ARIZONA'S POLISH COMMUNITY
The Polish culture is deeply rooted in Catholic roots. According to the U.S. Department of State, over 96% of Poles identify as Roman Catholic.
The Polish culture has influences from nearby countries because of the many partitions of the country throughout history.
Unique aspects of Polish culture include Polish folk dancing, cuisine such as pierogi or pÄ…czki, and Catholic-rooted traditions such as Christmas Eve dinner of Easter basket blessings.
According to the 2016 American Survey, 45,168 people in the state of Arizona report their single ancestry as Polish. The 2000 U.S. Census ranked Phoenix as the eighth largest city with People of Polish ancestry with 32,050 people.
The Lajkonik Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of Tucson, Arizona is the most visible representation of Polish culture, according to founder Joanna Schmidt. The group expresses Polish culture through its unique dances and songs. Matthew Schmidt is the current choreographer of the group.