Colors of Bialystok - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Local people are tactful and communicative people. During holidays and celebrations, they are friendly and like talking to people they know a little. They will have fun and tell jokes, keeping the distance at the same time. Local people talk about private themes with close friends and relatives only, but when communicating with people they do not know so well they will find many interesting and pleasant themes. People in Bialystok also have quite an unusual way of talking. It feels like nothing can put them out of temper. Even in the moments of arguing, they are always very polite and keep insisting that their opinion is the right one – it is almost impossible to make them change it.

It is not that simple to earn the trust of local people. They do not care about words that much and value actions only. Travelers, who plan to meet business partners in Bialystok, should be prepared to the fact that it won’t be fast and simple to create strong bonds and good relations. At the same time, the reward is worth the effort – strong friendship with local people. For locals, there is no big difference between close friends and relatives because they consider affinity of souls as important as blood ties. The phrase “this is my friend” is particularly important both in career and private affairs because it has a special meaning in the country.

Many tourists say that local people are very different from the typical European image that most of them have. They are easier to communicate, quite easy-going and friendly. Religiousness is another distinctive feature of local people, and age has no meaning there. Young people often go to church to pray for their relatives. It is normal for them to enter a church and make a short pray before an important exam. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Some ways of expressing politeness may seem a bit unusual to foreigners, but it’s impossible to call them unpleasant. For example, when entering a governmental office or a shop, it is important to greet people inside. Sellers will surely greet visitors first and offer their help. In cafes or restaurants, tourists must be prepared to hear phrases like “bon appetite” from unknown people passing by. Of course, travelers should not forget to reciprocate these signs of politeness. It is important to mention that, as a rule, tourists quickly adopt this behavior and enjoy it.

As one of the largest cities in Poland, Bialystok regularly hosts various interesting festivals, some of which have become internationally famous. Halfway Festival is one of these events. This is one of a kind festival that connects musicians and listeners. That is even stated in the motto of the event: “close to people, close to music”. There are no headliners as every artist is important at Halfway. There are also no serious restrictions and rules, and so visitors can talk to musicians or see them walking around. There is also no fixed schedule, so musicians can perform as long as they and audience want and don’t worry about leaving the scene for the next band.

Folk, electronic, and alternative music are the main genres at Halfway Festival. The event takes place in a unique venue – the amphitheater at Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Art Centre. The scene is very close to the audience, so attendees will be able to see their favorite musicians in detail. Up To Date Festival is one more must-visit event for all music fans. It covers different music styles, from techno to ambient, hip-hop to modern classical. The event takes place at the beginning of September in Opera House and the underground garages at Bialystok City Stadium. Fans of art will be more interested in another event – Modern Art Days Festival. Initially a theatre festival, this event covers different types of art now. During ten days, city halls, theatres, and even squares become stages for various performances, literature meetings, dance shows, visual art presentations, and other events.