Cracovian cribs cracovian cribs- richly ornamented cribs connected with architecture and referring to monuments of Cracow, showing mystery play of Christmas.

Meals for the Christmas Eve

1. Christmas Eve soups Borscht Christmas Eve soup made from fermented rye flour Mushroom soup clean Fish soup in Polish Fish soup with small dumpling Soup of the wholemeal bread Beer soup Galician cabbage soup Plum soup with the cream Soup of prunes, pears and apples

2.Additions to Christmas Eve soup ”Ears” with mushrooms Small square noodles Pieces of toast Fish meatballs

3.Fish food Carp in the white wine Carp cooked in Jewish fashion The carp cooked in the red wine Fried or roasted carp Bream cooked in one piece Bream cooked with the horseradish and apples Roasted bream stuffed with the buckwheat groats Tench fried in the red cabbage The salmon cooked in the creamy sauce

4.Meals made of mushrooms Mushrooms dried, fried in oil Dried, stewed mushrooms Cabbage stewed with mushrooms and pea Small ”pigeons” with mushrooms

5.Food of the flour Makowczaki with the poppy milk Dumplings with poppyseed Small square noodles with the cabbage

6.Christmas Eve compote Boiled wheat with poppy seeds and honey served on Christmas Eve Compote of dried apples, pears and plums

Exchanging wishes with the wafer In Poland a custom of exchanging Christmas greetings is the most important moment of the Christmas Eve supper. This activity takes place after reading the Gospel about the Jesus birth. Christmas Eve supper refers to feasts of the first Christians, organised in memory of the Last Supper. This custom means also one should share the last piece of bread with another. We give each other our best wishes and forgive all grudges.

The first star In Poland Christmas Eve supper starts, when in the sky the first star appears. It is probably connected with the Star of Bethlehem, which according to the Evangelist, St Mathew, Sages from East saw.

Singing Christmas carols It is a Polish tradition to sing songs about birth of Jesus. We usually do it after supper or during the holy masses at church.

Midnight Mass It finishes the Christmas Eve, it is the mass celebrated at churches precisely at midnight. According to tradition it commemorates the arrival of shepherds to Bethlehem and paying homage to the Messiah.

Free seat at the table At present in Poland a custom of leaving the free seat during the Christmas Eve table is known and widespread. This place is intended above all for the casual guest. By leaving the empty place at the table we also express the memory about our relatives and friends that cannot spend holidays with us. This place can also bring dead family members to our mind.

Thank for attention