Na świętego Andrzeja błyska dziewkom nadzieja
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What it means
“On Saint Andrew’s day, hope shines for girls.” November 30th is the traditional date of Andrzejki ; fortune-telling festivities where young women divine who they will marry.
Vocabulary
- święty Andrzej — Saint Andrew (feast day November 30)
- błyska — shines, flashes
- dziewka — girl, young woman (archaic/folk)
- nadzieja — hope
Grammar note
'Dziewkom' is the dative plural of 'dziewka', indicating for whom hope shines.
Cultural context
Andrzejki (Saint Andrew's Eve, November 29–30) is a beloved Polish tradition of fortune-telling, especially for young women seeking to learn about their future husbands.
Intermediate
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