Polish Christmas Customs (see pictures, listen to carols)

Polish American Center.org (and others) ^

[lizol]

Wigilia

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia! That is the way to say "Merry Christmas" in Polish. Among Poles, wherever they are, the most beloved and beautiful of all traditional festivities is that of Christmas Eve. It is then that the Wigilia, or Christmas Eve Dinner is served. It is a solemnly celebrated occasion and arouses deep feelings of kinship among family members.



For days in advance, Poles prepare the traditional foods and everyone anxiously awaits the moment when the first star, known as the Gwiazdka, appears in the eastern sky. For that is when the feast to commemorate the birth of the Christ Child begins.

There is always a thin layer of hay under the white tablecloth in memory of the Godchild in the manger. Before sitting down at the table, everyone breaks the traditional wafer, or Oplatek and exchanges good wishes for health, wealth and happiness in the New Year. This is such a deeply moving moment that often tears of love and joy are evoked from the family members who are breaking this symbolic bread. The Oplatek is a thin, unleavened wafer similar to the altar bread in the Roman Catholic Church. It is stamped with the figures of the Godchild, the blessed Mary, and the holy angels. The wafer is known as the bread of love and is often sent by mail to the absent members of the family.

The dinner itself differs from other evening meals in that the number of courses is fixed at seven, nine or eleven. According to myth, in no case must there be an odd number of people at the table, otherwise it is said that some of the feasters would not live to see another Christmas. A lighted candle in the windows symbolizes the hope that the Godchild, in the form of a stranger, may come to share the Wigilia and an extra place is set at the table for the unexpected guest. This belief stems from the ancient Polish adage, "A guest in the home is God in the home."

The Wigilia is a meatless meal, no doubt the result of a long-time Church mandate that a strict fast and abstinence be observed on this day before Christmas. Although the Church laws have been revised and permit meat to be eaten on this day, the traditional meal remains meatless. Items that would normally be included in a traditional Wigilia menu include mushroom soup, boiled potatoes (kartofle), pickled herring (sledzie), fried fish, pierogi, beans and sauerkraut (groch i kapusta), a dried fruit compote, babka, platek, assorted pastries, nuts and candies.

After the meal the members of the family sing Polish Christmas Carols called the koledy while the children wait impatiently around the Christmas tree or choinka for the gifts to be exchanged.

Aside from the beautiful Wigilia, the Polish people have a number of other traditions that they practice throughout the Christmas season. Polish Christmas Carols or koledy are numerous and beautiful, especially when sung in Polish parishes at the Christmas Eve Mass. This Mass is called the Pasterka, which means the Shepherds Watch, and there is popular belief in Poland that while the congregation is praying, peace descends on the snow-clad, sleeping earth and that during that holy night, the humble companions of men - the domestic animals - assume voices. But only the innocent of heart may hear them.

Christmas Day itself is spent in rest, prayer, and visits to various members of the family. In Poland, from Christmas Day until the twelfth night, boys trudge from village to village with an illuminated star and a ranting King Herod among them to sing carols. Sometimes, they penetrate the towns in expectation of more generous gifts. In some districts, the boys carry on puppet shows called shopky. These are built like a little house with two towers, open in the front where a small crib is set.

During the Christmas season, the theaters give special performances. On the feast of the Epiphany, the priest and the organist visit the homes, bless them and write over their doors the initials of the three wise men - KMB (Kasper, Melchior and Balthazar) - in the belief that this will spare the homes from misfortune.

The Christmas season closes on February 2, known as Candlemas Day. On that day, people carry candles to church and have them blessed for use in their homes during storms, sickness and death.

Wesolych Swiat, Bozego Narodzenia i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!

The Meaning of Oplatki (Christmas Wafers)

The celebration of Christmas by American families is enriched spiritually when time honored "old country" traditional customs are adopted. These practices serve to downplay the secular emphasis that has made of this holy time more of a "sell-ebration". These customs reemphasize what this great celebration is all about - the proclamation of the "good news" for all humankind of our redemption.

An especially popular custom is the sharing of the "Oplatek" or Christmas wafer, also known as "Anielski Chleb" or Angel Bread.

For the people of Poland and other Western Slavonic nations the "Oplatek" has always had a mystical quality.

