The document summarizes many Polish Christmas traditions and customs. It describes how Christmas Eve celebrations in Poland begin with the sighting of the first star in the sky. Families then share the holy wafer, sing carols, and partake in a traditional meal before attending midnight mass. Some key dishes of the Polish Christmas Eve supper include fried carp, borscht, pierogi, and honey cake. The document also outlines traditions such as decorating Christmas trees, leaving an empty place setting for visitors, and the roles of Mikolaj and carolers.

2. Anna Szumańska, Szkoła Podstawowa im. Józefa Marka w Tymbarku

3.  WIGILIA  (Polish
pronunciation: [viˈɡilja]) is the
traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper,
held on December 24. The term is also
often extended to the whole day of the
Christmas Eve, extending further into
the midnight Mass held at Roman
Catholic churches all over Poland at
midnight preceding the Christmas Day.
 The feasting traditionally begins once
the First Star has been sighted (usually
by children) in the heavens at dusk
(around 5 p.m.). Therefore Christmas is
also sometimes called "Gwiazdka" (the
little star, referring to the Star of
Bethlehem).

4. HOW DO WE CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS EVE IN POLAND?
THE FIRST STAR
 PRAYERS, READINGS FROM THE BIBLE
 CHRISTMAS WISHES
 BREAKING THE CHRISTMAS WAFER (OPŁATEK)
CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER
CHRISTMAS CAROLS, PRESENTS
MIDNIGHT MASS/ SHEPHERD’S MASS

5. In Poland, Christmas Eve suppers
start at the appearance of the
first star. Probably done so in
memory of the star of
Bethlehem, which according to
the Evangelist, Saint Matthew.
This custom was and still is
deeply rooted in Polish culture.
Ewa Kalita, Szkoła Podstawowa im. R.Gila, Świętoszówka

6. The holy wafer
On Christmas Eve when the first
star apears in the sky, people take
seats at the Christmas table.
Before the family starts eating,
all its members share the holy
wafer and offer good wishes. It is
the most important and most
touching moment. The wafers are
white and ornamented with
pictures.
The name "wafer" is derived from
the Latin word "oblatum".
Renata Woźnicka, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 10 Piotrków Trybunalski
Ewa Kalita, Szkoła Podstawowa im. R.Gila, Świętoszówka

7. Obrus wigilijny wedle tradycji powinien być biały. Ma on
przypominać ołtarz i pieluszki Pana. Sianko pod obrusem
przypomina , że Jezus urodził się w ubóstwie, na sianie.
Christmas Tablecloth, according to
tradition, should be white. It aims to
remind the altar of the Lord and
diapers. Hay under the tablecloth
reminds that Jesus was born
in poverty, in the hay
Iwona Kowalczyk-Rybczyńska, Szkoła Podstawowa im.Ryszarda Wyrzykowskiego w Bełdowie

8. There is a tradition in many homes
that an empty place setting is
symbolically left at the table for a
lonely wanderer who may be in
need of food, or if a deceased
relative should come and would
like to share in the meal. This is to
remind us that Mary and Joseph
were also looking for shelter.
Marta Kaczmarek, Gimnazjum nr 1 w Szczańcu

10. The traditional Christmas Eve supper consists of twelve dishes
representing the twelve months of the year or Twelve Apostoles.
The Eve table is covered by white tablecloth under which we
find a hay. No meat is served during the supper!
Monika Szmygiel, Zespół Szkół w Zalewie

11. Christmas food
Fried carp provides a
main component of the
Christmas Eve meal
across Poland
Other traditional dishes
appearing on the table
include red borscht with
small dumplimgs

12. Boiled or fried „pierogi”
Honey Cake
On the Christmas Eve table we also find mushroom or fish soup,
sauerkraut with wild mushrooms or peas, dried fruit compote and kutia,
a dessert especially popular in eastern Poland.

13. The Polish Santa is named „Mikolaj” or St. Nicholas. In
some regions of Poland he is named Gwiazdor.
Children write letters with their wishes to Santa a few
weeks before Christmas and receive presents from him
on December 24th.
Daria Kowalczyk, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 25 z Oddziałami Integracyjnymi im. H.Ch. Andersena w
Olsztynie

16. The custom of decorating the Christmas tree came to Poland at the turm
of the XVIII and XIX century from Germany. The spruce is the most
popular Christmas tree in Poland.
Before Christmas time, in every home there are natural or plastic
Christmas trees. We decorate them by glass balls, ligts and other
handmade decorations.
A lot of Polish people love sitting with family near the Christmas tree.
Than we listen and sing Christmas carols. It is magic time for children and
all families.
Now, the Christmas tree is one of the most popular sign of
Christmas time.
Marzena Kurstak, Przedszkole Samorządowe w Kolnie z filiami w Bęsi i Lutrach

17. Earlier, the Christmas trees were decorated on Christmas Eve. There
were many various decorations and each of them have different
meanings, e.g.
 apples- the symbol of health and beauty,
 nuts- the symbol of prosperity,
 gingerbreads- the symbol of abudance in the next year,
 wafers- mean love and harmony in family,
 bells- mean good news and cheerful events in family,
 angels- protection home and all family.
 glass balls and lihgts- protect houses from demons
and bad peoples.

