Christmas - Tradition

In Poland Christmas Eve (Wigilia) is considered more important than Christmas Day itself. Before Chrismas families decorate the Chrismas tree.

Supper is started when the first star appeared on the sky.

The whole gathered family breaks and shares Oplatek – a special thin wafer. The host and hostess faced one another, then broke and shared a part of the other's wafer. They wished each other all the best. Then they seat down around the table and eat.

The traditional dishes are:

Christmas Eve borscht with mushroom dumplings
mushroom soup
fried carp
carp in aspic
herring (many kinds)
makielki - noodles with poppy seed, honey, nuts and raisins
kutia a kind of gruel with cracked wheat and honey (eaten in some parts of Poland)
a jam-filled flat pastry
gingerbread cookies
fruit compote

Meat is not allowed on Wigilia.

People sing or listen to carrols. After supper the family open presents which were left under the Christmas Tree by the Santa Clous or Angel (in some parts of Poland). If someone was nice gets the present if he/she was unkind this year he gets.

At midnight, people went to Pasterka / Midnight Mass.
Christmas days are usually spent visiting family and friends.

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