But not only for them! While most people are familiar with the Polish Lenten “paczki,” the most important tradition to the Rose family, as well as other Polish families, is Wigilia, which is the celebratory Christmas Eve vigil supper. At the beginning of December, shops and streets are starting to shine and Christmas Carols and songs fill every room. Christmas Holidays start on the 24th of December. In most Polish houses, Christmas carols are eagerly sung at the Christmas table. During this special time, every Polish family decorates a Christmas tree, shares a Christmas wafer, sings Christmas carols and exchanges gifts. Decorating the Christmas tree is not a tradition that stems from Poland, but we sure are experts at doing that. The night before is called ‘Wigilia’ and the three week period prior to the Christmas celebrations is called Advent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, © 2020 Poland Unraveled - All registered. The Polish Museum of America in Chicago also offers a Christmas ornament-making workshop for children and adults. Families travel from all over the country to gather on Christmas Eve. In fact, Poland is the fourth biggest exporter of Christmas ornaments, right after China, the Netherlands and the USA. Gingerbread Recipe . Christmas Holidays commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Polish Christmas Traditions. Like in most Central European countries, Christmas in Poland is a quaint and much-beloved affair. Honestly. And then we would sing Polish carols and stuff. 11 Quirks Polish people don’t realise are super weird, How to legally stay in Poland – guide for non EU citizens, ZUS – The Polish Social Insurance Institution, Guide to the child benefit ‘Rodzina 500 plus’, Basic information about studying in Poland, Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot (Trojmiasto – Tricity), Top 10 Luxury hotels in Poland that won’t break the bank, 5 not so obvious places to discover in Poland, 12 things to do in Poland before you leave – Poland bucket list, 11 places in Poland you might have never heard about, Polish Christmas gift idea have a look at our curated list, Mazury – magnificent Polish Lake District, Guide to finding & renting accommodation in Poland. Let’s start with the 12 Traditional Polish Christmas Dishes The midnight mass – at midnight between the 24th and 25th of December, Midnight Mass takes place. Christmas Eve in Poland is the greatest holiday of the year. Christmas Tree. Although there are some traditions that developed just in Poland and have nothing to do with religion. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Polish Christmas traditions related to this beautiful family festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ have been observed with reverence for generations. This is one of the most important Polish traditions. The Feast of the Three Kings or Trzech Kroli on January 6th is the official end of Christmas. There is a lot of work to be done in order to prepare the house for the Christmas holiday. The 25th of December is the day of Christ’s birth. The meal begins after the first star appears in the sky on the evening of December 24th and is always meatless to honor the animals that kept Jesus warm when he was born. The meal traditionally doesn’t contain any meat dishes except fish. But some people put hay on the table and cover it under the tablecloth. Carp Maybe you are wondering: why twelve dishes ? Christmas is one of the most important religious holidays in Poland, with Christmas Eve taking precedence over Christmas Day. The finest examples are exhibited in the city's Museum of Ethnography and the others are sold at the fabulous Christmas market. Christmas carols. On Christmas Eve, there is a tradition known as Wigilia. The highlight of Christmas for Poles is wigilia or Christmas Eve with its beautiful Star Supper. 14.11.17. We hope you now know a little bit more about this time of year in Poland and you are able to enjoy it as much as we do! If you think that the celebration and the food itself ends after Christmas Eve you are wrong. If you happen to be in Poland over the Christmas period, you will begin to realise how religious a country it truly is. Christmas in Poland: Polish traditions, presents, money, and Santa. In the old days, people fasted for Advent, homes were cleaned from top to bottom, grudges were forgotten and the birth of the Christ Child was eagerly anticipated. What can you find there? The main part of Wigilia is a s… Decorations are taken down, "K+M+B+" is inscribed above doorways with blessed chalk, representing the initials of the three kings, and a king cake is served with a lucky coin baked inside. The Christmas festivities in Poland begin on December 6, this day is known as St. Nicholas Day (Mikołajki in Polish), and unofficially it is the beginning of Christmas in Poland.During this day all good children in Poland