Christmas
in Poland
Christmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Christian world
Christmas
trees are traditionally decorated and lit in family rooms on the day of Christmas
Eve ( in the morning). Other trees are placed in most public areas and outside
churches. Christmas is called "Boże Narodzenie" in Polish (literally
'God's Birth').
Advent
Among the special tasks carried
out in private homes during Advent (a time of waiting for the celebration of the Nativity
of Jesus) is the baking of the Christmas piernik (gingerbread),
and the making of Christmas decorations. Pierniki are made in a variety of
shapes, including hearts, animals, and St.
Nicholas figures
Traditionally, the Christmas
trees are decorated with glass balls, garlands and
many homemade ornaments including painted eggshells, shiny red apples, walnuts, wrapped chocolate
shapes, candles, etc.. At the top of each tree there is a star or a glittering tree
topper. In many houses, the trees are left standing until February 2 nd, the feast day of St. Mary of
the Candle of Lighting.
One tradition unique to Poland is
the sharing of the "opłatek",
a thin wafer into which a holy picture is pressed. In the old days people
carried these wafers from house to house wishing their neighbors a Merry
Christmas. Nowadays, opłatek is mostly shared with members of the family before
the Christmas Eve supper (wigilia
in Polish language). As each person shares pieces of the wafer with another,
they are supposed to forgive each other any hurts that have occurred over the
past year and wish them happiness in the coming year.
Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper
In Poland, Christmas
Eve is a day of ’ fasting’,. The Wigilia feast begins at the appearance of the first star. There is no red meat
served but fish, usually carp. The supper, which includes many traditional dishes and desserts, can
sometimes last for many hours. It is followed by the exchange of gifts. The
next day, the Christmas
Day, is often spent visiting friends. In Polish tradition, people combine
religion and family closeness at Christmas. Although gift-giving plays a major
role in the rituals, emphasis is placed more on the making of special foods and
decorations.
At night of Christmas Eve, so
important is the appearance of the first star in remembrance of the Star of
Bethlehem, in that evening, children watch the sky anxiously hoping to be the first
to cry out, "The star has come!" Only after it appears, the family
members sit down to a dinner table.
According to tradition, bits of
hay are spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger. Others
partake in the practice of placing money under the table cloth for each guest,
in order to wish for prosperity in the coming year. In many houses an empty
place setting is symbolically left at the table for the Baby Jesus or, for a lonely wanderer who may be in need of food, or if a deceased
relative should come and would like to share in the meal.
The supper begins with the
breaking of the opłatek. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their
unity with Christ. They then share a piece with each family member. A tradition
exists among some families to serve twelve different dishes at Wigilia
symbolizing the Twelve
Apostles. A traditional Wigilia supper in Poland includes fried carp and barszcz (beetroot
soup) with uszka (ravioli). Carp provides a main component of the Christmas Eve meal across
Poland; carp fillet, carp in aspic etc. Universal Polish Christmas foods are pierogi as well as
some herring dishes, and for desert, makowiec (poppy seed cake), cheesecake, dry fruit cake or
noodles with poppy seed. Often, there is a compote of dry fruits
for a drink.
The remainder of the evening is
given to stories and songs around the Christmas tree. In some areas of the
country, children are taught that "The Little Star" brings the gifts.
As presents are unwrapped, carollers may walk from house to house receiving
treats along the way.
Christmas Eve ends with Pasterka, the Midnight
Mass at local church. The tradition commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise
Men to Bethlehem and their paying of respect and bearing witness to the new
born Messiah. The custom of Christmas night liturgy was introduced in the
Christian churches after the second half of the 5th century. In Poland that
custom arrived together with the coming of Christianity. The next day (December
25) begins with the early morning mass followed by daytime masses. According to
scripture, the Christmas Day masses are interchangeable allowing for greater
flexibility in choosing the religious services by individual parishioners.
Kolędy, the Christmas carols
Christmas
carols are not celebrated in Poland until during-and-after the Christmas Vigil
Mass called Pasterka held between 24 and 25 of December. The Christmas season often runs until February 2 nd. The early hymns sung
in Catholic church were brought to Poland by the Franciscan Brothers in the Middle
Ages. The early Christmas music was Latin in origin. When the Polish words and
melodies started to become popular, including many new secular pastorals (pastoralka,
or shepherd's songs), they were not written down originally, but rather taught
among people by heart. 