Members of the University of Connecticut’s Polish Cultural Society traveled to New York City on Sunday to take part in the 88th Pulaski Day Parade, an event that unites thousands of Polish Americans from across the tri-state area.
According to the official Pulaski Parade website, this year’s parade, held on Fifth Avenue, celebrated the ‘1,000th Anniversary of the Polish Kingdom’ and honored Gen. Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman and Revolutionary War hero. Since 1937, the parade has been held annually on the first Sunday of October to recognize Pulaski’s contributions to American independence and the Polish American community. The event coincides closely with General Pulaski Memorial Day on Oct. 11, marking his death at the Siege of Savannah in 1779.
For many UConn students, the event was a chance to connect with their background in a lively, public way.
“It was really cool to see a bunch of people who are similar to me,” fifth semester accounting major Izabella Olszewski said. “I loved the Polish community, seeing everyone together, speaking the same language and wearing similar clothes. It’s just cool to see, and it felt like home.”
First-semester exercise science major Isabella Pontecorvo shared a similar feeling.
“For me, it felt like being home,” Pontecorvo said. “My mom’s side of the family is super Polish; they’re very chaotic and big party people. Seeing all those other people representing their country with so much pride, eating Polish food and speaking the language itself, made me comfortable. It just made me so happy.”
Both students joined the Polish Cultural Society after learning about it at the Involvement Fair. Olszewski, who speaks Polish at home with her parents, said she wanted to find a space on campus that reminded her of that part of her life. Pontecorvo said she joined for similar reasons and has enjoyed being part of a small, close-knit group at UConn.
The day of the parade was full of music, food and celebration.
“I loved seeing all the floats that were super decked out and blasting disco polo songs that everyone knows,” Olszewski said. “We were all dancing and having a great time.”
Pontecorvo said her favorite part of the day was reuniting with relatives who live in the area.
“My favorite part was seeing my family,” she said. “I haven’t seen them in a long time because I’m at school, so seeing them was really heartwarming.”
Both students said attending the parade helped them feel more connected to their culture while balancing life at college.
“It makes me feel more involved,” Olszewski said. “I enjoy being involved in things that connect me to my Polish heritage, whether that’s interacting with other Polish people or participating in events like the parade. It makes me feel like I’m a part of a bigger community.”
For Pontecorvo, the most meaningful part was hearing and speaking Polish throughout the day.
“Usually that’s not the case,” she said. “I loved hearing all the music, too. Usually, I only hear American music in English. The shift in language made me feel more connected to my Polish roots.”
Back at UConn, the Polish Cultural Society continues to give students a space to celebrate their shared background.
“At school I’m typically being separated from the culture in my household that I was constantly surrounded by,” Olszewski said. “It’s really great to be able to attend events and be a part of a club like this because it feels like home.”
Pontecorvo added that being part of the group gives her something unique on campus.
“I feel like it’s an escape from being a typical student,” Pontecorvo said. “Obviously not everyone speaks Polish, and I feel like the Polish Cultural Society is a relatively smaller group of people. This was different, but in a good way. I can speak my language and eat food that not many people here eat. Overall, I feel like this was an amazing experience.”