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  What it means

  “Saint Catherine starts Advent, Saint Andrew is even wiser.” Saint Catherine (25 November) opens Advent, but Saint Andrew (30 November) confirms and deepens it — the rhyme plays on ‘mędrzej’ (more wisely) rhyming with ‘Jędrzej’ (Andrew).

  Vocabulary

  • święta — saint (feminine)
  • adwent — Advent
  • zaczynać — to start
  • święty — saint (masculine)
  • Jędrzej — Andrew (folk form)
  • mędrzej — more wisely

  Grammar note

  The proverb is built on a rhyme: 'Jędrzej' / 'mędrzej'. 'Jeszcze mędrzej' means 'even more wisely'.

  Cultural context

  Saint Andrew's Day (30 November) is the last day before Advent officially begins in the liturgical calendar, hence 'even wiser' than Catherine.

  Intermediate

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