POLISH "GREGORIANKI" SCHOOL FESTIVAL MARCH 12 In parish elementary schools, founded in Poland in the 15th c., the school year traditionally began on March 12th. Several days prior, seminarians ("klechy"), cantors, organists and sextons scoured the neighborhood to remind parents that the "4 Rs" -- readin', writin', 'rithmatic and religion -- would be taught to the brightest children beginning with the feastday of St. Gregory. At the close of the 16th c., the day became associated with a festival called "Gregorianki", when boys would dress as priests, bishops and organists, visiting homes with a song: Gre-gre-grogoly, Give your children to the school, Money for some honey, too, Gregorianki bagels, too. Give us funds without delay If you're broke, earn some today! With the money, eggs, pastry, kielbasa and dried fruit they collected, the students would arrange a party, chasing their new schoolmates about and often draping their seminarian-instructors with wreaths of bagels. "Gregorianki" was often equated with the advent of springtime when one could anticipate March thaws and the end of winter. An old Polish proverb -- Na s~wie~tego Grzegorza idzie zima do morza -- states that: On St. Greg'ry's day, you see, Winter journeys to the sea. DAN KIJ (pron. "Key"), Buffalo-Lackawanna NY USA POLfrina - Polish Family Research Institute of North America Secretary/Librarian, PGSNYS