5 fun Polish inspirations for Halloween costumes

Inspired by (patriotic) avifauna – An eagle, a stork, and a rooster

Birds play a significant role in the Polish culture. There is the white eagle, eyeing us regally from the national emblem. White storks are considered both an unofficial Polish symbol and a legendary baby-delivery service company. Finally, roosters are equally prominent in Polish culture and represent courage, strength, protection and virility.

Thus, any of the aforementioned birds would be a great option for a fun Polish Halloween costume. And the best part? If you get yourself a pair of wings, with some minor adjustment it could serve for any of the costumes. This way you could get some extra uses of the accessory, one year dressing up as a Regal Eagle, next ­ – as a Stoic Stork, etc. This could be a perfect ‘buy one, get three free’ or ‘killing two three birds with one stone’ scenario.

Inspired by folklore – Polish folk dancer

The tradition of Polish folk dancing varies slightly from region to region, but one thing remains constant: the costumes are vibrant and beautiful. The traditional folk outfits from regions like Cracow, Łowicz, or Podhale are particularly eye-catching. These costumes typically include long, vibrant skirts, embroidered blouses, and floral headpieces. To complete the look, consider adding dance shoes and colorful ribbons.

A Polish folk dancer costume is not only visually stunning but also a great way to showcase Poland's rich folk heritage. Usually… unless we talk about Poland’s 2014 Eurovision Contest entry, where these outfits showcased a wee bit too much.

Inspired by cuisine – Pierogi…

Pierogi, whether they are with sweet, sour, or salty filling, is a beloved staple of Polish cuisine. Therefore, is there a better way to pay homage to Poland's culinary culture, than to go dressed as a giant, human-filled pierogi? No, I think not.

Unfortunately, upon researching the subject, it becomes clear that there might be a small supply issue with this particular idea. There are surprisingly adorable and expensive gyoza dumpling costumes for babies available on the internet but, regrettably, the same cannot be said about adult-size Polish pierogi bodysuits.

Therefore, it's up to you to roll up your sleeves and get to work. You can create this whimsical costume by making a pierogi-shaped outfit out of foam or fabric. To make it more amusing, you can add details like a smiling face and accessorize with a chef's hat and a giant fork.

Bear in mind, however, that making even normal-sized dumplings is hard manual work. So if you find this process too taxing, as many do, making ginormous fake dumplings might not be a thing for you.

…or kielbasa

Polish sausage is a food item of such renown, that the word ‘kielbasa’ functions as a separate noun. Therefore, you might be tempted to dress us as this wonderful dish. However, similar to the case of pierogi, it is tough to find a kielbasa Halloween costume.

This is quite bizarre, really, as the web is full of various types of sausage costumes, hot dog (aka ‘sausage in a bun’) outfits, and even, and I’m not kidding, dog hot-dog frocks. Yes, you heard it right. Now you can dress your dog as a hot dog. Which would make it… a ‘hot dog squared’? If because of his new fancy getup the dog becomes heated, does it then evolve into ‘hot² dog²’? “A hot dog within a hot dog…” All that is missing is the “Inception” (2010) movie theme.

Inspired by literature – The Witcher

If you're a fan of the fantasy genre, a Witcher-inspired costume could be an excellent choice. The Witcher series, created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, has gained more mainstream popularity with the release of the widely acclaimed video game and rather divisive Netflix TV series.

Regardless of the medium, there is no doubt that the main character, Geralt of Rivia, with his flowing silver locks and penchant for leather, cuts a striking figure.

To create a convincing Geralt costume, dress in dark medieval-style clothing, complete with leather buckles and boots. Add a silver sword prop, a white wig, and a few fake scars, and you'll transform into a fearsome monster slayer. All the Halloween party beasts and witches won’t have a prayer.

Polish-themed Halloween costumes can be a unique opportunity to celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage. Whether you get inspired by Poland’s nature, cuisine, folklore, or fantasy – just put on your outfit and go have fun. But should embody a horror creature while your friend goes as a witcher – then run, monster, run!

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