Polish festival. It’s an experience beyond compare. The rumor that Polish people know how to party is true. We do it well. We party hard. We party like rock stars except no one gets hurt because no one fights in the presence of Polka music! I suppose we should rephrase that to say, “We party like polka stars.”
One of the best memories I recall of Polka music is when my father played his bass guitar along with a vinyl recording of Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr.’s song “Polka Hero”.
The song is truly my favorite and it’s the inspiration for my own love of polkas.
I leave you with a few photos from this year’s Pulaski Polka Days celebration!
More photos here.
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July 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm, Leslie Says:
Looks like fun, Dana! Your love for the music really comes through in your writing.
July 26th, 2007 at 8:07 am, Cheryl Says:
I’m a closet polka lover. I can do the basic steps, but I’ve always wanted to learn the fancy twirls.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am, The Dana Files » Best of 2007, Bloggy Style Says:
[...] Vacation Month - This is the month I attended a Polka Festival; Pulaski Polka Days — and I went to my first BlogHer conference in Chicago. I met so many wonderful people and [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 1:25 am, Al Cooper Says:
THANKS for the memories. I attended the 2007 Pulaski Polka Days festival for the first time with my WONDERFUL daughter, her husband, and my grand-daughter. Missed it THIS (2008) year, but if finances allow, I’ll fly from Japan to Wisconsin in the summer of 2009. MANY THANKS to you Pulaski folks…I’m from Georgia (LaGrange), and there’s a Fort Pulaski THERE…hard to believe, it honors the SAME man.