Jack White's heartfelt birthday wishes in Polish for his 94-year-old mother

"Sto lat, sto lat" – these words are well-known to every Pole and serve as the Polish equivalent of "happy birthday." American rock musician Jack White, famous for his band The White Stripes, used this phrase in Polish on social media to send birthday wishes to his 94-year-old mother. Both of her parents were originally from Poland. 

American rock musician Jack White from the popular band The White Stripes sent birthday wishes to his 94-year-old mother in Polish via social media. Her parents were from Poland.

officialjackwhite/Instagram

Teresa Gillis, the mother of Jack White, has Polish ancestry. Both her parents, John Bandyk and Maria Ostafin, were Polish (Maria hailing from the village of Lubzina in Podkarpacie, southern Poland, near Ropczyce).

"Happy 94th birthday to my Saint of a mother, the one and only Teresa Gills" Jack White started his post in English. He then transitioned to Polish, sharing the lyrics of the well-known birthday song "Sto lat," which he wrote perfectly. Accompanying the post was a photo of his mother showing him how to play a G chord on the guitar.

Jack White and his mother, Teresa Gillis, who turns 94 years young today.

"Shown here teaching me how to play a G chord on a guitar." pic.twitter.com/kktekwNcKz

— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) October 8, 2024

The musician has always emphasized his pride in his heritage. During a concert in Warsaw in 2018, he led the crowd at Torwar in a loud rendition of "Sto lat" for his mother, who was celebrating her 88th birthday at the time.

For her 88th birthday, Jack White​ brought his mother to her native Poland and dedicated a portion of his concert to serenading her with the Polish birthday song "Sto lat". https://t.co/XECINQGVxk pic.twitter.com/1C9GFw7tew

— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) October 10, 2018

Source: PAP/X/@consequence/IG@officialjackwhite

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• Victor Ambros – a Nobel Prize winner with Polish roots