Christmas traditions in Poland

1. CHRISTMAS IN POLAND

2. Christmas preparations
These begin many days
before the actual
celebration. Many
houses are cleaned
thoroughly just before
Christmas. It is
believed that if a house
is dirty on Christmas
Eve, it will remain dirty
the following year.

3. Hospitality
Poles are famous for their
hospitality, especially
during Christmas. In
Poland, an additional seat
is often kept for one extra
person at the supper
table. No one should be
left alone at Christmas...
This extra seat is
traditional – it reminds us
that Mary and Joseph
were also looking for
shelter.

4. Christmas Eve (Wigilia)
If something good
or bad should occur
on this day, it is
believed that the
following year will
be likewise.

5. Christmas tree
• This is usually decorated
by children on the Wigilia
day. The tree is often
adorned with apples,
small chocolates, nuts
wrapped in aluminum
foil, candles, strips of
clear paper (angel's hair)
and home-made paper
chains etc.

6. The first day of Christmas
(December 25 th )
Christmas is one of the
biggest holidays in the
Christian world. It has
been celebrated since the
fourth century.

7. Wigilia – Christmas meal
• Mushroom soup with noodles, borsch with
mushroom uszka (little pierogi)
• Herring in oil, pickled herring and carp.
• Sauerkraut with mushrooms, and/or red cabbage.
• Dried-fruit compote.
• Noodles with poppy seeds.
• Kutia (a dish made from boiled wheat, poppy seeds
and honey).
• Pierogi, traditionally made with cabbage and
mushrooms.
• Oplatek (Christmas wafer).
• Bread

8. The Breaking of the Oplatek
One of the most beautiful
and most revered Polish
customs is the breaking of
the Oplatek - Christmas
wafer. Sometimes, people
say sorry to one another for
anything they have done
wrong and give each other
some kind of blessing or
wish such as ‘I wish you
good health’ etc.

9. The second day of Christmas
(December 26 th )
The patron of the second day
of Christmas holiday in
Poland is St. Stephen, the
first Christian martyr.
Every year on this day,
priests during the mass
spread grains of oat to
commemorate the saint
who was stoned to death.

10. St. Stephen’s Day opens the
time of carnival, which lasts
until Ash Wednesday.

11. New Year's Eve (December 31 st )
According to the Gregorian
calendar the 31st of
December is the final day
of the year. In the evening
people go to parties and
light fireworks at
midnight.

12. In Polish tradition, the name
of the last day of the year
(Sylvester) comes from Pope
Sylvester I, who died on the
31st of December 335.

13. This feast was first celebrated in the year 999,
when Sylvester II was a Pope.

14. In the past on the New
Year’s Day people greeted
each other happiness, good
luck and health. This
custom has survived until
now. At midnight Poles
still wish everyone
„A Happy New Year”.

15. The end
www.dragon-class.com