Christmas in Poland
In Poland Christmas is the most important
festival in the whole year. Our traditions date
from the 10th century, since we became
Christians. Christmas time is the best
opportunity to meet our closer family and
friends, often difficult or impossible during
the rest of the year.
Roraty
Traditionally, Advent is an
important season in the
Polish year, with special
church services, known as
Roraty, being held every
morning at 6am. The four
Sundays of Advent are said
to represent the 4,000 years
of waiting for Christ.
Christmas piernik
Special tasks carried out during
Advent are the baking of the
Christmas piernik -ginger bread
or honey cake, and the making of
Christmas decorations. Pierniki
are made in a great variety of
shapes, including hearts, stars,
animals and St Nicholas figures.
Christmas trees
Beautifully lit Christmas trees are placed in all
public areas, outside churches and at homes.
Traditionally the trees are decorated with
shiny apples, glassballs, beautifully wrapped
chocolate shapes and many homemade
decorations, fairy lights or candles. On the top
of the tree there is a star or a glittering top
piece. In many homes, sparklers are hung on
the branches of the trees giving it a magical
atmosphere.
Jaselka
In Polish schools a few days
before Christmas traditional
manger scenes called
Jaselka are performed by pupils.
These are scenes which show
little Jesus in a stable. It is a
scene when Christ is born, and
three kings come to the
manger. The story, about evil
king Herod, who was foreseen to
loose his power from a child, so
he ordered to kill all the children.
Jaselka
“Nativity Scene”
First star
Christmas Eve, Wigilia, is an important part of
the Polish Christmas, in fact, the most
important rituals are celebrated on this day.
Beginning on a day before Christmas Eve, a
strict 24-hour fast is observed which ends with
a huge Christmas feast. In honor of the star of
Bethlehem, the meal cannot begin until the
first star of night appears in the sky. Though
Christmas in Poland is officially known as
Boze Narodzenie, it is most often referred to
as Gwiazdka, which means "little star."
Oplatek
Once the star appears, a special rice wafer blessed by the priest called
oplatek, is broken into pieces and shared by all. The oplatek is mostly
shared with members of the family and immediate neighbors. As each
person shares the “holy bread”, they would have to do two things: forgive
any hurts that have occurred over the past year and to wish the person all
the happiness in the coming year.
Dishes
Oplatek is only the beginning. It is more symbolic than real food.
Finally the meal can begin. Traditionally, there is no meat served
during "Wigilia." Still, the meal is plentiful and luxurious. The feast
consists of twelve courses, one for each Apostle. The table is
always set with one extra seat in case a stranger or the Holy Spirit
should appear to share the meal. We celebrate with at least twelve
different vegetarian dishes like: mushroom soup, carp, cabbage with
pea, stuffed dumplings, shells macaroni with poppy "makielki". In
some homes - some hay is put under the tablecloth (it is connected
with Christ's manger).
“Piernik Staropolski” – OLD
POLISH GINGERBREAD CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
600 grams honey (melted)
100 grams candied lemon peel
10 grams bicarbonate of soda
1 spoonful of rum
500 grams flour
1 teaspoonful of cinnamon and ground cloves
salt
100 grams chopped almonds
2 eggs
300 grams dark chocolate
20 peeled almonds and candied cherries for decoration
INSTRUCTIONS
•pour the honey in a pan and make it warm (do not allow to boil)
•chop the lemon peel
•dissolve the soda in the rum and pour into a bowl
•add flour, cloves, cinnamon, salt, lemon peel and chopped almonds
•beat in eggs
•add melted and cooled honey
•mix everything very carefully with a mixer until smooth
•cover the bowl and put away for 24 hours
•take a baking tray (26x32 cm) and cover it with the baking paper
•roll out the dough, put on the tray and into the oven]
• bake 25 – 30 minutes in the temperature of about 1750C
•cut the hot cake evenly into two parts
•spread plum jam on the bottom part
•put the second part on top of it
•melt the chocolate and spread on the cake
•decorate with almonds and candied cherries
Father Christmas
After the supper everybody waits for
Father Christmas who brings gifts. If
there are little children in a family Father
Christmas gives presents personally,
when children get older Father often puts
gifts under the Christmas tree.
Pasterka
At midnight, children go to bed and
elders attend "Pasterka," or
Shepherd's Mass in church.
Next two Christmas days we spend
meeting our family, relatives and friends.
Still a very popular custom is singing
carols during family meetings at homes.
Christmas is one of those holidays which
mean various things to different people.It
can be a spiritual time, a family time, a
time for giving, a time for partying or a
time for just overeating... Most people
find something to enjoy about Christmas
whether they are Christians or not.