This is not a chapter about Polish cuisine, but about Polish traditions in relation to food.

when do Poles eat?

Typically, Poles eat 3 meals per day - breakfast, usually between 6 and 9 a.m., lunch, typically between 12 and 3 p.m., and dinner, around 7 p.m. Some also eat a so-called 2^nd breakfast, typically coffe with a piece of cake or a sandwich, around 10 a.m.

However, restaurants remain open throughout the entire afternoon and evening, and tend to close around 10 p.m. Cafes often close a bit earlier, around 8 p.m.

what do Poles eat?

This, of course, heavily depends on the Pole, but breakfast usually consists of either cereal or sandwiches, lunch is usually a warm meal, often two-course, and dinner is usually served cold and consists of sandwiches and other bite-sized foods.

Please note that many Poles abstain from eating meat on Sundays due to religious reasons.

where do Poles eat?

The vast majority of Poles eats only at work, at school or at home and very rarely eats out. This is simply because of the added expense of eating out. Breakfast is always eaten at home, before work/school, lunch is usually eaten at work/school at a designated canteen, while dinner is eaten at home, often with the entire family.

This is not as applicable in Warsaw, where it is common and cheaper (thanks to special offers) to eat lunch in restaurants.

Poland's population is almost entirely Catholic. As such, a majority of Poles go to church every Sunday for about 1-2 hours, typically in the morning. Religion also affects Poland in many other ways - in small villages and towns, churches are also a place of culture and an organizer of public events. On religious holidays, people also often go to church.

It is very important not to disrespect religion in any way, for example by being loud in churches. It is good practice to cross yourself as you enter a church, and to take your hat off. It's not permitted to take photos with flash turned on inside churches. You will also not be very welcome as a guest tourist during a Sunday mass.

In large cities, this is not as applicable as fewer people attend church every Sunday (or at all for that matter).

Poland is very uniform demographically, and there are very few ethnic groups in the country. Nonetheless, the most significant have been outlined below. If a group is not mentioned below, it means that you are highly unlikely to meet any member of that group during your trip to Poland.

Ukrainians

There are approximately 1 million Ukrainian immigrants in Poland as of 2019, spread out across the entire country. Statistically, Ukrainians are more likely to be employed at low-level positions, and you may encounter them in places like restaurants and shopping malls. The Ukrainian minority has also given rise to many authentic Ukrainian restaurants, where you can experience many dishes that very few have tasted.

Silesians

Silesia is a region in Southern Poland with its own, admittedly quite tiny, language and culture. The Silesians and their culture are slowly being assimilated into Poland and Polish culture, but they can still be found on the Silesian countryside. If you have the chance and will to try something truly unusual, head to a Silesian restaurant.