Family and Children

n the country of 40 million Poles there are 400,000 different last names and almost thousand times less first names. Compared to other countries, like the USA for instance where I had a hard time sometimes to distinguish between female and male names - in Poland there is a clear distinction. All female names end with "a". Some female names originate from the male names (although less than in the past) but they have a strictly different ending. Here are the examples of male and female names that originate from the same core:

Read more: The most Common Baby names in Poland: History, Trends

Reasons why divorce rate is low in Poland

First of all a divorce procedure in Poland is quite complex - the court often decide that for the sake of the children a couple should seek the marriage counseling first - it is almost always a case during a first hearing. Only when court decide (after several hearings, in many cases witnesses need to be presented) that nothing can save marriage anymore - the divorce is finalized. It usually lasts couple of months or years after filing for a divorce. The longest and the most bitter are divorce procedures when both sides cannot agree who should be blamed for a divorce and who should keep the children. It is a bit easier to go through separation process than a divorce. Separation is also tolerated by a Catholic Church.

Read more: The Main Causes of Divorces in Poland

Divorce rate in Poland is low compared to other European countries

According to Statistical Office of European Union (EU) Eurostat - divorce rate in Poland is low compared to other countries of EU and it is equal 1.2 divorces per 1000 residents. Only Slovenia had a lower rate of divorces (1.1) but Slovenians do not get marry that often as Poles - there are only 3.5 marriages per 1000 residents as compared to 5.1 in Poland. In present EU countries the average divorce rate is 1.9 per 1000 residents. The only country in Europe where divorce rate is zero is Malta - but divorce is illegal in this country. From all countries of Eastern Europe - the highest divorce rate is in Estonia and Lithuania - 3.2 per 1000 residents. Also Hungary had traditionally high divorce rate for a long time.

Read more: Divorce Rates in Poland and other European Countries - EU Report

Our articles at Polish Culture Website usually do not talk about babies. This time I wanted to help you to deal with your crying baby, by making you familiar with herbs which we use in my home country, Poland.

Almost all parents are worried when a baby cries. Although medically - there are not more that 20% of babies with colic - with long periods of uncontrollable cry lasting many hours a day. Every baby cries sometimes for too long making their parents frustrated and worried what is a problem. Probably you are familiar with a herb, fennel (Polish: koperek wloski). Fennel tea is a medicine which millions of Polish parents are giving to crying babies when they expect them to have problems with their digestion system or bowel movements.

Read more: Colicky Babies: Help with Fennel and Chamomile