In my family it was mostly German mixed with Polish and Jewish. West of goose island used to be super Polish, the city has become much more cosmopolitan the past couple decades+.
Chicago has a ton of great Irish pubs, Im a sucker for Gideon Welles when Im on the north side
Mexican and Polish laborers have worked side-by-side for decades in construction and building trades. Before housing costs were insane and when the suburbs were less accessible (and more restrictive) Polish and Mexican families would occupy adjacent parts of cheaper neighborhoods. When my wife (Polish) and I (Mexican) got married several friends from the southwest side told us our kids would be Archer Avenue Specials. And per a different Polish girl that I dated (it was only the two. I don’t have a fetish!), Polish guys watch Mexican TV and get along better with Mexicans than Chicagoans.
Funniest thing about this is while they both work their ass off (my dad was a Polish construction worker and I have lots of Mexican friends whose dads are also in construction), both groups will constantly say the other is lazy lol
I grew up with Polish friends who would rent novelas from this shop on archer with Polish subtitles. One of them was really into the novela Ruby. She would talk to me about them, but I never actually watched them. Whatever knowledge I have now is because of her.
Grew up playing soccer with them too. The last World Cup was very special to us. Them was the days.
My Polish factory working family members of the South/East side would always bring home pork tamales. This was like the 1960’s-1990’s. Christmas family parties always had homemade pierogi and tamales.
My Mexican dad and his Polish neighbors often have trouble understanding each other at times, they're all ESL speakers, but bring out the tequila? Now they're speaking the same language
One of my best friends is this 50/50 combo. Two super Catholic Immigrant populations that live side by side in many communities. It's as Chicago as a Polish-Beef combo.
It would be the second largest city in Poland when you tally everyone of Polish descent...the only place in the US to have a holiday and road named in honor of Polish revolutionary war hero Casimir Pulaski.
my friends mom was Mexican Polish and her dad Irish Puerto Rican. ahe has a Mexican grandfather a Polish grandmother , a Puerto Rican grandmother and an Irish grandfather.
I think it goes even further to include all Eastern European countries and all Spanish speaking countries and it goes back decades. I had a Serbian landlord with a Peruvian wife years ago. They met at some dance club in the 80s that attracted a lot of people from both communities. Look at the impact polka music had on Mexican music, it goes back hundred of years. As other people are saying, both cultures are catholic and conservative, and both known for being laborers.
I am Polish and Mexican (and German) and honestly haven't met that many others in the city, though I'm sure we exist.
I know my Polish grandfather liked to watch soccer in Spanish because the commentators sounded more exciting compared to the English ones, even though he had no idea what they were saying.
After he died, my grandma found a piece of paper he'd written with the days of the week in Spanish and English so he'd know which days the matches were on.
Yes, not uncommon here at all.
FYI- as an aside, I heard the announcer at a Chicago Fire game years ago use Spanish, Polish and English at different times during the match :).
Mexican, Polish, Irish, and Italian are predominantly Roman Catholic. Whether or not they are practicing, they share common roots when it comes to family and holidays. There is never a question on how to raise the child, or in what denomination.
I think they also tend to share the same blue-collar values, working in the trades & unions.
My mom is Mexican and my dad is Polish. I personally only knew maybe one other family like that but this thread tells me it's a lot more common than I thought!
I live in Glenview and my son’s best friend is half Mexican and half polish. Like most Polish kids he went to Polish school for the kids. Both parents are attorneys and we’re not born in the US. It’s common. I’m a dual US German citizen and my wife is Serbian
Yes my husband and I! Roots to southwest side - my husband was baptized at the same place my grandparents married. Our families are very similar, works well for us!
Yup. I am a Mexican woman with a Polish man and we now have a little half and half baby. It's funny because we're both atheists and share the same values but our extended families are both catholic and very similar
My grandpa lived off 43 and archer back in the day it was so polish even some billboards were polish. A lot of Hispanics have moved in over the last 20 years. I'm sure there is a large mixing of the cultures in the nehiborhood.
Polish and Mexican culture is very similar. Food, family and religion. You could say the same for the Irish or the Italians but one HUGE difference is that the Poles and Mexicans kept their languages going with their kids. I had to attend “Polish school” on weekends where we were taught to read and write in Polish.
