Wars i Sawa are legendary figures in Polish mythology who represent the mythological founding and spirit of Warsaw. According to legend, Wars was a fisherman and Sawa was a mermaid, and their union symbolized the establishment of Warsaw as Poland’s capital city. The names “Wars” and “Sawa” are believed to derive from these legendary characters, with “Wars” being an abbreviation of “Warszawa” (Warsaw in Polish). This romantic legend embedded itself deeply in Polish cultural consciousness as an explanation for Warsaw’s name and origins.
The legend of Wars i Sawa carries symbolic significance that extends beyond simple etymology. The union of a human fisherman and a magical mermaid represents the connection between human civilization and the natural world, specifically the Vistula River that has always been central to Warsaw’s existence and prosperity. The mermaid symbolizes the river’s mystical power and generative force, while the fisherman represents human labor and industry. Together, they represent the harmony between human settlement and the natural environment upon which Warsaw was built.
In Warsaw’s civic identity, Wars and Sawa became the city’s patrons and symbols of its spirit. The figures appear in Warsaw’s coat of arms and throughout the city’s public spaces as representations of the city’s mythological foundation and cultural identity. During World War II, when Warsaw was devastated, the legend of Wars and Sawa represented hope for resurrection and renewal, as the spirits that founded the city could inspire its reconstruction.
For Polish people worldwide, Wars and Sawa represent the legendary origins of Poland’s capital and national identity. The mermaid in particular has become an iconic figure in Warsaw’s popular culture and tourism. For Polish communities in the Bay Area, these legendary figures evoke connections to Warsaw and the cultural significance of Poland’s greatest city, maintaining a link to the homeland through mythology and shared cultural memory.