In Poland, Christmas is one of the main holidays of the year, as is Easter. A huge number of traditions are connected with its celebration, which all Poles try to honor. The date of Christmas in Poland coincides with the celebration in other European countries and the USA - December 25. New Year is celebrated here on the night of December 31 to January 1 and is called Saint Sylvester Day.
What is Vigil?
Poles call Vigil the Christmas Eve. On this day, all people try to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere around them, by all means avoid scandals. In Poland, they believe that as you spend Christmas Eve, you will live the whole next year.
According to tradition, the whole family sits at a table on Christmas Eve. It is better if before that everyone defended service in the temple. A vigil dinner ends the Christmas Lent, so the dishes on the table are still lean. By tradition, a snow-white tablecloth should lie on the table, and under it - straw.
This is a tribute to the stable and the manger where Jesus was born. In general, Christmas in Poland and traditions are inextricable concepts.
Free space at the Christmas table and bills
Poles always leave at the festive table one empty place served by appliances. This belief is rooted in the distant past. It was previously believed that this was due to the ancient tradition of leaving a place for the soul at the wake. Now free space is more associated with the traveler. And according to Poland, it is not known who this traveler will be, and whether Jesus himself will be.
Paylatek is unleavened bread, which in the Christian faith symbolizes the body of Christ. The breaking of this bread for Christmas in Poland is one of the most important traditions. The head of the family begins the division, after which each member breaks off a piece and allows the neighbor to break off the payment from his piece.
Other table traditions on Vigil
It has long been customary to invite an even number of guests on Christmas Eve. They were especially afraid of the number 13 and avoided this in every possible way. But if the number of guests still turned out to be odd, they invited another one. Poor people called a lonely neighbor, and the rich - a cleric. Guests at the table were seated either by age or by position in society.
Traditionally, an odd number of dishes were put on the table on Christmas Eve.
In the old days, peasants set 5 or 7 dishes, prosperous people - 9, and nobles - 11. The presence of 12 dishes on the table was also allowed, so this number equals the number of apostles.
Many people go to Europe at Christmas to get to know the local traditions and feel the spirit of the holiday. But tourists should know in advance how shops work in Poland at Christmas. Most of them will be closed on December 25 and 26, January 1, and also on January 6 - on the feast of the Three Kings.
What is served on the table for Christmas
Now it is customary to serve 12 dishes on the table - according to the number of apostles. The guest must try each dish, but not overeat. Opens a feast of soup. It can be mushroom, fish, almond or flaxseed. Popular and borscht. Traditionally, it is not complete without kutya, bigos and fish dishes.
The highlight of the Christmas program in Poland is carp. The owner should eat his head, this shows respect for him. After the carp is eaten, the owner of the house puts his scales in his wallet. It is believed that this will bring happiness and financial well-being to the house.
Each dish on the table traditionally carries a semantic load. Must be present poppy (for example, poppy seed roll). He will bring peace to the house and a good harvest. This ingredient was added to kutya. Also in it was wheat as a symbol of life and honey as a symbol of the victory of good over evil. At present, even if the hostess does not cook kuti for Christmas (in Poland), she must put her components separately on the table.
Now the family gathering around the table on Christmas Eve is chatting cheerfully and laughing, discussing all the news. Previously, it was banned. All dinner was held in silence, and even the hostess could even get up from the table when this or that treat ended.
Of course, not without dessert. In its quality it is customary to serve the favern - cookies with honey and nuts, as well as chocolate cake.
The first star and one - integral Christmas traditions in Poland
At the Polish table, laden with rich dishes, it was possible to invite people only after the first star ascended to heaven. Catholics have long followed this rule clearly; it is not forgotten even now. This tradition comes from the ascent of the Star of Bethlehem, when the Magi found the newborn Savior in the manger.
Frawl is the top of a spruce or pine. In Poland, it always hung under the very ceiling and protected the owners of the house from evil spirits. Now she was replaced by a full-fledged dressed spruce or its branches.