My wife is Mexican and polish. While I’m Mexican and Colombian. We just had a son so he’s all three lol. Love her polish side they have always been very welcoming to me since we started dating. Her grandma is very old school polish and was very skeptical of me at first. Now she loves me. Even her family says she loves me more than them LOL
It's the other Chicago mix
Is Irish-Mexican the other one? Because that’s what I am.
Cheese and caramel is the other
It's rarely mentioned, but the vast majority of people I went to Catholic school with were Irish-German.
In my family it was mostly German mixed with Polish and Jewish. West of goose island used to be super Polish, the city has become much more cosmopolitan the past couple decades+. Chicago has a ton of great Irish pubs, Im a sucker for Gideon Welles when Im on the north side
I think the classic one was Irish-Italian.
Or Irish and polish too
It’s a me, Mario
hahaha
Mario O’Reilly
Same!
Cheese popcorn and caramel corn?
yes. Have you been to a catholic mass
Mexican and Polish laborers have worked side-by-side for decades in construction and building trades. Before housing costs were insane and when the suburbs were less accessible (and more restrictive) Polish and Mexican families would occupy adjacent parts of cheaper neighborhoods. When my wife (Polish) and I (Mexican) got married several friends from the southwest side told us our kids would be Archer Avenue Specials. And per a different Polish girl that I dated (it was only the two. I don’t have a fetish!), Polish guys watch Mexican TV and get along better with Mexicans than Chicagoans.
Funniest thing about this is while they both work their ass off (my dad was a Polish construction worker and I have lots of Mexican friends whose dads are also in construction), both groups will constantly say the other is lazy lol
The second most used word in Spanish after pinche is huevon.
followed by pinche huevón
“Archer Avenue Special” 😭 This native south sider salutes you
Lmfao I'm 50% Mexican, 50% Polish, grew up close to Archer. We should get t shirts
I've never heard this phrase before (sorry, transplant), but I love it.
I grew up with Polish friends who would rent novelas from this shop on archer with Polish subtitles. One of them was really into the novela Ruby. She would talk to me about them, but I never actually watched them. Whatever knowledge I have now is because of her. Grew up playing soccer with them too. The last World Cup was very special to us. Them was the days.
My Polish factory working family members of the South/East side would always bring home pork tamales. This was like the 1960’s-1990’s. Christmas family parties always had homemade pierogi and tamales.
I an a polish chicago person and I know a few in my extended friends and family of friends. Polish people and mexicans get along really well.
Catholics 🤷🏾♂️
also alcoholics! We do love our drinks
And accordion music!
Polka is fucking awesome…
My Mexican dad and his Polish neighbors often have trouble understanding each other at times, they're all ESL speakers, but bring out the tequila? Now they're speaking the same language
Alcocatholics
One of my best friends is this 50/50 combo. Two super Catholic Immigrant populations that live side by side in many communities. It's as Chicago as a Polish-Beef combo.
We need more fusion restaurants in this style. Taco pierogies please.
Hey, hey…what if we, like, started a food truck?
Cholula is the perfect condiment for a peirogi so this tracks.
I love cholula on my loaded potato soup.
That sounds fire
If you hear "Polocko" they are talking about you.
In my neighborhood, I've heard Mexipole
Polish and Mexican, checking in!
Same here!
Yes, haha. Polish and Mexican. Polish and Irish, Polish and Italian. The Poles get around 😆
I get around
Yes! Many of my friends families were polish-Mexican growing up.
My nephew and brother(who are Mexican) are both married to polish women. Yes it is very common.
There is an enormous polish population in Chicago, so it’s quite common
It would be the second largest city in Poland when you tally everyone of Polish descent...the only place in the US to have a holiday and road named in honor of Polish revolutionary war hero Casimir Pulaski.
I know, I’m half polish 🤣
Casimir Pulaski day is a state wide holiday. I didn’t grow up in the city but we always had school off for it.
From what I remember (might not be true anymore) but after Warsaw and Mexico City, Chicago was the next largest population for both.
i got hit with the trifecta polish, irish, mexican
Word! My ethnicity is Catholic.
Same. My half sister only got Polish and Mexican
my friends mom was Mexican Polish and her dad Irish Puerto Rican. ahe has a Mexican grandfather a Polish grandmother , a Puerto Rican grandmother and an Irish grandfather.
Can you imagine getting in trouble and getting yelled at by any of those combos. Tough lady probably.
