This document discusses several Polish Christmas traditions. It describes the Christmas wafer that is shared on Christmas Eve to represent offering and is accompanied by wishes for the new year. It also mentions the tradition of leaving an empty space at the Christmas table to remember absent loved ones. Decorating the Christmas tree is discussed as well as hanging the star at the top to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Singing Christmas carols at the Christmas table is another tradition explained. The mass on Christmas Eve is said to symbolize the vigil of the shepherds. Finally, the tradition of giving gifts is summarized along with the history of nativity scenes in Poland.

1. NATALIA
GRUCA
KL. 2B

2. It is a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem,
which was accompanied by the
appearance of the birth of Jesus. Thanks
to the shepherds, the Magi could reach
the place of birth of the Saviour. Today
we expect the first star, which appears on
the Christmas Eve sky. Only when it can
shine, according to tradition, to sit at the
table and divide the Christmas wafer.

3. Its name comes from the Latin word oblatum and means
the same as offering. It is nothing more than a thin piece
of baked flour and water. Appear on the images
associated with Christmas. Sharing the bread has its
roots in pagan traditions. As time passed it permanently
into Christian traditions, and today we share the
Christmas wafer before the Christmas Eve supper, We
file a wish. Wishes, we make ourselves while sharing the
Christmas wafer must be sincere, forgive yourself then
all the blame to sit down to dinner at peace and pure
hearts.

4. We put them under a white cloth
on the table where we eat
Christmas Eve dinner. Of course
symbolizes the place in which
Jesus was born - nativity scene
and hay, on which lay at birth.

5. FREE SPACE AT
THE TABLE
Known and widespread in Poland is now a
habit of leaving space at the table
Christmas Eve. This place is sometimes
designed primarily for casual visitor.
Leaving a space at the table also express
the memory of our loved ones who can not
spend the holidays with us. This space can
also draw all our memory of the deceased
family member.

6. The christmas tree
Wears usually on Christmas Eve or
December 23. Christmas decorations
should be linked to the symbolism of
Christmas, and at the top is hung
Christmas ornament in the shape of a
star of Bethlehem. Once hung apples,
which probably symbolized the biblical
parable of Adam and Eve, the apple
still replace glass baubles. Green tree is
a symbol of life and the birth of the
Saviour. Christmas tree lights should
light up for the first time after the
appearance of the first star.

7. We begin to sing them at the Christmas
table. These are songs that tell about the
birth of the Lord. Their name comes
from the Latin - Calendae, which meant
the first day of the month. The first
"Christmas carols" were sung by the
Romans under the solemn honor of the
first of January, after the custom of
singing songs took Christians to worship
the birth of Jesus. The oldest Polish
Christmas carol is "healthy or king
angelic" and dates from around 1420
years.

8. Traditional the Mass
celebrated on the night of 24
on December 25. It symbolizes
the vigil of the shepherds at
the manger of Jesus. We
participate in it together with
your loved ones. It is the most
important moment during
Christmas.

9. CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Christmas Eve custom of giving gifts
beginning of August takes its Roman
Saturnalia yet. In later centuries the
Church was named Star, for gifts given,
when the sky was noticed first a star.
This star of equated the Star of
Bethlehem. Because this part of
Christmas Eve were most interested in
children, therefore no wonder that they
eagerly awaited the first star in the sky.

10. In Poland, the Franciscan appeared very
early, probably already in the Middle Ages.
Originally staged in churches cribs were
extremely simple, it remained faithful to
evangelical transfers. In the nineteenth
century created various regional forms of
Polish Christmas cribs. The best known and
most interesting are the cribs Cracow, whose
architecture is inspired by the historic
buildings of Krakow.