The "Oplatek" is much like the unleavened wheat hosts used at Mass. Different Christmas scenes are embossed in the baking process.

For Americans, the "Oplatek" represents a reverent tie to the customs of "the old country." The observance that takes place on Christmas Eve becomes a sign of unity and solidarity with all members of the family, neighbors, and friends. Even absent members of the family receive an "Oplatek" by mail as a sign of their communion with their loved ones at home.

"THE FESTIVAL OF STARS "

On Christmas Day the village streets are traversed by boys and girls singing carols, and carrying " SZOPKAS "— miniature stages telling the Nativity story.

Other boys, dressed in costumes depicting King Herod, Death, a Devil, an Angel, a Bishop, and strange beasts, are led by a Star Boy. The " Festival of the STAR " is brought to a close on January 6th, Three Kings Day, or in some regions of Poland on Candlemass Day, February 2nd.

"Szopki"

A long-time tradition in Poland during the Christmas season is th building of "Szopki" (pronounced shop-key), which are elaborate form of the Nativity scene. This tradition started back in the 13th century in Krakow, Poland, and remains an annual tradition whereas major prizes are awarded for the most elaborately decorated and designed Szopki.

This is a miniature version of a Christmas Szopka. The Krakowian creches sometimes reach six feet in height. Their construction is based on elements of Krakow's historic architecture including Gothic spires, Renaissance facades and Baroquian-topped domes.

Traditional nativity scenes in Polish churches

Polish carols (mp3)

Bog siê rodzi

Do szopy hej pasterze

Dzisiaj w Betlejem

Oj maluski”

Gdy sliczna panna

Medrcy swiata

[BigSkyVic]

Thanks for posting this! My relatives will love seeing these beautiful pictures. Love the Polish eagle on your home page.

Dziêkujê

[Cacique]

ping

[lizol]

Yeah, more or less like that, I think I wouldn't invent anything else to describe how to pronounce it.

Now enjoy breaking your tongue :-)))

[lizol]

A bit like sushi, isn't it? :-)))

[GSlob]

Are these contraptions edible? [sugar, marzipan, etc.]?

[lizol]

No, I don't think so.

Maybe some people make them edible, but those traditional ones are usually made of wood, paper, metal etc.

[sidegunner]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and you're loved ones.Good Luck and Good Hunting to GROM!!

[sockmonkey]

Thank you so much for posting these. Poland Rocks. I hope I am able to get back to visit there one of these days. I was there in February, but to go during Easter of Christmas would be a dream trip.

When I was there it was so awesome to see so many people kneeling in prayer for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament when I would visit the Churches..not just old geezers like me, either-many young people. Truly, Poland beats with a Catholic heart.

[Sender]

I was particularly impressed with the beauty of hand-painted Polish "Pisanki" Easter eggs. Thanks for the great info on Polish Christmas!

[Da_Shrimp]

Thanks for posting this!

My in-laws are over from Poland at the moment and they and Agnieszka (my wife) are preparng things for Wigilia even as I type!

In our house, we have a traditional Polish Christmas Eve and then I prepare a traditional English Christmas Dinner on the day itself.

Agnieszka is now only two weeks from giving birth...

[lizol]

Wow! That's going to be a Christmas gift!

A bit late (2 weeks), but the best possible anyway :-)))

[Mordacious]

Lovely photos. Merry Christmas :)

[pgkdan]

Thanks for spelling it out for me! That's going to take some practice! Now enjoy breaking your tongue :-)))

LOL! You're not kidding!

[Biggirl]

Thank-you for the posting. Being Polish on my late father's side, this is very informitive. I did for a few years up to last year did the opacky pratice, but has taken a brake for this year. The nativity displays are truly a work of art. At least I know why I have a large number of nativity scenes myself. A Blessed Merry Christmas to you.

[Grzegorz 246]

Merry Christmas to all.

[dfwgator]

[Lukasz]

Merry Christmas to you too!

http://i.wp.pl/a/i/kartki2/main/kartka2000.swf

[lizol]

My own pictures (from last holidays)




The lady wearing headscarf is my wife


This is the place, where Jesus was placed after He was born (located very close to the silver star - to the right)

[snippy_about_it]

Merry Christmas dear friend. Merry Christmas to you and your family!