Christmas is the most important and most celebrated, next to Easter, religious holiday in Poland.and all traditions have developed over the years and they were introduced by the Catholic Church (Kavelaars-Domańska, 2013). Christmas in Poland is a family holiday and is most often celebrated with loved ones.
Traditionally, the day preceding Christmas is Christmas Eve. Formerly it was preparation for the holidays, but after the calendar reform it became part of it. In Poland, this time counts from nightfall and the appearance of the "first star" in the sky. This is a symbolic reference to the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible heralding the birth of Jesus which the Three Kings saw in the sky. Then, family members break each other's wafer, at the same time wishing each other and sit down at a table covered with a white tablecloth with a bunch of hay underneath (ListyMikolaja, 2016). Tradition is to put an extra place at the Christmas table that is intended for an unannounced guest or an absent, loved one. Polish people believe that no one should be alone on this day (Kavelaars-Domańska, 2013). The next day and the second day of Christmas in Poland, you spend time mainly visiting loved ones and spending time with them while eating the rest of the food that remained after Christmas Eve dinner.
Traditionally, the day preceding Christmas is Christmas Eve. Formerly it was preparation for the holidays, but after the calendar reform it became part of it. In Poland, this time counts from nightfall and the appearance of the "first star" in the sky. This is a symbolic reference to the Star of Bethlehem in the Bible heralding the birth of Jesus which the Three Kings saw in the sky. Then, family members break each other's wafer, at the same time wishing each other and sit down at a table covered with a white tablecloth with a bunch of hay underneath (ListyMikolaja, 2016). Tradition is to put an extra place at the Christmas table that is intended for an unannounced guest or an absent, loved one. Polish people believe that no one should be alone on this day (Kavelaars-Domańska, 2013). The next day and the second day of Christmas in Poland, you spend time mainly visiting loved ones and spending time with them while eating the rest of the food that remained after Christmas Eve dinner.
In Poland, Christmas is mainly associated with food.
Main Polish Traditions related to food:
1.Sharing the wafer
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The most important moment during Christmas Eve is sharing the wafer and making wishes (Kavelaars-Domańska, 2013).
2. 12 dishes
Retrieved from: https://www.polskatradycja.pl/folklor/swieta/zimowe/27-przy-wigilijnym-stole.html
One of the traditions related to Christmas is the preparation of 12 Christmas Eve dishes. It is believed that 12 Christmas Eve dishes are to symbolize the fruit of the earth, and dinner participants, to ensure their happiness throughout the coming year, should taste each dish. On the other hand, others feel that this has to do with the 12 apostles in the Bible. The main 12 dishes are beetroot soup with dumplings
herrings, carp, kutia, christmas cabbage (with peas), compote of dried fruits, dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms, mushroom soup, noodles with poppy seeds, gingerbread, poppy seed cake bread (RadioZet, 2019). In Poland during Christmas Eve people do not eat meat, which is also a reference to the Bible.
Some of the Christmas Eve dishes also have their symbolism (RadioZet, 2019):
- Mushroom soup is associated with strength and health
- Fish symbolize Jesus and rebirth to life
- According to folk beliefs, poppy seed symbolized wealth
- Gingerbread symbolized prosperity
- Bread is a symbol of new life
To sum up the holidays in Poland is the time spent with family and eating and tasting a huge amount of food. I am curious about how your saints look like, I am waiting for your answer in the comments!
References:
References:
- ListyMikolaja.pl, Zapomniane tradycje bożonarodzeniowe, 29 lipca 2016.
- Maria Kavelaars-Domańska: Boże Narodzenie, W: Polska Misja Katolicka Amsterdam, 2013
- RadioZet. (2019). 12 potraw wigilijnych - SYMBOLIKA i LISTA dwunastu tradycyjnych potraw na Wigilię Więcej: https://www.radiozet.pl/Co-gdzie-kiedy-jak/12-potraw-wigilijnych-SYMBOLIK -i LISTA dwunastu tradycyjnych potraw na Wigilie.
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