CHRISTMAS IN POLAND

Christmas preparations

These begin many days before the actual celebration. Many houses are cleaned thoroughly just before Christmas. It is believed that if a house is dirty on Christmas Eve, it will remain dirty the following year.

HospitalityPoles are famous for their hospitality, especially during Christmas. In Poland, an additional seat is often kept for one extra person at the supper table. No one should be left alone at Christmas... This extra seat is traditional – it reminds us that Mary and Joseph were also looking for shelter.

Christmas Eve (Wigilia)

If something good or bad should occur on this day, it is believed that the following year will be likewise.

Christmas tree

• This is usually decorated by children on the Wigilia day. The tree is often adorned with apples, small chocolates, nuts wrapped in aluminum foil, candles, strips of clear paper (angel's hair) and home-made paper chains etc.

The first day of Christmas (December 25th)

Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in the Christian world. It has

been celebrated since the fourth century.

Wigilia – Christmas meal• Mushroom soup with noodles, borsch with mushroom uszka (little pierogi) • Herring in oil, pickled herring and carp. • Sauerkraut with mushrooms, and/or red cabbage. • Dried-fruit compote. • Noodles with poppy seeds. • Kutia (a dish made from boiled wheat, poppy seeds and honey). • Pierogi, traditionally made with cabbage and mushrooms. • Oplatek (Christmas wafer). • Bread

The Breaking of the OplatekOne of the most beautiful and most revered Polish customs is the breaking of the Oplatek - Christmas wafer. Sometimes, people say sorry to one another for anything they have done wrong and give each other some kind of blessing or wish such as ‘I wish you good health’ etc.

The second day of Christmas (December 26th)

The patron of the second day of Christmas holiday in

Poland is St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Every year on this day, priests during the mass spread grains of oat to commemorate the saint

who was stoned to death.

 

St. Stephen’s Day opens the time of carnival, which lasts until Ash Wednesday.

New Year's Eve

(December 31st)According to the

Gregorian calendar the 31st of December is the final day of the year. In the

evening people go to parties and

light fireworks at midnight.

In Polish tradition, the name of the last day of the year

(Sylvester) comes from Pope Sylvester I, who died on the 31st of December

335.

This feast was first celebrated in the year 999, when Sylvester II was a

Pope.

In the past on the New Year’s Day people

greeted each other happiness, good luck

and health. This custom has survived

until now. At midnight Poles still

wish everyone „A Happy New Year”.

The end

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