Christmas tree• People say that this tree is People say that this tree is

aann icon of life and icon of life and duration. As a Christmas duration. As a Christmas tree it showed up in tree it showed up in the the 16th16th century. century. The tradition The tradition started in Alsace, where started in Alsace, where people protruded trees people protruded trees and dressed them with and dressed them with adornment from paper and adornment from paper and apples.apples. ThTheessee days, family days, family members put present for members put present for each other under the tree each other under the tree which stands at home.which stands at home. The The kids believe that the gifts kids believe that the gifts are from Santa Claus.are from Santa Claus.

Santa Claus

• Santa Claus - a man Santa Claus - a man with a long, white with a long, white beard.beard. Dressed in red Dressed in red clothes.clothes. During During Christmas he flies in Christmas he flies in his sled pulled by his sled pulled by a a few reindeers and few reindeers and gives presents to the gives presents to the kids while they are kids while they are sleeping.sleeping. He lives in He lives in Lapland with a group Lapland with a group of Elves.of Elves.

Nativity scene

• Most of the time a mock-up laying up inside of stable at night, when the Christ was born. We can see inside the Nativity scene little Christ, his mother Mary, her husband Joseph, three kings, shepherds, angels, and animals. Most important were sheep and lambs. At this days we have also Nativity scenes with alive people.

Shepherdess

• The mThe most important tradition in Polandost important tradition in Poland i iss the the first Holy Mass first Holy Mass at Christmas Day at Christmas Day which is which is at midnight at midnight of of 224th4th December. December. People clump in church, pray to God, celebrate birth of People clump in church, pray to God, celebrate birth of Christ and sing carols.Christ and sing carols.

MistletoeMistletoe• This icon came to us

from England. It should hang over the door, if two people stand under the mistletoe they have to kiss. In Poland we keep the bunch of mistletoe at home the whole year.

Christmas Eve

When the first starWhen the first star appears appears in the sky, people take in the sky, people take their seats at the their seats at the Christmas table. They do Christmas table. They do not forget leaving an not forget leaving an empty place for an empty place for an unexpected guest. They unexpected guest. They share share „o„oppłłatekatek”” – a thin – a thin wafer and wish one wafer and wish one another whatever the another whatever the heart dictatesheart dictates.After the .After the Christmas supper the Christmas supper the whole family sit together whole family sit together and sing.and sing.

Traditional foodsTraditional foods

„ Red borch ” „ Cabbage „

Fish – most of the time carp

„ Kutia „ - made of grits, honey and raisins

Carol singingCarol singing• A cA carol arol iis a song about s a song about

Christmas.Christmas. It It tells us tells us only about the Christonly about the Christ’s’s birth.birth. We sing We sing carolscarols only from 25th only from 25th December till 6th December till 6th January, but you can January, but you can also sing carols till 2nd also sing carols till 2nd February.February. Other Other variant of carol is a " variant of carol is a " pastorałka" it has pastorałka" it has more secular temper more secular temper so we don't sing it at so we don't sing it at Holy Mass.Holy Mass.

These are the main Christmas traditions in poland. The end ;)These are the main Christmas traditions in poland. The end ;)