Dating, and especially the first few meetings with a potential new partner, can present a few pitfalls on the way to the heart of the other person.
Dating and getting to know each other can be even more difficult if your date is of a different nationality or culture.
What is special about Polish singles and women from Poland?
Singles from Eastern Europe or Russia are very popular throughout Europe. Above all, Polish singles and especially Polish women are highly valued on the “Dating Market”.
Appearance and charm
Their traditional, down-to-earth and family-oriented charm and their Northern European appearance make them recognizable at first glance at any international meeting.
The Slavic genes ensure that the external attraction factor is high. Polish women seem extremely attractive to us Western Europeans.
Scarlett Johansen and Gwyneth Paltrow are just two Hollywood stars with Polish descent and are undoubtedly the best advertisements for Polish grace, beauty and grace.
Photo by Fabian Albert @fabiraw
Polish people have great accents that sound friendly, warm and playful. There's also lots of exciting new vocabulary to learn, including the important Valentine 's Day "Szczesliwych Walentynek" .
There are also some cute nicknames, for example “Kotku” kitten… isn’t that irresistibly cute?
Culture and values
Poles place a lot of value on home and family . When dating Polish singles, you should be prepared to meet family members early on and go on family trips with your partner-to-be.
You can also expect celebrations for birthdays, name days, and other celebratory or family occasions to be full of food, fun, and laughter.
Oh, and by the way, buy a fashionable hat – Polish weddings are also exuberant, usually three-day affairs that make ordinary weddings from our part of the world seem dull in comparison.
They are also independent, share Western culture and bring their ancient Slavic heritage to the table (they are great cooks). From dumplings to hunter's stew, Polish food is hearty, tasty and often sumptuous.
Polish dating veterans will tell you that a little bit of Polish cuisine can go a long way when you want to impress a date. And there are many restaurants and eateries that a Polish date will take you to if she wants to show you first-hand the delights of Polish food culture.
Why can dating singles from Poland be difficult?
On the other hand, it can be difficult to get close to them - perhaps due to high demand or simply because women from Poland tend not to be very open to strangers about dating, flirting and love at first.
This may seem distant to some people and create an invisible hurdle that can quickly appear discouraging or intimidating to some. That's a shame, because Poles are basically very warm, emotional people with a strong sense of community.
Insecurity, prejudices and clichés arise from ignorance. This can be remedied.
By understanding the dating culture of Polish women, you will greatly increase your chances of success and win the heart of that special woman you are looking for.
The most important do's and don'ts - with these tips nothing can go wrong
In this article I have put together the most important advice, tips, do's and don'ts
Are you interested in a Polish boyfriend or girlfriend , but haven't really decided yet? Then read this article and in the end you will have no more excuses to take the first step 😉
Planning and preparation
It all starts with proper planning. This way you create an ideal basis and don't ruin the date before it even takes place.
Do's - This is what you should do
1. Suggest a reasonable time for dates
In Poland, many people rely on public transport, which is much less common after midnight. If you meet at 9:00 p.m., you may have a shorter appointment than you would like.
Even on German soil, you shouldn't schedule the date too late, as women and men from Poland are used to meeting sooner rather than later.
Don'ts - This is what you should avoid
1. Don't be late under any circumstances
Make sure you are on time. In contrast to more relaxed southern Europeans, Poles don't like vague ideas about time. That makes them not so dissimilar to us Germans.
If you show up more than 15 minutes late, you risk seeing the downside of your date sooner than you'd like.
This is related to an old academic custom: at Polish universities, students can leave a lecture if the lecturer is more than fifteen minutes late.
If for unforeseen reasons you cannot make it on time, be sure to write or call as soon as possible.
On the first date
Choose a convenient location for your first meetings. A suitable location can significantly improve your chances.
Do's - This is what you should do
1. The right wording for the invitation to the cinema
Be careful how you word an invitation to the cinema. Going to the cinema is a classic and popular option for first dates in Poland.
However, remember that an open invitation to go to the cinema is interpreted more romantically than a suggestion to watch a specific film together.
The latter case, for most Polish women, means that you are genuinely interested in watching this film, rather than seeing the film as a backdrop for holding your hands over your shared popcorn bucket. Choose your option at your own risk.
2. The right choice of food in the Polish restaurant
In case you choose a Polish restaurant, order wisely. By showing your Polish date that you are willing to try culinary specialties from Poland's homeland, you can score points and establish a good connection.
There is at least one Polish restaurant in almost all major cities in Europe. The expanded range of flavors in Polish cuisine can be surprisingly unusual at first.
If you have a weak stomach, do not order black pudding or tripe soup. Poles are proud of their cuisine, and it may hurt your date's feelings if you spit the house specialty straight back into their plate.
If in doubt, you can't go wrong with pierogies (dumplings) - they are usually very tasty and completely safe.
3. Handle the bill tactfully
The attitude towards traditional gender roles is very strong among Poles, and this should be taken into account when paying the bill in a restaurant. As in many traditional societies, it is common for men to pay. However, there are also modern women who are very bothered by this long-established practice.
