"Gromnica," the Polish Thunder Candle

  The crash of thunder, the rush of wind, the howl of wolves in the distance, all are staples of an atmosphere that summons some of our darkest fears. In a rural Poland, these fears could be dangerous realities that preyed on the conscience of our ancestors even more so. Seeking refuge in their unique sense of spirituality and religion, Poland gave birth to the tradition of the Gromnica or Thunder Candle. In this episode, we examine the elements of this tradition and how you can bring it back whenever fear or the natural elements threaten. Our Polish Saint of the Month is St. Hedwig of Silesia. Bibliography: Gawell, Donna “Gromnica: Thunder Candle” ⁠https://donnagawell.com/europe/poland/gromnica-the-thunder-candle/⁠ Meet the Slavs “Gromnica: Polish Candlemas Day” ⁠https://meettheslavs.com/gromnica/⁠ My Catholic Life, “St. Hedwig” ⁠https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/october-17-st-hedwige/⁠ Wikepedia, “Hedwig of Silesia” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedwig_of_Silesia Music: Chopin - Grande Valse Brillante, Opus 18 by GregorQuendel -- https://freesound.org/s/713354/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Accordion-music-reverb.wav by eyenorth -- https://freesound.org/s/482212/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 220118_1781-2_FR_ChurchOrgan.wav by kevp888 -- https://freesound.org/s/615216/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Piano for Meditation by SergeQuadrado -- https://freesound.org/s/740607/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0