"Manners are the cheerful ways of doing things," Ralph Waldo Emerson once said. What are the happiest methods to do things in Poland? Are they significantly different from those in your home country? Learn more about the unwritten standards of conduct in Poland.

The Polish refers to it as savoir-vivre (French for "living knowledge"), kindersztuba (from German: "Kinderstube"), or simply: dobre maniery ("good manners"). There is more to it than how we dress or use silverware; it is a culturally particular code of behaviour that we are taught. Some etiquette norms are so natural to us that we don't give them any thought on a daily basis. Consider the following social rules that you are likely to encounter in Poland:

1. When traveling on public transport, you are expected to give up your seat to elderly, pregnant, disabled, or injured passengers if they have nowhere to sit.
2. If you happen to stand in the doorway of a packed vehicle, step out of it for a moment when it stops, to let other passengers exit.
3. A lot of Poles consider it tactless to keep one's hands in pockets while holding a conversation or giving a speech. It is best to avoid this gesture in more formal business situations.
4. A handshake is the safest and most universal form of greeting, especially if you are meeting someone for the first time. Although much has been written about Polish chivalry and the traditional hand-kissing gesture, you had better not try to impress a Polish lady by placing a kiss on her hand. Despite what you might read on the internet, the gesture is now seen as rather old-fashioned and awkward by younger generations.
5. In some parts of Poland (especially in Warsaw) it is quite popular to say dzień Dobry (hello) and dziękuję (thank you) when getting in and out of a lift. However, some Poles find this practice rather funny and odd. If someone thanks you for riding a lift with them, you can respond with dziękuję.
6. It is still very common for Polish men to help a woman put on her coat or jacket - it is a question of manners, not romantic interest.
7. Poles are very mindful of a certain door etiquette, which is seen as politeness or common courtesy rather than chivalry. Holding doors open for others is treated as a natural act of kindness. While it is true that Polish men always let women pass through a doorway first, it is also common to let a person of the same gender or an elderly walk in front of you. When in doubt, just be considerate of others and you will never err!