▁the ▁origin ▁of ▁the ▁Jewish ▁Kle z mer ▁tradition . ▁ ▁The ▁pol ka ▁is ▁a ▁central ▁European ▁dance ▁and ▁also ▁a ▁genre ▁of ▁dance ▁music ▁familiar ▁throughout ▁Europe ▁and ▁the ▁Amer icas . ▁It ▁origin ated ▁in ▁the ▁middle ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁century ▁in ▁Boh emia . ▁Pol ka ▁is ▁still ▁a ▁popular ▁genre ▁of ▁folk ▁music ▁in ▁many ▁European ▁countries ▁and ▁is ▁performed ▁by ▁folk ▁artists ▁in ▁Poland , ▁Lat via , ▁Lith u ania , ▁Czech ▁Republic , ▁Netherlands , ▁Cro atia , ▁Sloven ia , ▁Germany , ▁Hung ary , ▁Austria , ▁Switzerland , ▁Italy , ▁Ukraine , ▁Bel arus , ▁Russia ▁and ▁Slov ak ia . ▁Local ▁vari eties ▁of ▁this ▁dance ▁are ▁also ▁found ▁in ▁the ▁Nord ic ▁countries , ▁United ▁Kingdom , ▁Republic ▁of ▁Ireland , ▁Latin ▁America ▁( es pecially ▁Mexico ), ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁ ▁German ▁Volks lieder ▁perpet u ated ▁by ▁L ieder hand sch riften ▁manuscript s ▁like ▁Car mina ▁Bur ana ▁date ▁back ▁to ▁medieval ▁Minn es ang ▁and ▁Meister sing er ▁trad itions . ▁Those ▁folk ▁songs ▁rev ived ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 8 th ▁century ▁period ▁of ▁German ▁Rom antic ism , ▁first ▁promoted ▁by ▁Johann ▁Gott fried ▁Her der ▁and ▁other ▁advoc ates ▁of ▁the ▁En light en ment , ▁later ▁compiled ▁by ▁Ach im ▁von ▁Arn im ▁and ▁C lem ens ▁Br ent ano ▁( Des ▁K nab en ▁W under horn ) ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁by ▁Ludwig ▁U h