But in reality there is no ordinarily accepted definition of Polish people. Basing it on what the Preamble of the Constitution of Poland has stated that the Poland consists of all citizens of the Polish nation. But there is a limitation. They limit it to native speakers of the Polish language. Just like in any other countries of Europe, citizens should be people who share the same views or traditions. The Polish people are people who have the same ethnic background but originating from Poland.
The Polish people are said to be numbering about 50 million. In Poland alone, it is estimated that the Polish people numbered 30 million. The rest of the Polish people are distributed in neighboring countries like Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus. But there are also Polish people in Russia. They are a minority which was either forcibly deported or those who belonged to the autochthonous Poles.
Considering the richness of their history and their diverse culture, the Polish people take pride in their history and achievements. Hard working and industrious race, the Polish people are living a special way of life. Notable of this is their respect for their heroic, Slavic and Christian traditions.
Their visual and artistic senses are highly developed. The Polish people loved for culinary pleasures which are a mixture of Slavic and Latin characteristics of meals are evident. As a people who consider the family as the basic unity of society, the Polish people remain true to tradition wherever they are in the world.
Because of their chaotic history, the Polish went on to save their national identity through their language, traditions and customs. They also preserved their religious practices after regaining independence. To this they have organized Polish folkloric ensembles, cultural organizations and Polish choirs. The traditional crafts and arts like Szopka (Polish paper cutting), wooden churches, and folk dances and songs are preserved up to present time.
Culturally speaking, the Polish people boast of their natural, cultural, historical and architectural values. UNESCO has considered them as part of World Heritage. Poland has 10 sites preserved by the World Heritage program for posterity.
In everyday life, the Polish people love to have guests in their homes and dine with pleasures. They are a tea-loving nation and they also love cakes. The Polish people love to drink vodka and beer and not so much of drinking wine. They are fun loving defying the impression of a drab and grey atmosphere of the country.
Poland has also its share of very famous Polish who greatly contributed to wonders in arts, music and its arrangements and physical science, great thinkers, educators, athletes and not to forget the famous of them all in the 21st century, the beloved pope John Paul. World renown of them are Frederick Chopin, Walter Dana, Madame Curie, Roman Polanski, Jan Kiepura, Leopold Stokowski, Ron Jaworski, and a list of other great notables.
