Despite the sad communist realities in Poland in the 1980s, there were people who could laugh at the authorities. The Orange Alternative ridiculed the communists in an intelligent way, emphasizing the absurdities of that time.

Introduced in 1981 by the communist dictator Wojciech Jaruzelski, martial law impacted the mood of Polish society.  At the same time, the country fell into a deep economic crisis.

In this gloomy reality of the 1980s, it was hard to find any reason to smile. Despite the horrors of the communist regime, there were people who organized happenings that ridiculed the communist system, and at the same time showed the indolence of the authorities. These people gathered in a group called “Orange Alternative” that performed in Wrocław. It was led by Władysław Frydrych aka “Major”.

With pots on their heads

The first famous action of the “Orange Alternative” was the “Feast of Pots” organized on April 1, 1987. The participants of the happening went out onto the street wearing paper pots on their heads. They pointed out that many people had only consumption in their minds, and it distracted them from the struggle for freedom. The communist militia did not like the initiative, they interrupted the happening and confiscated the props.

Militia is chasing inflation

The “Orange Alternative” operated not only in Wrocław. In Łódź, on November 7, 1988 (the anniversary of the October Revolution), the action “Galloping Inflation” was organized. Event participants were running around the city with signs “Galloping inflation”. The militia chased them, at the same time chasing “Galloping inflation”. Some of the participants in the happening had absurd banners: “Long live the crisis!”, “We demand everything!”.

The arrest of the dwarfs

Anti-communist slogans appeared on the walls of Polish cities. The authorities removed them, but in their place, the leader of the “Orange Alternative” painted dwarfs, which had a mocking character. The topic was extended on June 1, 1987, when Frydrych was handing out orange dwarf hats in the streets of Wrocław. Of course, this happening was met with a reaction from the militia who began to arrest people wearing dwarf hats. Thus, the policemen had to tell their superiors that the detainees were … dwarfs.

“Orange Alternative” operated not only in Wrocław and Łódź, but also in Warsaw and Lublin. It was followed in Czechoslovakia and Hungary and did not suspend its activities with the end of the communist system in Poland. After all, reality always deserves irony.