{"id":18381,"date":"2021-11-15T00:46:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-14T23:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pb.edu.pl\/sjo\/learning-polish\/poland-and-poles\/przydrozne-kapliczki\/"},"modified":"2023-02-02T14:17:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T13:17:47","slug":"roadside-shrines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pb.edu.pl\/sjo\/en\/learning-polish\/poland-and-poles\/roadside-shrines\/","title":{"rendered":"Roadside shrines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Captivating<\/h1>\n

Roadside shrines<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Roadside shrines<\/strong> are an inseparable element of the Polish landscape. There are thousands of them located at the crossroads of country roads, but also in cities: in the streets, near private houses or even in the gardens.<\/p>\n

It is not known exactly when this ‘small sacred architecture’ appeared in our country. The practice of erecting shrines probably dates back to pagan times, other sources indicate their Greco-Roman origin.<\/p>\n

The shrines are primarily an expression of the faith of our ancestors. Usually, they were erected for thanksgiving, votive or ritual purposes. Their forms are very different: from simple wooden boxes with a picture of Virgin Mary inside, to small, beautifully decorated, brick or stone buildings, where you can enter and pray in front of an intricately made sculpture of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n