Saying Good Wishes in Polish and Bulgarian: Linguistic Etiquette and Sociolinguistic Perspectives

Abstract

The article discusses the custom of saying good wishes in Bulgarian and Polish. It focuses on the sociolinguistic contexts and rules of linguistic etiquette in both languages. To explore the specific characteristics of this practice, we selected the most important traditional occasions of saying good wishes in Bulgaria and Poland. Here included are religious holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Easter; as well as specific holidays like name days, birthdays, marriages, wedding anniversaries, and events related to professional careers. Some Bulgarians, for example, find public holidays suitable to make good wishes informally. The article likewise discusses and compares diverse ways of saying wishes on the above-mentioned occasions. A brief presentation of the Bulgarian traditions serves only as a background to help Polish readers better understand the content and linguistic specifics of this custom. Attention is drawn to similarities and some interesting differences.