Christmas is a magical time that many children, but also adults in different parts of the world are waiting for. Everyone spends this time in their own way, and every country and even family has its own traditions related to Christmas. For most Poles it is a very important time spent with the family. Poland has many traditions related to Christmas, but often they vary from region to region. Personally, I know best the traditions celebrated in Silesia, but I will also try to describe some other traditions from other parts of the country.
In Poland, the celebration of Christmas starts with a Christmas Eve dinner on December 24th. It is a very important day, and there are many superstitions circulating around it, among others, it is believed that you should be very nice to everyone on this day, because the way we spend this day shows how we will spend the whole year. Another belief is that if the first person to knock that day at home is a young boy, it will bring happiness to the family in the coming year. It is also the day when many families trim their Christmas trees. Preparations for the culmination of the day, i.e. supper, start already in the morning. There are 12 dishes prepared, which symbolize the 12 apostles. At the table, there is also one more cover-up prepared, for a stray wanderer who can ring the doorbell. Under the tablecloth, hay is laid, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus in poverty, and under the plate, money is laid to bring fortune the following year. Dinner begins after the appearance of the first star in the sky, which is usually looked out by children. In Catholic homes, it usually starts with prayer and reading the scriptures about the birth of Jesus. Before eating, the wafer is also broken with wishes.
During dinner, a candle is often lit, which symbolizes the light of Christ. The dishes on the Christmas table are very different depending on the family and region. However, there is always a soup and among them the most common are red borscht, mushroom soup and fish soup.In the second part of the meal there is always fish, especially carp, as well as dumplings, cabbage, pasties, kulebiak, vegetable salad, dried fruit compote, kutia, poppy seed cake and gingerbread. In the second part of the meal there is always fish, especially carp, as well as dumplings, cabbages, pasties, kulebiak, vegetable salad, dried fruit compote, kutia, poppy seed, gingerbread. The dishes could be exchanged for a long time, and I admit that I have never heard of several of them, let alone never ate. Only tasting each of the dishes can guarantee us happiness in the following year. After eating dinner there comes a time for gifts and singing carols. In many houses you only play carols, but in my house they are still sung by the whole family. As for who brings the presents, there is no consensus in Poland either, it can be a Santa Claus, a Star-man, a Santa baby, an angel, a star or a Grandfather Frost. The rest of the evening is spent trying out presents, listening to carols and eating gingerbread, mandarins and various kinds of cakes. Some people go to a traditional mass called Shepherdess at midnight. The remaining two days are spent with family and friends. Carol singers, who are dressed as a holy family, and animals from the stable singing carols can also knock on the house. However, it is nowadays a less and less common tradition. Finally, a quite interesting thing that can already be called a tradition is the film Kevin himself at home played every year on all popular TV channels.
sources:
https://dziecisawazne.pl/polskie-zwyczaje-swiateczne/
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