pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type =

Historical region Historical regions (or historical areas) are geographical regions which at some point in time had a cultural, ethnic, linguistic or political basis, regardless of latterday borders. They are used as delimitations for studying and analysing soc ...

, anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag = Kashubian flag.svg , map_caption = , coordinates = , image_shield = Kaszëbsczi Herb.png , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Region , subdivision_name1 =

Pomerania Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...

, capital = Kartuzy , largest_city = Wejherowo , seat_type = Largest cities , seat = Gdynia, Sopot, Puck, Kościerzyna, Bytów, Kartuzy, Wejherowo,

Gdańsk Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...

, timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST = CEST , utc_offset_DST = +2 , area_total_km2 = , area_footnotes = , population_total = , population_as_of = , population_footnotes = , population_demonym = Kashubian , blank_info_sec2 = , iso_code = , image_map1 = Kashubia or Cassubia ( csb, Kaszëbë, Kaszëbskô, pl, Kaszuby, german: Kaschubei, Kaschubien) is a language area in the historic Eastern

( Pomerelia) region of northern

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

. It is defined by the widespread use of the

Kashubian language Kashubian or Cassubian (Kashubian: ', pl, język kaszubski) is a West Slavic language belonging to the Lechitic subgroup along with Polish and Silesian.Stephen Barbour, Cathie Carmichael, ''Language and Nationalism in Europe'', Oxford Univer ...

Location and geography

Located west of

(inclusive of all but the easternmost district) and the mouth of the

Vistula The Vistula (; pl, Wisła, ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest river in Europe, at in length. The drainage basin, reaching into three other nations, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra in ...

river, it is inhabited by members of the Kashubian ethnic group. The region is home to the Kashubian Lake District. According to the 1999 basic study ''Geografia współczesnych Kaszub'' (Geography of present-day Kashubia) by the Gdańsk scholar Jan Mordawski 43 municipalities (''

gmina The gmina (Polish: , plural ''gminy'' , from German ''Gemeinde'' meaning ''commune'') is the principal unit of the administrative division of Poland, similar to a municipality. , there were 2,477 gminas throughout the country, encompassing over 4 ...

s'') of the Pomeranian Voivodeship have a Kashubian share of at least one third of the total population: * Cities: Gdynia (''Gdiniô'') * Bytów County (''Bëtowsczi kréz''): Town of Bytów (''Bëtowò'') with Gmina Bytów, Gmina Czarna Dąbrówka (''Czôrnô Dãbrówka''),

Gmina Lipnica __NOTOC__ Gmina Lipnica ( csb, Lëpnica) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Bytów County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Lipnica, which lies approximately south of Bytów and south-west of the ...

(''Lëpnica''), Gmina Parchowo (''Parchòwò''), Gmina Tuchomie (''Tëchòmié'') *

Chojnice County __NOTOC__ Chojnice County ( csb, Chòniczzi kréz, pl, powiat chojnicki) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Po ...

(''Chònicczi kréz''): Town of

Brusy Brusy ( Kashubian: ''Brusë''; formerly german: Bruß) is a town in northern Poland, located in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. As of December 2021, the town has a population of 5,201. History Brusy was a royal village of the Polish Crown, adminis ...

(''Brusë'') with Gmina Brusy, Gmina Chojnice (''Chojnice''),

Gmina Konarzyny __NOTOC__ Gmina Konarzyny ( csb, Kònarzënë) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Konarzyny, which lies approximately north-west of Chojnice and ...

(''Kònarzënë'') * Człuchów County (''Człëchòwsczi kréz''): Gmina Przechlewo (''Przechlewò'') * Lębork County (''Lãbòrsczi kréz''):

Gmina Cewice __NOTOC__ Gmina Cewice ( csb, Céwice) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Lębork County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Cewice, which lies approximately south of Lębork and west of the reg ...

(''Céwice'') * Kartuzy County (''Kartësczi kréz''): Town of Kartuzy (''Kartuzë'') with Gmina Kartuzy, Town of

Żukowo Żukowo ( csb, Żukòwò, german: Zuckau, la, Sucovia) is a town in the Kartuzy County, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of northern Poland, in the geographical region of Kashubia, with 6,236 inhabitants (2005). It is located along the Radunia r ...

(''Żukòwò'') with Gmina Żukowo, Gmina Chmielno (''Chmielno''), Gmina Przodkowo (''Przedkòwò''), Gmina Sulęczyno (''Sëlëczëno''), Gmina Sierakowice (''Sërakòjce''), Gmina Somonino (''Somònino''), Gmina Stężyca (''Stãżëca'') * Kościerzyna County (''Kòscérsczi kréz''): Town of Kościerzyna (''Kòscérzëna'') with Gmina Kościerzyna,

Gmina Dziemiany __NOTOC__ Gmina Dziemiany ( csb, Dzemiónë) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Kościerzyna County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Dziemiany, which lies approximately south-west of Kościerzy ...