receive small gifts (fruits, cookies and sweets), and bad children can receive a piece of coal. It’s just the beginning. Wigilia—derived from the Latin term "vigil"—is the traditional Christmas Eve supper in Poland.Also known as the Star Supper, Wigilia is the main focus of Polish Christmas celebrations. This Christmas Custom began with a simple white wafer, baked from flour and water. As you might know, Poland is a very religious country. Gingerbread Cookies Recipes . Some of them are the same as English songs, but just in polish, like it’ll be “Jingle Bells” sung in Polish.” It’s the one Christmas tradition that we have celebrated as long as I can remember. Type above and press Enter to search. St. Nicholas Day, Dzien Świętego Mikołaja, falls on December 6th and it is the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Poland, even though Advent, which usually begins a week before, is the official kickoff. If you ask us, from what we know, the food in Polish kitchens that day is so good that people who really don’t eat before the main supper are heroes. Polish families go to church, everybody sings carols, enjoys themselves, and of course wine and dine the whole day. Every year, the city of Kraków holds its creche competition for the finest and most beautifully rendered evergreen or crib in the land. Posted 21 December 2018 21 December 2018 Escape2Poland The smell of tangerines, snow, carols on the radio and incredible crowds in the supermarkets – these are the signs that Christmas is approaching! From church services to family get-togethers to days where businesses are completely shut, this is a country proud of its former Pope, John Paul II. Christmas Cleaning. It’s believed that it brings luck for each of the months in the upcoming year. My version of barszcz has evolved a bit over the years, since getting real Polish wild mushrooms was challenging, and the strict rules on eating meat on Christmas Eve loosened. Fasting – well…it’s not only about meat. Press Esc to cancel. Have you ever tried Polish Christmas food? Because it is such a big event, there is a great deal of preparation that goes into ensuring that the evening is spent following old Polish traditions. It is sweet and chewy due to the fruits, nuts, and honey. Dishes served on the 24th are made only once a year and the recipes used to make them are often family secrets that … There is a wide variety of Polish Christmas Eve traditions and they really depend on the region of Poland. Jan 26, 2020 - Explore PATRICIA KENYON's board "Polish Christmas Traditions", followed by 177 people on Pinterest. By using The Spruce, you accept our, The 3 Biggest Lessons I Learned From Filming a Netflix Show, 7 Russian Christmas and New Year Traditions to Share With Your Kids, 5 Places That Send a Free Video From Santa, Ways to Celebrate a Victorian Christmas Traditions, Eastern European Upside-Down Christmas Trees, When to Take Down Your Christmas Tree—Whether It’s for Religion or Superstition, Sentiments and Greetings for Christmas Cards, The 8 Best Children’s Christmas Books of 2021, 10 Easy Ways to Add Christmas Spirit Into Your Home, How the Tradition of Kissing Under Mistletoe Started. Kutia is is a concoction made of poppy seed, wheat grain, honey, and dried fruits. Many Poles in the United States have never had the pleasure of experiencing a wigilia dinner, or at least, not since they were children. The main part of Wigilia is a solemn, family supper, which starts right after the appearance of the first star in the sky. Polish Christmas Traditions and Recipes : Poppy Seed Strudel . In a Polish home, the whole family is involved in preparation for Christmas. Hay on the table – nowadays, it’s a very rare tradition. All the people who are still alive after consuming such an amount of food (yes, we eat lots of food during Christmas…) go for a long walk with the family to have some fresh air and enjoy their company. One thing you need to remember for sure, arrive with an empty stomach. So prepare yourself for a massive feast and probably trying something you had never eaten before. Christmas in Poland: traditions, family, and… food Christmas Eve in Poland (Wigilia), December 24Christmas Eve Dinner – kolacja wigilijna – is the most important Christmas celebration in Poland. Oplatek (pronounced Opwatek) is a thin unleavened wafer … The Poland of today continues the traditions and customs of this history with origins in the Slavic culture. And the most exciting of all is the Christmas Eve meal. Not a morsel of food is eaten before the first star in the sky is sighted. The most common and popular of Christmas traditions are laid out below: Sharing Christmas wafer – usually takes place before the main supper. The last day of Christmas is the 26th of December. This Polish Christmas Eve tradition includes 12 dishes and desserts which reflect Poland's rich, multicultural culinary past. Although