Poland Christmas

Poland Christmas is a time for celebration, feasting and happiness. The Eve of Poland Christmas begins with fasting only to be followed by a gala feast and celebration. The Poland Christmas day is spent by visiting friends and family. Polish people are deep rooted in their traditions and family ties and this is one occasion when the whole family comes together and celebrates.

Four Sundays before Christmas starts the Advent season and it is from then onwards the preparations for Poland Christmas begins. The four Sundays before Christmas are believed to represent the 4,000 years of waiting for Jesus Christ. The Advent season is marked by special Church services every morning, the Christmas piernik or the honey cake is baked, and preparations are made for decoration of Poland Christmas.

Traditional decorations are an important feature of Poland Christmas. The Pajaki or Spiders which are decorated eggshells and stars are hand made and hanged on the Christmas trees. Candles, decorated chocolates and nuts are all used as accessories to decorate the Christmas tree which is then displayed in front of the public eye. An unique tradition of Poland Christmas is the sharing of the "oplatek" which is thin wafer into which a thin Holy picture is pressed. This ritual symbolizes forgiveness of all harshness and hurts and a happy beginning of the new year.

The first star of the night of the Christmas eve which is called the "little star" or Gwiazdka is related to the star of Bethlehem and every one craves for one glimpse of the star. It is with the appearance of the little star that the feast begins.

Wagilia, the family feast is the most important ritual of Poland Christmas. Hay is spread under the table cloth in remembrance of the stable in which Jesus was born. The meal is began with the family members eating the Oplatek which symbolizes unity within the family and with God. The Poland Christmas meal should include 12 meals which symbolizes12 apostles.