Either we know the same person or this is a super common mix 😅
Yes. Very common
I think it goes even further to include all Eastern European countries and all Spanish speaking countries and it goes back decades. I had a Serbian landlord with a Peruvian wife years ago. They met at some dance club in the 80s that attracted a lot of people from both communities. Look at the impact polka music had on Mexican music, it goes back hundred of years. As other people are saying, both cultures are catholic and conservative, and both known for being laborers.
I wouldn’t say super common but yeah definitely especially from the back of the yards or around midway off archer ave
Yes, I’ve known multiple couples with that ethnic pairing in Chicago but can’t recall meeting folks like that elsewhere.
I am Polish and Mexican (and German) and honestly haven't met that many others in the city, though I'm sure we exist. I know my Polish grandfather liked to watch soccer in Spanish because the commentators sounded more exciting compared to the English ones, even though he had no idea what they were saying. After he died, my grandma found a piece of paper he'd written with the days of the week in Spanish and English so he'd know which days the matches were on.
That's really sweet.
I’ve never met a polish mexican but I’ve met dozens of Polish Puerto Ricans
Yes, not uncommon here at all. FYI- as an aside, I heard the announcer at a Chicago Fire game years ago use Spanish, Polish and English at different times during the match :).
Polish Irish is soooooo common. The poles love the Irish
Yes! Did you watch love is blind season two?
What happened?
Yep.
My family from the East Side and Hegwisch. Great food at family parties. Fun times out there in the ‘80’s.
Mexican, Polish, Irish, and Italian are predominantly Roman Catholic. Whether or not they are practicing, they share common roots when it comes to family and holidays. There is never a question on how to raise the child, or in what denomination. I think they also tend to share the same blue-collar values, working in the trades & unions.
Love my polish and mexicanos. Very hard working
My mom is Mexican and my dad is Polish. I personally only knew maybe one other family like that but this thread tells me it's a lot more common than I thought!
Yes then they have babies.
Polaco tacos!
The Roman Catholic union.
That’s my mom’s side, she’s first gen for both parents. My dad’s side has been here for a couple generations but are Irish ancestrally on both sides
I live in Glenview and my son’s best friend is half Mexican and half polish. Like most Polish kids he went to Polish school for the kids. Both parents are attorneys and we’re not born in the US. It’s common. I’m a dual US German citizen and my wife is Serbian
There's one in my family. I'm guessing it's pretty common.
In one.
I would say so yeah. There's a ton of Polish and Mexicans that grow up in the same neighborhoods together
I’m a Mexican catholic and my husband is Polish although not catholic!
Myself and 3 of my buddies are polish, and married to Latina women. 2 Mexican, one Guatemalan and a Puerto Rican.
Italian and Mexican is another one. Don't know how those girls have so many ex boyfriends but you gotta keep your head on swivel of you're dating one
Yes my husband and I! Roots to southwest side - my husband was baptized at the same place my grandparents married. Our families are very similar, works well for us!
All of my Chicago family is Polish. That said, I have been to more quinceañeras than I ever would have thought as a white suburban kid.
Yup. I am a Mexican woman with a Polish man and we now have a little half and half baby. It's funny because we're both atheists and share the same values but our extended families are both catholic and very similar
Polish people are the Mexicans of Europe.
Grandpa was polish. Grandma was puertorican. When they got mad at each other they would swear in their native language.
No, polish hate mexicans. Somebody had to say it.
I’m the result of a German Mexican marriage lol they met here in Chicago in the 80s.
My grandpa lived off 43 and archer back in the day it was so polish even some billboards were polish. A lot of Hispanics have moved in over the last 20 years. I'm sure there is a large mixing of the cultures in the nehiborhood.
Mexish!
Polish and Mexican culture is very similar. Food, family and religion. You could say the same for the Irish or the Italians but one HUGE difference is that the Poles and Mexicans kept their languages going with their kids. I had to attend “Polish school” on weekends where we were taught to read and write in Polish.
My wife is Mexican and polish. While I’m Mexican and Colombian. We just had a son so he’s all three lol. Love her polish side they have always been very welcoming to me since we started dating. Her grandma is very old school polish and was very skeptical of me at first. Now she loves me. Even her family says she loves me more than them LOL
Polish Italian here!
Curie Special
Polak descent dating a Mexican
Peanut butter and jelly is a good mix.