Polish Christmas Traditions

CHRISTMAS IN POLAND

POLAND

Poland is in eastern Europe.

Poland is east across the Atlantic Ocean and slightly north of Seaford. People in Poland speak Polish.

• St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6.

• Christmas Eve, December 24, begins with Wigilia – Christmas Eve dinner. It is a time for family to get together, usually without outside guests. Traditionally, a place is set for any strangers who might arrive. This custom comes from the old Polish saying, "A guest in the home is God in the home.“

• St. Nicholas, called Swiety Mikolaj encourages children to be good. He gives apples, oranges, holy pictures or pierniki (saint cookies made with honey and spices) to good children and switches to those who were not so good. Children write letters to St. Nicholas telling him about their behavior and asking for special gifts.

OPŁATEK , A THIN WAFER PRESSED WITH PICTURES OF THE HOLY FAMILY. PEOPLE PASS THIS AROUND, SHARING GOOD WISHES AND SMALL PIECES OF THEIR OPŁATEK.

Straw is sometimes put under the table in remembrance of the manger where the Christ Child was born.

The tradition of the Oplatki originated in Poland during Early Christian times. This Christmas Custom began with a simple white wafer, baked from flour and water. The wafers are wonderfully designed to display Christmas images, such as the Nativity. The Oplatki are enjoyed by families, typically right before the Christmas Eve meal.

Christmas Eve has been given the affectionate name of "little star" or "Gwiazdka," in remembrance of the star of Bethlehem. Everyone watches for the first star to be seen in the sky on Christmas Eve because that signals the start of Wigilia, the traditional dinner. These stars are made of straw.

Wycinanki is the traditional art of papercutting.

'Wesołych wi t‘ Ś ą

Happy Christmas

“Cicha Noc”

Silent Night

MANY POLISH PEOPLE ARE CATHOLIC, SO THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS HAVE A RELIGIOUS BASIS. PEOPLE FAST ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WHICH MEANS THEY DO NOT EAT ALL DAY LONG. WIGILIA , THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER BEGINS AFTER THE FIRST STAR OF THE EVENING IS SPOTTED, AND CONSISTS OF MANY NON-MEAT DISHES.

Pierogi is a Polish dumpling that can be stuffed with all sorts of ingredients, including pork, potatoes, cheese, mushrooms, cabbage, sauerkraut, rice, or fruit. Pierogies ("pierogies" is the plural in English, though pierogi is actually the plural for pieróg in Polish) can be boiled, fried, or baked, and are often served with sautéed onions and sour cream.

Pierogi are dough wrapped around cheese or cabbage. Borscht is a beet soup. Kluski (egg noodles), carp (a kind of fish) and poppy seed bread or cake are also served.

Wigilia -- The VigilFor Poles, Christmas Eve is a night of magic when animals are said to talk and people have the power to predict the future. It’s a time for families to gather and reconcile any differences, and to remember loved ones who have gone before them.

REFERENCES:• http://www.santas.net/polishchristmas.htm

• http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/poland.shtml

• http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-poland.htm

• http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=93

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2007/12/05/polish_christmas_feature.shtml

• http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Wigilia.htm