Traditional celebrations and outfits in Poland

Christmas in Poland is on 24th December.Everybody has Christmas holiday and spends this time with their family. There are a lot of lights and the buildings are beautifully decorated. Eve in Poland is wonderful. The Christmas Eve derives its name from the Latin word vigilare, which means to watch or keep vigil.

Christmas

On Christmas Eve the first star is so important that it has been given the affectionate name of "little star" in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem. On that night, everybody watches the sky anxiously, hoping to be the first to cry out, "The star!" The moment the star appears, people start eating. Families unite for the most carefully planned meal of the year-the Christmas Eve supper.

According to tradition, bits of hay have been spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger. An even number of people must be seated around the table or tradition states someone may die in the coming year. In some places an empty place setting is left at the table for the Baby Jesus or a wanderer who can come in need or if a deceased relative should come and would like to share in the meal. The meal begins with the breaking of the wafer. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ.

There should be 12 dishes - as a symbol of the 12 apostles. Poppy seed cake, beet soup, prune dumplings, carp, herrings and noodles with poppy seed are universal Polish Christmas foods. There is no meat eaten on Christmas Eve. There is compote of dry fruits. People sing carols around the Christmas tree and exchange gifts. After this, people go to church to attend the Christmas Midnight Mass.

Popular dishes

BEETROOT SOUP WITH RAVIOLIS

SAUERKRAUT STEW WITH MEAT

HOTCHPOTCH

DUMPLINGS FILLED WITH SAUERKRAUT AND MUSHROOMS

HERRING

FISH WITH VEGETABLES

CARP

Popular cakes

POPPY-SEED CAKE

GINGERBREAD

CHEESECAKEFRUIT CAKE

YEAST-CAKE

Beautifully lit Christmas trees are placed in all public places, inside churches and at homes. Traditionally the trees are decorated with bells, chains, glass balls, shiny apples, walnuts, beautifully wrapped chocolate shapes and many homemade decorations and candles. On the top of the tree there is a star. In many houses, sparklers are hung on the branches of the trees giving it a magical air.

The following day is often spent visiting family. Poland is a land of intriguing traditions. Its people have always combined religion and family closeness at Christmas time.

All Saint’s DayIt is a traditional Polish holiday to commemorate all saint people. However, on this and on the following day we also commemorate our relatives who are dead. In Poland people usually travel to the places, where their relatives are buried. They go to the cemetery and clean the graves. Moreover, they decorate the graves with candles and bunches of flowers. On the All Saints Day, all families gather on the cemeteries. They pray and attend a mass together. The mass is celebrated for the salvation of the dead. They bring flowers and candles and lay them on the graves of the relatives. This is time to think about those, who are no longer with us. It is usually quite sad. After the mass, people meet their families in their houses. They eat a meal together and talk about those, who died.

Easter

Easter is the most important religious celebration in the Christian liturgical year. Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus after crucifixion.

Easter is a moveable celebration because it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. Easter falls at some point between late March and late April each year (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity), following the cycle of the moon. Easter is on the first Sunday after the first fourteenth day of the moon (the Paschal Full Moon).

In Poland, preparations for Easter begin one month before the main day of this holiday. On these days people, especially young children, go to church to confide in order to clear and prepare their souls to the main ceremony. Then, one week before Easter there is a special day called Palm Sunday. Catholics gather in church with palms in their hands to have them ordained by the priest and after that put on the Easter table at home as a sign of the arrival of Christ to Jerusalem 2000 years ago.

The atmosphere of Easter is visible everywhere in Poland - in the decorations of the shops, in the windows of the apartments in the city. The typical elements of Easter are very colorful and happy - painted eggs, Easter statues of lambs, bunnies - the symbols of life.

Easter shortcake

Easter cake

People wish one another “Happy Easter” (“Wesołego Alleluja” in Polish) and have an occasion to talk together, too. Easter Monday is celebrated by the Poles only. That day everyone can expect to be drenched with water, at least once. Generally speaking, Easter is the time of happiness and rebirth.

Traditional outfits in Poland used to be an important part of village life and also a significant element of culture. They depend on many factors: geographic region, history, economy, tradition and individual aesthetic needs of its creators and users.

Traditional outfi ts in Poland

Traditional regional outfits usually served as a representative function, emphasizing the importance of the various events. In some parts of Poland people still wear traditional costumes on special occasions. Here are some examples:

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