Christmas in Poland

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Christmas in Poland
Christmas Day dinner serving of bigos on December 25
Christmas markets are held in every major city, especially in Kraków (pictured)
Nativity scene at the Catholic Church of Christ the King in Sanok
Nativity play (Jasełka or Herody) by children
Kulig
with Saint Nicholas

Christmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the

Christian world. The observance of Christmas developed gradually over the centuries, beginning in ancient times; combining old Polish pagan customs with the religious ones introduced after the Christianization of Poland by the Catholic Church. Later influences include the mutual permeating of local traditions and various folk cultures. It is one of the most important religious holidays for Poles, who follow a somewhat strict traditional custom. Christmas trees are decorated and lit in family rooms on the day of Christmas Eve. Other trees are placed in most public areas and outside churches.[2] Christmas in Poland is called "Boże Narodzenie", which translates to 'God's Birth'.[3]

The

midnight mass
in churches.

Other aspects of Polish Christmas include nativity plays called "Jasełka" or "Herody", outdoor

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.[1]

Advent

Christmas tree in a Polish home. Traditionally, they are decorated and lit on Christmas Eve – Wigilia

Among the special tasks carried out in private homes during

St. Nicholas figures. St. Nicholas does not play a major role on Christmas Day, but is celebrated on his Saint feast day of December 6. He visits good children in secret and leaves presents for them.[2]

Traditionally, the Christmas trees are decorated with glass

feast day of St. Mary of the Candle of Lighting.[2]

During Advent and all the way until

opłatek", a thin wafer into which a holy picture is pressed. In the old days, people carried these wafers from house to house wishing their neighbors a Merry Christmas. Nowadays, opłatek is mostly shared with members of the family and immediate neighbors before the Christmas Eve supper (Wigilia in the Polish language). As each person shares pieces of the wafer with another, they are supposed to forgive each other any hurts that have occurred over the past year and wish them happiness in the coming year.[2]

Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper

In Poland,

Christmas Day, is often spent visiting friends. In Polish tradition, people combine religion and family closeness at Christmas. Although gift-giving plays a major role in the rituals, the emphasis is placed more on the making of special foods and decorations.[2]

On the night of Christmas Eve, so important is the appearance of the first star in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem, that it has been given an affectionate name of "the little star" or Gwiazdka (the female counterpart of St. Nicholas). On that evening, children watch the sky anxiously hoping to be the first to cry out, "The star has come!" Only after it appears, the family members sit down to a dinner table.[2]

According to tradition, bits of hay are spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a

Baby Jesus
or, 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.

The supper begins with the breaking of the opłatek wafer. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ. They then share a piece with each family member. A tradition exists among some families to serve twelve different dishes at Wigilia symbolizing the

Twelve Apostles
, or perhaps, an odd number of dishes for good luck (usually five, seven, or nine).

A traditional Wigilia supper in Poland includes fried

makowiec or noodles with poppy seed. Often, there is a compote
of dry fruits for a drink.

The remainder of the evening is given to stories and songs around the Christmas tree. In some areas of the country, children are taught that "The Little Star" brings gifts. As presents are unwrapped, carollers may walk from house to house receiving treats along the way.

Christmas Eve ends with "Pasterka", the Midnight Mass at the local church. The tradition commemorates the arrival of the shepherds to Bethlehem and their paying of respect and bearing witness to the newborn Messiah. The custom of Christmas night liturgy was introduced in the Christian churches after the second half of the 5th century. In Poland that custom arrived together with the coming of Christianity.[2] The next day (December 25) begins with the early morning mass followed by daytime masses. According to scripture, the Christmas Day masses are interchangeable allowing for greater flexibility in choosing the religious services by individual parishioners.[7]

Kolędy, the Christmas carols

Mummers with a Turoń creature
singing Christmas carols called kolędy in Poland, 1929 postcard

Stefan Batory. Many of the early Polish carols were collected in 1838 by Rev. Mioduszewski [ca; eo; pl] in a book called Pastorałki i Kolędy z Melodiami (Pastorals and Carols with Melodies).[9]

Polish hand-made Christmas ornaments

Traditional Polish glass baubles with lace details. Poland is a major exporter of Christmas decorations, especially hand-blown ornaments

Poland produces some of the finest hand blown glass Christmas ornaments in Europe. Families and collectors value these ornaments for high quality, traditional artwork, and unique decorations.[10]

Polish blown-glass Christmas ornaments are generally manufactured only in the winter season. The modern glass workshops and manufacturers tend to be localized in the southern regions of Poland.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "UNESCO - Nativity scene (szopka) tradition in Krakow". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Boże Narodzenie i polskie tradycje," Polska Misja Katolicka, Amsterdam (in Polish)
  3. ^ "Christmas - Tłumacz - Onet.pl Portal wiedzy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  4. ^ "How Poles Celebrate Christmas (Recipes Included)". Archived from the original on 18 January 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Traditional Christmas Eve in Poland- Wigilia w Polsce- tradycje". 7 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  6. ^ "The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree - Our Ancestors". 2022-12-13. Archived from the original on 2022-12-17. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  7. ^ "Pasterka przed północą... (Pasterka before midnight)". Przewodnik Katolicki 02/2009 (Catholic Guide). Drukarnia i Księgarnia św. Wojciecha. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16.
  8. ^ "The Shepherds' Mass". Polish-American Liturgical Center.org. 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Lorraine Grochowsa Kiefer, Christmas Kolędy - Polish Carols Archived 2011-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, at culture.polishsite.us
  10. ^ a b LUXORNA, Polskie ręcznie wytwarzane i zdobione bombki choinkowe, katalog. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  11. ^ Lista produktów kategorii Ozdoby Formowane. Bilinski. Retrieved December 29, 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christmas in Poland.
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