THE ROLE OF NAVAL CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS IN UPBRINGING OF THE POLISH YOUTH BEFORE AND AFTER 1989

Abstract

Gdynia, the city born from the sea, is a place where one of the bringing up methods, right since the city was founded, has been so-called naval upbringing. It has been realized in Gdynia’s sailing clubs throughout teaching of both sports and recreational sailing – an offer aimed at the youth.

When Poland regained its independence in 1918, a decision was made to build a modern Polish Baltic port – Gdynia and so the rising of naval awareness among the Polish society was activated. The content connected with the naval economy, the sea, education as well as naval upbringing appeared in all actions aimed at the Polish society.

Neither The Second World War, nor the difficult post war years did not cease the naval upbringing. Since the very first post war days, not only was the yacht marina began to be built, but also sailing life and culture were reactivated. Polish Yachting Association, or the Scout Maritime Center, later on re-named to become the National Naval Upbringing Center were founded.

The naval upbringing, despite many obstacles connected with Poland’s politically and economically unstable history, has been non-stop realized until today.

In the article an attempt was made to show that cultivating the naval customs and culture by the older generations of seamen and passing them on to the youth has had an impact on raising modern citizens. While doing the research, methods of literature study and interview were used.