there are some traditions that developed just in Poland and have nothing to do with religion. The answer to this is because of the twelve Apostles and it also represents the twelve months of the year. Although the religious aspect of Christmas, the 25th of December is the most important day of the holiday season, the truth is that it’s the Christmas Eve that has the largest number of traditions and customs. Later influences include the mutual permeating of local traditions and various folk cultures. In the old days, the men of the household would head to the forest to cut evergreen boughs to be placed over mantels and doorways, and a treetop to be hung upside down from a beam in the living room. Even if they don’t like each other. Then, an odd number of courses are served, anywhere from five to 13, depending on the wealth and preferences of the family. The culture of Poland developed as a result of its geography and connections to other countries, and it's rich thousand-year history. A: The tradition of the Oplatki originated in Poland during Early Christian times. The meal, consisting of Polish staples, begins when the first star appears in the eastern sky, commemorating the birth of Christ. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. This guide has all the essential information you need to indulge and fully appreciate the Polish Christmas culture (and if you are interested in Christmas food, you can read our Polish Christmas dinner and dishes guide). It’s so delicious. Christmas fairs selling handicrafts pop up in most Polish market squares as people indulge in home-cooked meals and strolls through snow-covered parks. Another very popular Polish Christmas tradition is sharing thin pieces of wafer (‘opłatek’) with family members and friends, and wishing each other all the best in the New Year before sitting down to the Christmas Eve dinner. But before any feasting on the meatless meal can begin, the breaking of the oplatki, Communion-like wafers, must take place. If you’re reading this content that means that you’re, either preparing yourself for the upcoming Christmas season and you don’t want to get surprised by Polish celebrations, or you’re just using your mobile phone in the middle of the Christmas dinner because you saw so many “weird” things and you were asked so many different questions, that Poland Unraveled is your last hope. Christmas is one of the most important religious holidays in Poland, with Christmas Eve taking precedence over Christmas Day.But Christmas preparations begin four weeks before Dec. 24 with the start of Advent. The most recognisable and probably the most hated Christmas song in Poland is Last Christmas…It’s not because it’s not catchy or not appropriate, but imagine yourself sitting around listening to the same single song over and over and over (radio stations are to blame!). As you might know, Poland is a very religious country. Every dish should be at least tried as it brings good luck for the upcoming 12 months of the new year. Christmas Holidays commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Herring in cream and oil, cabbage with peas, carp (probably the most popular fish in Poland to be served during Christmas and, what’s interesting, is not really eaten any other day of the year ), dumplings (pierogi! The Tradition is popular throughout eastern Europe, including Lithuania and Slovakia. In some houses, people would pick some straw and wrap it around fruit trees in the orchard to ensure good harvests in the next year. Poland is a predominately Catholic nation, and many traditions revolve around church services, fasting, and other religious customs. Uniquely Distinctive Polish Christmas Traditions – You just have to know them all! 6 minute read. List of The12 Traditional Polish Christmas Dishes. Paper-cutting and folding techniques are used to make beautifully colored garlands, stars, peacocks and other whimsical designs commonly found on a Polish Christmas tree. Polish Christmas trees are traditionally decorated with garlands, fruit, wrapped chocolate, candles, painted eggshells, and other homemade ornaments. Giving gifts – we give gifts to each other right after Christmas supper. Oplatek is a thin wafer made of flour and water, similar in taste to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass. Many traditions and customs originate from Christianity. 1. The tradition in Poland is that you will eat 12 dishes during Christmas Eve dinner. Midnight Mass commemorates the expectation and prayer of shepherds on their way to Bethlehem. Polish tradition also says that during Christmas we should serve things like herring in cream and oil, carp (the most popular fish during Christmas), pierogi, borscht, etc! It probably has something to do with the fact that Jesus Christ was born on the hay in the stable. The days after Christmas are often spent with family and friends. Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer. Its modernity still surprises many tourists. The primary Christmas traditions, however, start with the coming of Advent and culminate with celebrations on December 24, 25, and 26. And the Polish tradition is to open gifts on Christmas Eve, not on Christmas Day. According to the Polish Christmas traditions, you should have 12 dishes during the supper. Candles, or sparklers in some homes, are positioned on the Christmas tree and lit on Christmas Eve. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages. Well, that’s basically it. Once the first star is in the sky and all Christmas dishes are cooked, the family gathers around the table and the celebrations begin. People in Poland also like kissing under the mistletoe! 3. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. In Polish Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Wesołych Świąt'. Christmas Eve Dinner starts in the late afternoon or in the evening, depending on a family (some people visit 2 or even more families during Christmas … Almost 90% of Polish people identify as Roman Catholics, so Christmas is an especially important time in Poland. All of the dishes are handmade and completely satisfying. Wild mushroom soup {Zupa grzybowa} We cook, clean houses, buy gifts and decorate the Christmas tree, always with the whole family involved. Many Poles still stick to the old tradition and continue with consuming meatless dishes only on Christmas Eve. Christmas Polish food is festive, very traditional and exceptionally good. It is one of the most important religious holidays for Poles, who follow … The Polish celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas widely known as the day when Jesus Christ was born. All of us like to receive gifts, including the Poland Unraveled team….just saying… If you are looking for a Polish Christmas gift idea have a look at our curated list. Good children receive fruit, nuts in the shell and honey-spice cookies, and bad boys and girls get a lump of coal. The flavourless wafer is made from flour and water and is a symbol of forgiveness, friendship and unity. 25th December – Christmas Day, holiday. The wafers are wonderfully designed to display Christmas images, such as the Nativity. It is the symbol of the Bethlehem Star and the rumour is that this particular star was shown to the three kings by God to guide them to the stable where Christ was born. But Christmas preparations begin four weeks before Dec. 24 with the start of Advent. During this moment, family members wish all the best to each other. The Polish Museum of America in Chicago holds several wigilia dinners to give people the opportunity to get in touch with their Polish heritage or to introduce people of different ethnicities to Polish culture. In the old days, people fasted for Advent, homes were cleaned from top to bottom, grudges were forgotten and the birth of the Christ Child was eagerly anticipated. 24th December – Christmas Eve, the day when Christians await the birth of Jesus.Though one of the most important moments in Polish tradition, Christmas Eve is a working day. Another one of my favorite Christmas traditions is our Polish/Lithuanian Oplatek Christmas Tradition. Polish Children also often get dressed up and go carol singing on Epiphany, January 6th. 26th December – … Also, for many families, it’s the most important time to meet and spend time together. For the youngest, this is the most exciting part of Christmas. Don’t worry, either way, we’ve got your back. In reference to the twelve apostles, there should be twelve dishes present at the Polish Christmas dinner table. Preparing an extra seat for the unexpected guest – in case a homeless person or a traveller from far, far away comes to your home during Christmas Eve, an extra seat and cutlery are prepared in case such a person comes, they can join the hosts and celebrate the holidays. Polish Christmas Eve Dinner Menu. The traditional Polish Christmas Eve traditions begin right after the appearance of the first star in the sky which represents the star of … At the top of the tree a star is placed. TransferWise. Christmas in Poland is a season filled with age-old traditions, cherished music and memorable feasts.
It’s hard, you know…. Christmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Christian world. Serving twelve dishes (referring to the twelve apostles) – well, the truth is that Christmas is really about food and eating delicious dishes. Christmas Wafer - Oplatek. In Poland, we call it just ‘the second day of holidays’. As well as this, the next day is the time that family members visit each other and very often people have to eat a couple of dinners before they get back home. Polish culture has a historical context, but it continues to evolve, incorporating old traditions with modern life.
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