(''Dzemiónë''),

Gmina Karsin __NOTOC__ Gmina Karsin ( csb, Kôrsëno) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Kościerzyna County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Karsin, which lies approximately south of Kościerzyna and sou ...

(''Kôrsëno''), Gmina Lipusz (''Lëpùsz''), Gmina Nowa Karczma (''Nowô Karczma'') * Puck County (''Pùcczi kréz''): Town of Puck (''Pùck'') with

Gmina Puck __NOTOC__ Gmina Puck is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the town of Puck, although the town is not part of the territory of the gmina. The gmina covers an area of , ...

, towns of Hel (''Hél''),

Jastarnia Jastarnia ( csb, Jastarniô, german: Heisternest) is a resort town in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodship, northern Poland. It is located on the Hel Peninsula on the Baltic Sea. It is a popular Polish seaside resort and small fishing port. The ...

(''Jastarniô'') and

Władysławowo Władysławowo ( Kashubian/ Pomeranian: ''Wiôlgô Wies'', german: Großendorf) is a city on the south coast of the Baltic Sea in Kashubia in the Pomerelia region, northern Poland, with 15,015 (2009) inhabitants. History In 1634 engineer Fr ...

(''Wiôlgô Wies''), Gmina Kosakowo (''Kòsôkòwò''),

Gmina Krokowa __NOTOC__ Gmina Krokowa ( csb, Krokòwa) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Krokowa, which lies approximately north-west of Puck and north-west of ...

(''Krokòwa'') * Wejherowo County (''Wejrowsczi kréz''): Town of Wejherowo (''Wejrowò'') and Gmina Wejherowo, towns of Reda (''Réda'') and Rumia (''Rëmiô''),

Gmina Choczewo __NOTOC__ Gmina Choczewo ( csb, Chòczewò, german: Chottschow) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Wejherowo County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Choczewo, which lies approximately north-wes ...

(''Chòczewò''), Gmina Gniewino (''Gniewino''), Gmina Linia (''Lëniô''), Gmina Luzino (''Lëzëno''),

Gmina Łęczyce __NOTOC__ Gmina Łęczyce ( csb, Łãczëcë) is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Wejherowo County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. Its seat is the village of Łęczyce, which lies approximately west of Wejherowo and no ...

(''Łãczëce''), Gmina Szemud (''Szëmôłd'')

Culture

Kashubian emblem and flag

Although there are no legal regulations regarding the use of Kashubian symbols, the

griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon ( Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and ...

, i.e. a mythical animal, derived from antiquity, is considered the emblem and symbol of the Kashubians. The Kashubian griffin is in black on a yellow background (optionally golden). The colors of the Kashubian flag are taken from the emblem - the upper color is black, and the lower one is yellow (golden). A Kashubian flag with a griffin in the center is also used. If there is an emblem on the flag, then the background is yellow.

Embroidery

Embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen ...

is an important part of Kashubian culture which uses seven colours; three shades of blue representing the sky, the lakes and

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...

, green representing the meadows and forests, yellow representing the sun, red representing the peoples' love for the region, and the red representing the hard work of the Kashubians. Its origins date back to the early 13th century.

Cuisine

Kashubian cuisine is mostly based on

fish Fish are Aquatic animal, aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack Limb (anatomy), limbs with Digit (anatomy), digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and Chondrichthyes, cartilaginous and bony fish as we ...

and

meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...

Grain A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit ( caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legum ...

is also widely used within Kashubian dishes. Herring are the most widely used fish due to their high numbers in the region.

Mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...

s are also a part of Kashubia's wide variety of dishes.

Music

Kashubia has a wide variety of

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

; Zemia Rodnô is widely considered to be the anthem of Kashubia. The most recognised Kashubian song is ''Kaszëbsczé nótë'', a traditional song that is the most recognisable part of Kashubian

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, rangin ...

. Dances are also a noticeable part of Kashubian culture, which are moderately energetic, except for a few. The most famous dance is the ''Kòséder''.

Language

According to Edwin Rozenkranz, the term "Kashubia" was introduced to Gdańsk Pomerania by Slavic displaced people from Western Pomerania (mainly knights), who had to give way to German colonists over time. The name stuck to these lands at the end of the Middle Ages, and it was popularized in the 16th century. Therefore, the Kashubian language is a Slavic language with some German influences with the status of an official language since 2005.

Religion

The population of the region, alike the majority of Poland, is predominantly

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. Important regional Catholic sites include the Wejherowo Calvary in Wejherowo, and the Church of the Assumption within the former Carthusian monastery in Kartuzy.

References

External links

kaszubia.com

kaszebsko.com

Ducatus Pomeraniae Tabula Generalis in Qua sunt Ducatus Pomeraniae, Stettinensis, Cassubiae,... 1680
{{Authority control Kashubia Pomerania Regions of Poland Historical regions in Poland