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  What it means

  “Saint Catherine ties Advent with a bast cord, and Saint Martin with a leather strap.” Martin (11 November) loosely begins the pre-Advent mood; Catherine (25 November) binds it more firmly. The contrast of materials (bast vs. leather) suggests increasing strictness.

  Vocabulary

  • zawięzywać — to tie, to bind
  • adwent — Advent
  • łyczek — bast cord, strip of bark
  • święty — saint (masculine)
  • Marcin — Martin
  • rzemyczek — small leather strap, thong

  Grammar note

  'Łyczkiem' and 'rzemyczkiem' are instrumental case forms indicating the means used. 'Zawięzuje' is third-person singular present.

  Cultural context

  Saint Martin's Day (11 November) was a major folk feast marking the end of the agricultural year. Saint Catherine (25 November) then formally opened Advent.

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