Here in Colorado, we’re at the very end of summer and will officially transition to fall three days from now on September 22. While we’ve had high daytime temperatures, the nights have been cool and morning walks have been brisk. I definitely feel the change of season coming on!

I decided to take a look back at what September in old Poland brought and discovered it was about marriages. With the harvest done and the pantry full, it was a good time to turn to unions.

I discovered that not only were marriages contracted among the nobility, but also among the commoners. A peasant would look to add to his own fortune through a favorable marriage, or at least find someone of equal standing.

A few quick notes: Girls were not consulted on their preference of a partner. Likewise, males were under the rule of their fathers and rarely defied his arrangements. Once a Polish father decided his daughter was of marriageable age, he could communicate her availability in a variety of ways, depending on the region. For instance, he might whitewash the side of his house in dots, hang a wreath on the front door, or paint the windows blue, to name a few common traditions.

An interested young man would inquire of a particular family, through an intermediary, whether his suit would be welcome, and assuming he was, a series of customs were followed, and the engagement period would begin.

If you’ve read The Heart of a Hussar, you would have encountered some of the other traditions leading up to the wedding itself, such as the maiden wreath and the baking of the wedding bread, and then of course, the wedding itself.

If you’re interested in learning more about these wedding customs, Sophie Hodorowicz Knab’s book, Polish Customs, Traditions & Folklore is an excellent source of information. In fact, I have a number of Knab’s books adorning my bookshelf, and they are well worn from the many times I’ve referred to them!