The article focuses on the symbolism connected with the populism vibrant in both Hungary and Poland. It shows how both countries moralize history, politics and religiosity in each their own way. At the same time, the two versions of political symbolism are not identical, but are interestingly different – Hungary’s pivoting around images of victimization, Poland’s around defiant resistance. On the other hand, though the two countries have travelled different routes, they have arrived at much the same political conclusions. The article attempts to explain how and why this has happened.