How to Observe Polish Christmas Eve Customs
The major Christmas celebration in Poland takes place on "Wigilia," which is Christmas Eve. Traditionally, Wigilia is a time for forgiveness and a fresh start. A 12-dish, meatless dinner is served before other festivities begin.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Christmas Gifts
- Gift Ribbons
- Tissue Paper
- Polish Cookbooks
- Christmas Trees
- Dog Bones
- Dog Treats
- Gift Bags
- Gift Bows
- Mistletoe
- Wrapping Paper
- Wheat
- White Tablecloths
- Polish Christmas Carol CDs
- Tissue paper
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1
Clean the house and trim the Christmas tree during the daylight hours. In rural Poland, these are traditional Christmas Eve activities, and Poles fast until dinnertime.
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2
Decorate according to Polish folklore: Hang mistletoe over the front door to ward off evil; place wheat in the dining room corners and under the tablecloth to chase away misery.
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3
Set the table with a white tablecloth. Set one extra place setting to remember absent family members or accommodate an unexpected guest. According to custom, the dinner begins with a prayer and sharing of blessed Oplatek bread to represent Communion.
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4
Light the tree and serve dinner (see "How to Prepare a Traditional Polish Christmas Eve Dinner") after the first star appears in the sky. The first star commemorates the birth of Christ and represents the star of Bethlehem.
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5
Exchange gifts after dinner is finished.
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6
Give the family pet a special treat after dinner, as in Poland the head of the household would take a treat of dinner leftovers to the animals in the barn. Polish folklore explains that animals can speak in human voices on Christmas Eve.
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7
Sing Polish Christmas carols. Carolers in Poland visit neighborhood households from Christmas Eve through the end of the holiday season on January 6, the Feast of the Three Kings.
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8
Enjoy a brisk sleigh ride with friends and family, and serve refreshments afterward. In Poland, this is known as a "kulig."
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1
Tips & Warnings
Polish carols originated as folk songs in the 14th century and include both hymns and legends; many recordings are available through record stores and catalogs.
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Comments
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Bonnie
Dec 26, 2006
why 12 dishes and what are they suppose to represent? -
Bonnie
Dec 26, 2006
why 12 dishes and what are they suppose to represent?