The Christmas tree for Christmas and New Year in Poland took root not so long ago. Only in the XVIII century did the mention of spruce as a Christmas tree appear in the country. At first, the Polish church did not appreciate the idea, but was able to quickly change it in its own way. Apples on spruce began to symbolize the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden, the star at the top - the Star of Bethlehem. Christmas tree stands in Polish houses on January 6.
One cannot but mention another Christmas tradition that has taken root not only in Poland - giving gifts. Of course, on this bright holiday it is customary to give gifts to the closest people.
What happened after the feast?
What happened after the gala dinner does not lend itself to a single description. All parts of the country had their own traditions. There was only one thing in common - all the rest of the meal should have been immediately given to the pets. Horned animals were a priority. It is believed that representatives of this species of living creatures were present at the birth of the Savior and received the gift of speech. From this comes the tradition of the Lenten table for Catholic Christmas in Poland.
After the feast, people still love carols to this day.
Mummers go home most often in Polish villages. They choose a goat costume as a symbol of fertility, a stork as a symbol of the New Year or a bear as a symbol of the forces of nature. Polish folk tradition has managed to preserve a huge number of Christmas songs, popular to this day. Children crow under the tables to chickens, and the owner "scares" fruit trees in the garden with an ax. Amateur shows that feature gospel stories are also popular.
In some areas of the country, after the holiday, it was customary to go to the cemetery to honor the memory of deceased relatives.
New Year in Poland
The article already details how Christmas is celebrated in Poland. The New Year holiday, which is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1, will not be ignored. Many tourists prefer to visit the country at this time, because all cities are enveloped in fun and festive mood. Festivals, carnivals are very attractive to both tourists and the local population. City guests can celebrate New Year, or Sylvester Day (as they say in Poland), and in local colorful restaurants that offer an interesting program and national cuisine. A tourist should remember how they work in Poland at Christmas - stores are closed on holidays December 25, 26, January 1 and 6.
On New Year's Eve, Poles walk noisily: loud music sounds, singing and laughter are everywhere, colorful and impressive fireworks are thundering.
Polish New Year traditions
On New Year's Eve, the country traditionally hosts a series of carnivals. Shows, dances and practical jokes literally flood the city streets. Also, the Poles arrange a "Kulig" - this is a sled dance, without which not a single year is complete.
After cheerful walks in the fresh air, the Poles move to the fire. Here everyone is treated to fried sausages. Also, on holidays, it is customary to bake brushwood, donuts, and on the final carnival day everyone eats herring.
From drinks, Poles prefer Ghanaian (similar to mulled wine). In the capital, it is sold on every corner, and every tourist is simply obliged to try it. It is poured from wooden barrels, which guests of Warsaw especially like. New Year is passing noisy.
If you value coziness more, then go to the city of Krakow. They often spend time here not on street walks, but sitting peacefully in restaurants.
A great idea is to celebrate the New Year in the ski resort of Zakopane. Here skiing and snowboarding, sleigh rides and ice skating. You can not miss a ride on a mountain tram.
If you dream about holidays in Europe, Poland will be a great solution for you, because there is something to see here, and prices are lower in comparison with other countries.
Symbols of the holidays - St. Nicholas and Sylvester
For Russian people, the symbol of the New Year miracle is the beloved Santa Claus. There is such a character among the Poles - this is St. Nicholas. This is a charming and hardworking grandfather, all the children of the country are waiting for a meeting with. December 6 is St. Nicholas Day. On this holiday, children receive gifts and wait for the arrival of Nicholas at Christmas. They believe that gifts are brought only to obedient children, therefore they try to behave themselves well.
The symbol of the New Year in Poland is St. Sylvester, a Roman bishop who died in 335. At that time, the Catholic world was in a panic: everyone believed that the end of the world was coming, and the formidable serpent Leviathan would come out of the sea and swallow everything. Then the people found a protector - they became St. Sylvester. According to legend, he managed to defeat Leviathan and saved the world.
As you can see, the Christmas traditions in Poland are strong and could go through the centuries. But the most important thing for the Poles is to spend Christmas night with their family. Very rare people allow themselves to celebrate this holiday outside the home.