Monday, February 1, 2010

Janowski Family Weddings,Reminiscences











































Blogpost: Janowski Family Weddings reminiscences....There were 8 siblings, born in River Rouge Michigan to immigrant parents Martin and Victoria. They started their family in America in the early 1900's. The family was poor, but very close, taking care of each other when they needed it. They endured many hardships, including the Depression and having 4 boys in World War II, but they always looked out for each other. 
The weddings started out very elaborate! The two earliest weddings were John and Mary, and they had almost a Victorian feel.  Lots of white dresses and exquisite and abundant flower bouquets. 
To this day I am not sure how they found the money for such wonderful weddings.  Then there was a big break during WWII. My father, Ed, was engaged to Helen the whole time he was in service and overseas. I can only imagine what that was like! They finally got married in 1946, followed by their first child, Tom, in 1947. Joseph was next, and his son was born shortly after. The next four siblings followed in succession, Helen, Wanda, Frank and Walter.
I still need one more photo of Wanda.  It has been an experience gathering photos.  Photos were precious back then, and hard to come by.  Even in this digital age, it is hard to gather them, but I just keep asking. Although I was not able to see those early weddings, in my 52 years, I have been to a lot of other Polish weddings in the family.  Just as in their generation, our first cousins had incredible weddings.  Many began with an early morning wedding in a catholic church, a big breakfast at a Polish restaurant, followed by an evening of eating and dancing to Polish bands in a VFW hall.  Always lots of Golabki and pierogi to eat, a highball in their hands and maybe even a cigarette or two. Many were on two floors, one just for dancing, with a band on the stage.  They usually married Polish, but as the years went on they married fewer Polish people. I wonder what the next generation will bring. 

5 comments:

asiadp said...

It's so nice to read about Polish wedding traditions on an American blog:) really moving...

Laura Jannika said...

Thank you...I would love to hear what real Polish weddings are like now. What is your blog about?

asiadp said...

my blog will be about cardmaking and scrapbooking, it's my new passion and I want to share it with other people:) I can tell you that the weddings in Poland are still huge, especially in the countryside, where I live:D If you would like to hear more about it, let me know then I can give you my e-mail address

Laura said...

I would love to hear more about weddings. My grandparents came from Poland, my grandfather did not want to fight in the Russian Army so he ran away. Some of them were from Tarnow.
I was not able to see your blogpost.

asiadp said...

Maybe I will send you an e-mail, ok? :)