Christmas in Poland

Christmas in Poland - the most important and most charmingly celebrated, next to Easter, religious holiday in Poland. Depending on the region and family traditions, the set of Christmas Eve dishes varies, but customarily, the table on Christmas Eve should include all the products of the earth, and there should be twelve dishes. You should try each one to ensure happiness all year round. The most typical are: borscht, sour soup, mushroom soup or fish soup. Fish, prepared in various ways with the most traditional fried and jelly carp, cabbage with peas, cabbage with mushrooms, dumplings with cabbage, groats with dried mushrooms, beans with dried plums, patties with mushrooms, rice patties with mushroom sauce, noodles with poppy seeds, sugar and honey, mints, challah with compote of dried fruit, almond soup or pie from the eastern tradition, lovebirds and kutia.

Christmas symbols and traditions

Hay under the tablecloth - As tradition dictates, hay should be placed under the tablecloth. This symbolizes the birth of Jesus in poverty.

The first star - traditionally, the Christmas Eve supper begins with the first star in the sky. It is a symbolic reference to the Star of Bethlehem, meaning the birth of Jesus, which, according to the Bible, was seen by the Three Kings on the eastern side of heaven.

Common prayer - Christmas Eve supper, in the Polish tradition begins with prayer and reading the passage about the birth of Jesus.

Wafer - breaking the wafer with all participants of the Christmas Eve supper. Sharing the wafer is intended to bring people closer and connect.

Additional cover - an additional place is placed on the table for the unannounced visitor.

Christmas candle - this custom was born in the Netherlands. On Christmas Eve, a burning lantern, often richly decorated, was placed in front of the entrance to each house, sometimes a simple candle was placed instead. The light was to be a sign of an invitation to the family of Mary and Joseph that Jesus might be born in every home. So it illuminated the way and invited people.

Nativity scene - the custom of arranging a Christmas scene from figurines, known as a "nativity scene", or at least the nursery itself with hay and a figure of the Child lying in it. It allows you to imagine the place where Jesus was born.

Christmas candle - is the most eloquent symbol of Jesus coming to us, and at the same time a sign of the testimony of the Christian faith to children, parents, relatives, friends and all visitors to the house. The candle is a symbol of Christ as the Light of the world.

Dishes - depending on the region and family traditions, the set of Christmas Eve dishes varies, but it is customary to have all the products of the earth on the table, and there should be twelve dishes. Trying each one is to ensure happiness all year round.

The Christmas tree - as a "tree of life" is a Christian symbol - it is dressed on the day when we remember our first parents: Adam and Eve. On the other hand, placing gifts under the Christmas tree is an imitation of kindness.

Carol singing together - joyful singing in which all participants of the Christmas Eve supper are involved.