Christmas in Poland

Poland Christmas in Poland is celebrated on December 24, 25 and 26. It is a festival in which all members of the family meet together to share the wafer and eat supper there. However, the most important is the Christmas Eve on 24 December

Christmas Traditions Christmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Western world. The observance of Christmas developed gradually over the centuries, beginning in ancient times; combining old pagan customs with the religious ones introduced after the Christianization of Poland by the Catholic Church. Later influences include mutual permeating of local traditions and various folk cultures. Unlike in many other Christian countries, St. Nicholas does not play a major role in Polish Christmas, but instead, is celebrated on his Saint feast day of December

Santa Claus Santa Claus, the person very well liked by children because he brings them a lot of gifts every year. He has got 2 names Gwiazdor in the west of Poland and Święty Mikołaj in the east of Poland.

Christams Eve (Wigilia) In Poland, Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting. The eve 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 deserts, can sometimes last for over two 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 decoration

Christamas Eve Dishes On the Christmas table should be twelve dishes like: carp in aspic, fried carp, cabbage with peas and mushrooms, dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms, borscht with dumplings, compote of dried fruit, poppy seed cake, kutia, gingerbread, mushroom soup, cheesecake bread There are many different dishes in each Polish Region

After Christmas Eve Supper we find presents under the christmes tree.

Christmas Wafer (Opłatek) The most important thing at the beginig of Christmas Eve supper is to share Christmas wafer with all members of the family. Then we read the Bible about the birth of Jesus Christ

At midnight, after Christmas Eve Supper we go to church for very special Mass PASTERKA.

Żłóbek – there is a special decoration in every church in Poland, which presents the place where Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, 2012 years ago.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2013! Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku 2013!

The authors: Zuza, Jula, Jula, Laura, Laura and Milena class 5 Primary School in Czapury, Poland