Written by: Szymon Żuraw, Bartłomiej Paszek, Julia Siembida, Adela Paul, Emilia Nowakowska – Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski Primary School in Sarzyna from Poland

When you think of Christmas time in Poland  what comes to your mind is food, carols and visiting Nativity scenes displayed in Catholic churches.  Sounds familiar? Yet, there’s more to it. Read this article to learn more about some customs and traditions.

Christmas Eve dinner is the most important part of family celebration. Polish start the event with sharing the Christmas wafer coated with honey. In old times there was a special wafer for the animals which were to speak human voice that night. You may be surprised but we do not eat meat on that day.

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Yet, there are 12 different dishes including fish, cabbage, rice, groats and red borscht with dumplings. One should also try different kinds of pierogi  and drink dried fruits compote. They say if you miss a dish, you’ll miss luck next year. Everybody is invited to Christmas dinner because there is always one empty seat and a plate for an unexpected guest. Back then people in villages used to go from house to house with a spare spoon and eat from one big bowl.

Christmas Eve ends with Midnight Mass so we start celebrating Jesus’ birthday as early as the shepherds did opening Christmas time with visiting relatives and friends. We have caroling tradition which is especially popular among children. Carolers dressed up as e.g. The Three Magi, St. Mary, Angels or Devils etc. walk around villages and sing carols to earn some money and sweets. It is not so scary as Halloween, it used to be, though. A caroling monster turon knocking at the window would scare the bravest.

Sources:

Zaśpiewaliśmy Jezusowi – Sarzyński Serwis Informacyjny – Sarzyna.Info

Tradycje kolędnicze w Polsce i na Podkarpaciu – Muzeum Etnograficzne w Rzeszowie