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  What it means

  “On Saint Nicholas’s day, a whole crowd of children waits: he’ll give obedient ones a little cookie, and sprinkle the naughty ones with a little switch.” The Polish St. Nicholas tradition on December 6th — good children receive sweets, naughty ones get a symbolic birch switch.

  English equivalent

  He knows if you've been bad or good.

  Vocabulary

  • zgraja — crowd, gang, bunch
  • posłuszny — obedient
  • ciasteczko — little cookie, biscuit
  • przekropić — to sprinkle, to give a light switching
  • rózeczka — little switch, birch rod (diminutive of rózga)

  Grammar note

  Diminutives 'ciasteczko' and 'rózeczka' soften the tone, making the threat of punishment playful rather than harsh.

  Cultural context

  December 6th is St. Nicholas Day in Poland. Children leave shoes out the night before and receive gifts or switches depending on their behaviour.

  Intermediate

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