I Survived a Polish Wedding Reception
Discussion
No beer, no wine; just straight vodka... and 'bimber', which translates to hooch but broadly speaking, it's moonshine.
After the town hall and church obligations, everyone made their way - in convoy - to a massive hall in the countryside. As soon as everyone was installed, the chicken soup came out. There was more or less a bottle of Oginski Vodka every two people; an uncle stood up with his and preceded to fill all the shot glasses he could in his section of the hall. He sat back down to slurp his soup and then stood up to toast the newlyweds. 'Na Zdrowie!' In unison, the newly formed posse downed our shots. Back to the soup. Some 5 minutes later, uncle comes around again; tops us up and we I look tentatively to his lead (I was concerned by the frequency). Something which translated to 'for the other leg' and wallop, down it went. The music (live band) started and the couple took to the floor.
After the first traditional wedding dance, the next shots were poured by someone else. Back to the table, grab yours, and everyone toasts Matty and Marta. The dancing started as did the endless trays of meat being carried out from the kitchen by some very efficient waiters; just three of them serving about 80 people (remarkably, with ease). At this point it appeared to signal about a dozen guys to go around pouring more vodka for the next round of shots. Bosh! Down they went. No more than 30 minutes had passed on the clock and I was an estimated six shots in. I feared for my future self.
Over the evening, which went on, full steam, until 4am the band stopped every 15-20 minutes to allow for the next course to be served (there were about 12 in total). You were never more than five minutes away from a new friend who insisted on having a shot with you. Then I was introduced to three demijohns: full of a yellow (lemon) blue (curacao) and a very scary looking black liquid which turned out to be coffee. Matty's uncle had churned out a few gallons of some very strong moonshine and the different flavours were used to tone them down. They were still an estimated 60% ABV (the feedback from my oesophagus confirmed this) but strangely palatable although I think this was welcome after the I-lost-count-after-12 shots of neat vodka. Some of the more experienced folk appeared to have a coffee break, and then jumped back onto the 'luvka' slamming.
One of the tricks to doing shots is to eat a slice of Ogórki Kiszone (pickled cucumber) immediately after. Another is to send in a slice or two of kielbasa mysliwska (hunter sausage) but the most alarming 'drinking aid' was to spread lard onto a piece of bread and let that line your stomach when it gets down there. Apparently, 'smalec' is really nice when it's been prepared with onions, garlic and (IIRC) some herbs and spices. I was happy with the alternate chaser options.
I made it through to the end, and still on my feet. Victorious, proud.
The next day we had to do it all again. It's a custom. Rinse and repeat.
After the town hall and church obligations, everyone made their way - in convoy - to a massive hall in the countryside. As soon as everyone was installed, the chicken soup came out. There was more or less a bottle of Oginski Vodka every two people; an uncle stood up with his and preceded to fill all the shot glasses he could in his section of the hall. He sat back down to slurp his soup and then stood up to toast the newlyweds. 'Na Zdrowie!' In unison, the newly formed posse downed our shots. Back to the soup. Some 5 minutes later, uncle comes around again; tops us up and we I look tentatively to his lead (I was concerned by the frequency). Something which translated to 'for the other leg' and wallop, down it went. The music (live band) started and the couple took to the floor.
After the first traditional wedding dance, the next shots were poured by someone else. Back to the table, grab yours, and everyone toasts Matty and Marta. The dancing started as did the endless trays of meat being carried out from the kitchen by some very efficient waiters; just three of them serving about 80 people (remarkably, with ease). At this point it appeared to signal about a dozen guys to go around pouring more vodka for the next round of shots. Bosh! Down they went. No more than 30 minutes had passed on the clock and I was an estimated six shots in. I feared for my future self.
Over the evening, which went on, full steam, until 4am the band stopped every 15-20 minutes to allow for the next course to be served (there were about 12 in total). You were never more than five minutes away from a new friend who insisted on having a shot with you. Then I was introduced to three demijohns: full of a yellow (lemon) blue (curacao) and a very scary looking black liquid which turned out to be coffee. Matty's uncle had churned out a few gallons of some very strong moonshine and the different flavours were used to tone them down. They were still an estimated 60% ABV (the feedback from my oesophagus confirmed this) but strangely palatable although I think this was welcome after the I-lost-count-after-12 shots of neat vodka. Some of the more experienced folk appeared to have a coffee break, and then jumped back onto the 'luvka' slamming.
One of the tricks to doing shots is to eat a slice of Ogórki Kiszone (pickled cucumber) immediately after. Another is to send in a slice or two of kielbasa mysliwska (hunter sausage) but the most alarming 'drinking aid' was to spread lard onto a piece of bread and let that line your stomach when it gets down there. Apparently, 'smalec' is really nice when it's been prepared with onions, garlic and (IIRC) some herbs and spices. I was happy with the alternate chaser options.
I made it through to the end, and still on my feet. Victorious, proud.
The next day we had to do it all again. It's a custom. Rinse and repeat.
Ussrcossack said:
The lard will probably be smalek
Love Polish cuisine as much as their beer and Vodka.
Had a polish night with some friends a few years back, food was fantastic and the good vodka was cracked opened, was long and very evening (morning). Might make some polish food for dinner Love Polish cuisine as much as their beer and Vodka.
I'm half Polish and my first proper 'experience' was my Baptchas (Grandmas) funeral when I was 25. I hadn't been over there since I was 14 so when I went back for this occasion I was old enough to take part in all activities. I remember as soon as I arrived at her little flat it was an absolute blur of pickles, soup, meats, sausage, beer, a vast amount of vodka and various fruit juices and an endless stream of family members hugging and kissing me that I had no idea even existed. This went on for the entire week I was there, it was a celebration more than anything else, a great send off for the lady!
I did a Polish wedding reception in 2013 for one of my best mates.
There's a photo of me on FB collapsed on the table at about 9pm on the second day of it. Great fun, but I ended up drinking vodka with the uncles and chasing it with beer.
A number of years later I was in the same neck of the woods in Poland with colleagues. Ended up drinking way too much and the next day a load of us were in the office still drunk. Fun times although the hangover that time was horrendous!
There's a photo of me on FB collapsed on the table at about 9pm on the second day of it. Great fun, but I ended up drinking vodka with the uncles and chasing it with beer.
A number of years later I was in the same neck of the woods in Poland with colleagues. Ended up drinking way too much and the next day a load of us were in the office still drunk. Fun times although the hangover that time was horrendous!
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