Another custom says that it should be the inviting party who settles the bill regardless of gender.
To be on the safe side, offer to pay twice. Poles tend to always refuse the first time out of politeness and only accept on the second or third attempt.
If your date continues to refuse to let you pay the bill, don't insist any further. Respect their decision and split the bill.
Don'ts - This is what you should avoid
1. Don't be too original
Some Poles like to be surprised. If you don't know that much about your date yet, you'll be on the safe side if you don't overdo it.
It may not be the best idea to use an outlandish idea from a movie or internet forum as a template. Special activities, locations or general conditions can make a powerful impression in individual cases, but the risk of a fiasco is high.
If you want to suggest an activity, choose something nice and harmless at the same time, such as: B. for a culinary workshop or a wine tasting.
2. Avoid old-fashioned greetings
A kiss on the hand is a no-go these days. Even though you may have seen it in Polish films, younger generations see it as old-fashioned.
Usually a firm handshake or a simple “Hello” is enough.
Many Poles also choose a kiss on the cheek. Remember that three kisses are reserved for family members.
General behavior, etiquette and manners
Social norms, traditional customs in social interaction and manners play a major role among tradition-conscious Poles. Appropriate knowledge will help you avoid undesirable reactions.
A general key tip can perhaps be formulated as follows: Always be a gentleman! Polish women still expect men to be masculine, gallant and gentleman-like. They expect them to hold doors for them, straighten chairs, or give them a hand as they get out of the car.
Do's - This is what you should do
Photo by Marius Muresan @muresan113
1. Flowers open the way to the heart - but they should be the right ones
Buying flowers is a popular custom in Poland, but before you run to the nearest florist, you should floral etiquette . There are a few unwritten rules when dealing with flowers. This applies to giving gifts as well as receiving flowers.
If a Polish applicant brings you a bouquet of flowers, thank them - even if you don't like flowers. Joking or complaining about the gesture would be a fatal mistake.
On the other hand, when choosing flowers for a Polish woman, avoid the color yellow. Flowers of this color are often associated with envy, insincerity or even betrayal.
Red is reserved for romantic relationships and can be considered too intrusive for a first date.
Traditionally, a pink bouquet was always a sign of friendship that could transform into something more, while a blue bouquet indicated loyalty, although these meanings are slowly disappearing from the collective consciousness.
Roses of other colors are fine (except perhaps black roses, but this is probably a universal rule).
Another important point is to always offer an odd number of flowers. Bouquet with an even number is reserved for funerals.
2. Mirror your counterpart
Try to mirror your date's behavior to make them feel more comfortable. This contributes to an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
In Poland, it is considered rude if one person orders food or alcohol while the other does not. On the other hand, Poles outperform most other nations when it comes to drinking habits and resistance to drinking.
So if you're not in the mood for that eighth shot of vodka, it might be wiser to admit defeat than to further spectacularly humiliate yourself later in the evening.
3. Accompany your date to public transportation
It used to be expected that the man would bring his date home towards the end of the meeting. Today, accompanying someone to a public transportation stop is considered an acceptable end to a romantic evening. So don’t be surprised if your potential sweetheart suggests this – this is a common practice in the contemporary Polish dating world.
Additionally, failure to propose can be taken as a lack of interest and a sign of a date gone wrong.
It is also common for those traveling by car to offer their companion transportation home.
However, keep in mind that drinking and driving are strictly prohibited in Poland. Therefore, choose your mode of transport according to your consumption of alcoholic beverages.
In this country too, ending your first evening together at a police station is unlikely to contribute to a promising partnership initiation.
4. Remain gallant and show your composure
Usually Polish dates end with a kiss on the cheek. Unless your date was extreme or special in one way or another, it's best to stick to this tradition.
Leaving the date in a rude or impatient manner is interpreted as rejection. Aggressive and intrusive displays of affection on the other hand will...well, we all know how that ends.
And remember: as already mentioned, two or three kisses on the cheek are for aunts and grannies.
Don'ts - This is what you should avoid
1. No derogatory comments about Poland and Polish culture
Do not make condescending, negative or stereotypical comments about Poland!
This is probably the most important no-go of all. There is no Pole who will be amused or even impressed when they hear that their country is a backward developing country in the former Soviet republic.
If you are unsure or have little knowledge, it is better to ask open questions. Do not make questionable jokes or ambiguous references.
Now, Poles themselves may complain about anything and everything that has to do with Poland, from the government to the healthcare system to the weather.
Even if your date criticizes Poland, it's definitely safer not to join in.
Because Poles like to have the exclusive right to do this. If you judge Polish culture or economic growth, your date will quickly become defensive or even offended. So such behavior won't get you anywhere.
If you want to win your date's heart, ask informed questions instead. Your counterpart will certainly be happy to help you understand the complexity of Polish history and its traditions.
Lots more tips, advice and helpful information
Would you like to know more? More tips and helpful advice from people who need to know? Then watch the following videos (unfortunately only available in English):
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