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  What it means

  “Saint Agnes thaws the bogs.” On Saint Agnes’s Day (21 January), the ground begins to soften and marshy areas start to thaw, signalling the very first approach of spring.

  Vocabulary

  • święta — saint (feminine)
  • Jagna — folk diminutive of Agnieszka (Agnes)
  • tajać — to thaw, to melt
  • bagno — bog, swamp, marsh

  Grammar note

  'Taje' is third-person singular present of 'tajać'. 'Bagna' is the accusative plural of 'bagno'.

  Cultural context

  Jagna is a folk diminutive of Agnieszka. The proverb reflects the belief that 21 January marks the first thaw of the year.

  Beginner

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