Szulborze Wielkie

Szulborze Wielkie [ʂulˈbɔʐɛ ˈvjɛlkʲɛ] is a village in Ostrów Mazowiecka County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Szulborze Wielkie.[1] It lies approximately 23 kilometres (14 mi) east of Ostrów Mazowiecka and 104 km (65 mi) north-east of Warsaw.

Szulborze Wielkie
Village
Szulborze Wielkie
Coordinates: 52°46′N 22°14′E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Masovian
County	Ostrów Mazowiecka
Gmina	Szulborze Wielkie

Introduction
We are inviting all enthusiasts of history, of beautiful environment and amazing mazovian culture to the gmina (administrative district) Szulborze Wielkie. Szulborze Wielkie belongs in the Mazovian province, in the Ostrów Mazowiecka district. Is found near gminas: Zaręby Kościelne, Nur, Małkinia, Andrzejewo and Czyżew. It lies 24 kilometers(14 mi) east Ostrów Mazowiecka and 104 kilometers (65 mi) north-east of Warsaw. The gmina covers an area of 47 km˛ and as of 2010 total population is 1893 people. The gmina's surroundings are lovely forests. Our area is quite flat, so our parents and grandparents were usually farmers Gmina has many amazing views: Meadows and glades, ponds and rivers. The flora is also rich: wheat, corn, oats, rye, tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbages, cucumbers. The typical animals on the farm are: cow, pigs, hens, and in the forest are boars and deers.

History
Gmina Szulborze lies on the ziemia nurska above the river Dębianka. The village was established by Albert Szulborski of the coat of arms Mora. For the first time Szulborze is recalled in Actis terrestribus Dohocensibus (on file of ziemia drochoceńskaj) in 1547. Family Szulborscy wasn’t very rich landed gentry. However, the most famous in our gmina is the village Gostkowo.There had been living Malowiescy family. Małowiescy probably built the manor house in Gostkowo from the half of the 19th century, which exists up till today. It stands up above Brok, on North West end of the village. It is a wooden detached house. There was a big park and two ponds around this manor house. In Gostkowo the legend says lived a man was converted. He founded a statue of St Jan Nepomucen. It was put on the meadow in 1882. A local talking legend of the man which was converted is connected with a statue of a saint. Close to the road Szulborze – Czyżew, stands a stone signpost. It was built in the days of 19th century. It is possible to read two inscriptions carved in the stone: "Czyżew ½ mi" and "Gostkowo ¼ mi". There is second old legend. There is a pond near the road from Gredzice to Mianowek. A peasant called Gredzica lived in Gredzice. The name of this village was given by him. He was a man of enormous health. In this house was working a young housemaid and a Gredzica's wife seemed to be jealous. When the housemaid was doing the washing in the local pond, the wife drowned her. This pond is famous for some strange events.
During the Second World War the Szulborze area came under the rule of the General Government a German Nazi colonial administration. But since 24 June 1940 it belonged to the Soviet administration department. In July 1941 German come back. People tried to fight for freedom. 4.PP battalion of Home Army (AK) was formed. During the Second World War in the village Mianówek took places the most tragic events. The Jewish population of Czyżew, Zaręby Kościelne, Andrzejewo is buried there, murdered by the Nazis in August 1941. 5,000 Jews were executed. There are 2 monuments to commemorate this execution. On the tables in Polish and Hebrew we can read: "Here in the mass grave contains the remains of 5,000 Jewish men, women and children from towns Zaręby, Czyżew, Andrzejewo. There were brutally murdered by the Nazi murderers in autumn 1941. Their only crime was that they were Jews. Honor their memory".
After the war Szulborze was a part of Ostrów district as the rural gmina.

Local Customs
Grandma's and Grandpa's Day
Every year, on 21 and 22 January, our grandparents celebrate their own day. This day is very important, because we can show them our love and respect. In some families, the wishes cannot be given through the phone simply, so the grandsons and granddaughters visit grandparents in the family house. Except of wishes they get a lot of presents. Grandchildren usually bake a sweet cake with candles. There is a custom which says, if a celebrating person close his/her eyes and blow the lights from candles off, his/her wish will come true. In primary school, younger classes often organize a party for their grandparents, They play a short performance as a gift.
Mother's Day
All mothers celebrate their special day in gmina Szulborze Wielkie. Children give them flowers, cards, chocolates, and the most important – wishes. Sometimes they even do the housework, so mothers can rest and enjoy their free time. They do this, because they want to thank for an effort that mothers put in children education. Teachers from our school also prepare a gift for all our mothers. In younger classes it is a nice performance, in older – parents’ meeting..

Birthday
It has been accepted in our community, that birth anniversary should be celebrated. Person who is celebrating his/her birthday, usually buys a bag full of candies and takes it to the teacher during the lesson. Teacher wishes him/her a happy birthday, smile on face, much money, good grades and much more. Then the classmates sing "Happy Birthday" song. Every time they sing it, they do it carefully, without rush – strange, isn’t it? This activity is repeated during each lesson that day. Of course this is the official part. After the lesson, a classmates gather somewhere away from the staff room and they start their own custom, such as hitting with a belt the celebrating person. At home there is organized a party. The celebrating person invites his/her family and friends. There's a lot of food and drinks with a birthday cake prepared for him/her.

