Do panny Katarzyny nowych butów obłóczyny
Listen
What it means
By St. Catherine’s Day, 25 November, it is time to put on new shoes. This seasonal proverb marks the start of winter and the need for stronger footwear.
Vocabulary
- panna — maiden; Miss
- obłóczyny — putting on (clothes/shoes); donning
Grammar note
'Do panny Katarzyny' uses the genitive after 'do' and refers to the feast day. 'Obłóczyny' is an old noun from 'obłóczyć', to put on clothing.
Cultural context
St. Catherine's Day, Katarzyny, on 25 November traditionally marked the beginning of winter in the Polish folk calendar.
Intermediate
Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!
More Polish proverbs
- "A stepmother, even if made of sugar, is always bitter." However kind she may be, a stepmother may …
- "For a wise head, two words are enough." A clever person needs only a short hint to understand. Long …
- "A Pole is wise after the damage is done." Poles, or people in general, often learn from mistakes …
- "The wise will accept advice; the fool will reject it with scorn." Wise people listen to advice, …