Christmas celebrations in Poland include decorating streets and shops in early December with lights and angels. On December 6th, children celebrate Santa Claus Day, meeting Santa and receiving presents. On Christmas Eve, families have a special dinner together and attend midnight mass. They visit family and go for walks to see nativity scenes from December 25th to 26th. Schools are closed until early January when people spend time with family, in the snow, making snowmen. New Year's Eve on December 31st involves parties and concerts, and people make promises for the new year.

1. Christmas Celebrations in Poland

2. In early December we decorate streets and shop windows

3. Angels made of lights appear in the parks in cities Angels in Cracow

4. On 6th December we celebrate Santa Claus Day

5. Children love this day because they meet Santa and they get lots of presents from him. Sometimes they go to a place where Santa waits for them or Santa visits them in their houses.

6. On 24th December we celebrate Christmas Eve. We meet with our family to have a special Christmas Dinner together.

7. We set the table and put an extra set of plates on it for an unexpected guest who may arrive.

8. There are candles and a cross on the table as well as a wafer we share which each other.

9. Traditionally, we have red borsch with ravioli

10. We also have carp and other types of fish. There are also some other dishes – according to the tradition we should serve as much as 12 dishes. Nowadays we serve fewer because it is difficult to each so much :D

11. After Christmas Dinner we sing carols and gather around the Christmas tree under which there are some presents

13. At midinght we go to the church – there is a special mass called PASTERKA

14. On 25th and 26th December we visit our family and go for walks. We also go to see navity scenes. We call them SZOPKI.

16. After Christmas we do not go to school until 2nd or 3rd January. We are at home or go to the mountains. We spend time playing in the snow. It is very cold here, sometimes even -10 or -20 C.

17. We make snowmen or other snow-creatures 

18. On 31st December we celebrate New Year’s Eve and we call this day SYLWESTER. We have parties in the houses and ourdoor events with concerts.

19. Then it comes New Year’s Day. We often make promises for the New Year and visit our friends to continue celebrations.

20. Some people do not celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year at the parties. They prefer to go snowboarding...

21. ... or skiing.

22. Szczesliwego Nowego Roku 2010! Felice Navidad ! Happy New Year ! The presentation made by Anna Grzybowska and co.