18. Every year children wait for Christmas tree. They prepare many decorations
– chains, birds, stars. Children know, that under the Christmas tree they will
find gifts form Santa Claus.
Children love Christmas time and love decorating the Christmas trees. We
prepare decorations with children and their parents in our kindergarten and
meet all together.

19. The nativity play presents one of the
most important events for all
Christians: the birth of a Son of God
Jesus Christ. In general the plot
starts when Joseph and Maria look
for a place to rest, then Maria gives
birth in a stable and shepherds and
three kings visit the small Jesus. It is
performed in many schools and
churches just before Christmas Eve
or during Chrstmas time.
Schoolchildren in costume act as the
human and angel characters
Magdalena Mioduszewska, Szkoła Podstawowa im.St.Milewskiego w Gąsocinie

21. Polish Christmas Eve in the past used to be a
mixture of Pagan and Christian customs. Here are
some of them:
• It was believed that on that day people and
the dead met. People didn’t use sharp tools
because they didn’t want to hurt ghosts. At
the table there was a spare plate for them.
• Carolers (“połaźnicy”) wandered from
house to house with a star and Christmas
cradle wishing people all the best and
demanding gifts for that.
Monika Grzędzicka, Junior High School in Wielgie

22.  There were many beliefs connected with health. If
someone sneezed, they were healthy all year. People
washed before dinner in order not to have ulcers, the
water was taken out of the house. After the morning
prayer you had to rub garlic In your teeth because they
didn’t hurt the following year. The same result was
achieved by eating turnip. If you ate apples, you didn’t
have sore throat, and nuts made your teeth stronger.
People also put something iron under the table and put
legs on it to have them healthy and not to have them
cut by thorns.
 Another belief was that at that Night The Earth
opened and showed the treasures it had inside. In the
forest ferns bloomed, fruit-trees gave fruit, forest
animals and bees woke up – all that to celebrate the
birth of Jesus. Animals could also speak human voice.

23.  People used to decorate their house with
sheaves of hay, straw or crops. They used to be
placed in the corner of the chamber, under the
ceiling, on the floor or under the table. Hay
was also put on the table under a white
tablecloth. Instead of a Christmas tree, people
had pine, spruce or fir branches used to
decorate door, a fence, a barn or saint pictures
at home. The branches cut early in the
morning were used to make so called divine
tree (“podłaźnik”). It was decorated with
apples, nuts, straw chains, wafer and flax
seeds. The divine tree was magical and the
more beautiful it was, the more happiness it
brought. Its leftovers were kept to avoid bad
spells.

24.  In order to be happy and full of energy the following year you had
to get up early, and you had to throw a silver coin to the water to
have money all the time.
 Inadvisable was lying down in bed during the day, because it would
"attract" a disease. You couldn’t lend or give anything to your
neighbours because you might suffer a loss the next year.
 At Christmas people never argued and even tried to make up with
the worst enemies. They tried to be happy and nice to each other. It
has never changed.

25. Christmas cards
The Christmas calls for a joyous celebration. It is a time of
happiness and merriment. It is a time when friends and family
spend happy times with each other.
The first Christmas card was in 1842 by a sixteen-year-old
artist William Mew Wgley, but his idea was not appreciated by
the recipient.Sending holiday wishes on special cards became
popular around the world in the twenties (of the twentieth
century). In Poland, Christmas cards appeard in the late
nineteenth century. Today Christmas cards are still a popular
way to communicate between friends and family and between
business associates.
There are a number of different styles of Christmas cards
and they all have their roots in traditional holidays.
Grażyna Skowronek, Publiczna Szkoła Podstawowa w Runowie

30. Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia!!!
Merry Christmas!

31.  Anna Szumańska, Szkoła Podstawowa im. Józefa Marka w Tymbarku
 Marzena Kurstak, Przedszkole Samorządowe w Kolnie z filiami w Bęsi i
Lutrach
 Grażyna Skowronek, Publiczna Szkoła Podstawowa w Runowie
 Monika Szmygiel, Zespół Szkół w Zalewie
 Daria Kowalczyk, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 25 z Oddziałami Integracyjnymi im.
H.Ch. Andersena, OLSZTYN
 Ewa Kalita, Szkoła Podstawowa im. R.Gila, Świętoszówka
 Marta Kaczmarek, Gimnazjum nr 1 w Szczańcu
 Iwona Kowalczyk-Rybczyńska, Szkoła Podstawowa im.Ryszarda
Wyrzykowskiego w Bełdowie
 Magdalena Mioduszewska, Szkoła Podstawowa im.St.Milewskiego w Gąsocinie
 Renata Woźnicka, Szkoła Podstawowa nr 10 Piotrków Trybunalski
 Monika Grzędzicka, Junior High School in Wielgie