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  What it means

  “On the day of Adam and Eve, forgive your neighbours their wrongs.” The feast of Adam and Eve (24 December) is a time for reconciliation and letting go of grudges before Christmas.

  Vocabulary

  • dzień — day
  • darować — to forgive, to spare
  • bliźni — neighbour, fellow man
  • gniew — anger, grudge

  Grammar note

  'Daruj bliźnim gniewów' uses the dative ('bliźnim') for the recipient and genitive plural ('gniewów') for what is forgiven.

  Cultural context

  Adam and Eve are celebrated on 24 December in the Polish name-day calendar, making this proverb a Christmas Eve call for forgiveness.

  Intermediate

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