Children's Day
The most desired day by every child and teenager is Children's Day. In this day, children don’t worry about anything, they aren’t interested in anything except having fun. First, Children get wishes and presents from parents and this is only the small part of the attractions in this day. The best thing about this feast is that there aren't any lessons at school. During last Children's Day we were able to watch a spectacular performance and a lecture about addictions led by our school psychologist, Mrs. Alicja Zakrzewska. We learnt the basics of first aid and also took part in an art contest or in a run on 800 meters. At the end of the day, we ate delicious sausages and we drank an orange juice.

Holidays
Christmas
We all love Christmas because of its magic atmosphere. In my opinion, it is a special time, when people forget all their problems and try to be together. Christmas helps people change themselves for better. They become kind, friendly and generous. Some days before Christmas, people clean their houses. Housewives usually cook special dishes and bake Christmas cakes. On the day preceding Christmas, called Christmas Eve we set up the Christmas tree and we decorate it with chains and candles. When everything is ready, it's time for Christmas Eve supper. As soon as the first star appears in the sky, we take seats at the Christmas table. There is always one empty place for an unexpected guest. Before we start eating, we share the holy wafer, we also give presents to one another. Then we taste such dishes as red borsch, pies with sour cabbage and mushrooms, fried carp and lots of cakes. Meanwhile, we sing carols or just listen to them. At midninght we often go to church to attend a midnight mass. Next day, 25 December, the first day of Christmas, we usually spend at home- eating a lot of Christmas food, singing carols and having a great time. On the second day of Christmas we either pay or receive visits.
Easter
We usually celebrate Easter in April. It is the springtime Christian festival, a very specific period of time for all the believers. At Easter we celebrate Christ's Resurrection, and His victory over death and sin. On Holy Saturday, we go to the church with basket full of eggs, sausages and bread, which is called the Easter Basket, to sacrifice it. On Easter Sunday we meet our relatives for a festive breakfast. Children get the sweets from Easter Bunny, and sometimes they look for chocolate eggs hidden in the house. People wish one another "Happy Easter" and have an occasion to talk together, too. On Easter Monday everyone can expect to be drenched with water.

Important Local Events
Open-air Festival
Once a year, there is an open-air festival organized by our gmina. Usually it takes place in the playground of our school. There is everything we need to have fun on festival. We can listen to music performed by a popular music star like Ewelina Flinta, eat a meal or drink something up.
Golden Wedding
Golden Wedding is a feast organized in our gmina. Wojt of our gmina invited pairs which lived together for 50 years and gave them medals.

School
We did a survey of students in Junior Secondary School in Szulborze Wielkie. We learned what they think about our school and what they would change. Students also told us what they achieved example results or goals. 90% pupils responded that if they were from another past of Poland they would like to get more information about a location, a history and would like some details information about how to spend time in an attractive way in Szulborze Wielkie. 50% students want would need to know something about culture and landscape of our mother country. All students responded that our local area is interesting and we can see here example: Jews monument and bunkers from the Second World War.

Our local history says that the first school in Szulborze Wielkie opened in 1910. We know that Wincenty Szwantucz was the first teacher in Szulborze. Then from 25 January 1919 Marcel Bujanowski started to work. He made a real students’ list. The school was public. An average attendance was 61. There were three classes. Subjects which children were taught were:
• R.E
• Polish language
• Accounts
• Art
• Singing
The great students’ success was to finish the school, because children were working on the farms and in the fields so they usually look after a herd of cows on the meadow. Before the Second World War: Maria Godlewska, Marian Zalewski, Zofia Napiwocka, Paweł Dybek and Balanka were working as a teacher. The first wooden school building was in informal way in time of the Second World War. When the Second World Was finished the old school building was in a bad condition. Local people collected money and prepared materials for a new building during 10 years. After 14 years they built a new school, which still exists. In 2009 the whole community commemorated this event.
However history is made by people. Really important for this school was scouts. There were two teams between 1947-1996. The last scoutmasters was Mrs. Janina Zalewska and Mr. Krzysztof Michalec. They organized many camps in Poland and abroad. The scoutmaster Mr. Michalec formed a musicals group that played nice music and sing. It was called, "The Lemonade Scout". It took part in many famous festivals of music. The famous Polish archbishop Stanisław Wyszyński become a patron of the Primary school in Szulborze Wielkie in 29.05.2002 r. In the 2007 - 2008 was built a new part of school, the gymnasium and the hall. The opening meeting was 10.12. 2008. today, this object is also used by all inhabitants of our gmina. There are 18 teachers and 89 pupils in the Primary school and 79 students in Junior Secondary School.. Teachers are always willing to help and very friendly. At school we have two computer labs, a tennis court, a volleyball pitch, a basketball pitch and a playground. The headmaster Andrzej Grabowski says he wants to ensure that all pupils cared for, and the school is called the diamond mines. Students can develop their interest and can improve their skills.

Young people from our area in their spare time listening to music, watching movies, learning, but also meeting with friends. 90% of student say that school supports modern ideas for the benefit of students and attractive as well because they can spend time meeting together. Most teenagers do not know how to learn or do not like learn, however, 45% of them like learning. While they were talking about they mentioned: good marks winning competitions and their friends. Some say that they did not win anything, because they were not interesting in the school affairs. Teenagers say that teachers require a lot from them and want them to have grown to the wise. Some people say that teachers are not interested in their problems. In conclusion! We have a good opinion about our school, but we would like to change a few things. Nothing is perfect.

References

1. "Central Statistical Office (GUS) - TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal)" (in Polish). 1 June 2008.