LECH, CZECH AND RUS


picture: Jakub Świder, Szymon Świder
Here is a story about the beginnings of the Polish state, about the first Polish capital and where the coat of arms of Poland and the colors of the Polish flag came from.




picture: Jakub Świder, Szymon Świder
A thousand years ago, or maybe even more, there  lived three brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus. For many years they had been content in their villages, but the families grew larger and they needed more room to live. The brothers decided to travel in different directions to search for new homes.




picture:  Natalia Małyszek
Lech, Czech, and Rus traveled with their troops for many days. They rode their horses over mountains and rivers, through forests and wild country. There were no people to be found anywhere, not a town or tiny village.




preschoolers from Kostrzyn on the Oder
Their people went after  them with all their families and all their belongings.





preschoolers from Kostrzyn on the Oder
On the crest of a mountain top, they separated, each going in a different direction. Czech went to the left, Rus went to the right and Lech rode straight ahead, down the mountain and across vast plains.




picture:  Natalia Małyszek
Along the way, there were many beautiful places and good to live, but Lech needed a sign that would confirm him in the belief that this is where he should stay with his people.




picture:  Natalia Małyszek
One day Lech saw a splendid sight. He and his troops had come to a place where a meadow surrounded a small lake.



picture: Jakub Świder, Szymon Świder
They stopped at the edge of the meadow as a great eagle flew over their heads. It flew around in great swooping circles, then perched on its nest, high on a great tall tree. Lech stared in awe at the beautiful sight.




picture: Jakub Świder, Szymon Świder
As the eagle spread its wings and soared into the heavens again, a ray of sunshine from the red setting sun fell on the eagle's wings, so they appeared tipped with gold, the rest of the bird was pure white.




picture:  Natalia Małyszek
"Here is where we will stay!" declared Lech. "Here is our new home, and we will call this place GNIEZNO ... (the eagle's  nest).




picture: Jakub Świder, Szymon Świder
He and his people built many houses and it became the center of his territory.  They called themselves Polonians, which means "People of the Field".




picture: Jakub Świder, Szymon Świder
They made a banner with a white eagle on a red field and flew it over the town of Gniezno, which became the first historical capital of Poland.


And, now you know how Poland began .