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  What it means

  “Saint Catherine with laughter, Saint Andrew with sin.” A variant of the previous proverb using the folk form ‘Jędrzej’ for Andrew. The meaning is identical.

  Vocabulary

  • święta — saint (feminine)
  • śmiech — laughter
  • Jędrzej — Andrew (folk form of Andrzej)
  • grzech — sin

  Grammar note

  'Śmiechem' and 'grzechem' are instrumental case forms. 'Jędrzej' is the folk/archaic form of 'Andrzej'.

  Cultural context

  Saint Andrew's Day (30 November) marks the eve of Advent. This variant uses the older folk name Jędrzej instead of Andrzej.

  Intermediate

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