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Background and Traditions: Christmas Eve, known as "Wigilia" in Polish, is a day steeped in numerous traditions and is arguably the most important part of the Christmas festivities in Poland. The observance of Wigilia has deep historical roots within Polish culture and Catholic practices, with celebrations emphasizing family, reflection, and religious significance.
Preparation: Families prepare for Wigilia by cleaning their homes, decorating Christmas trees, and making a variety of traditional foods. An important aspect is setting an extra plate at the dinner table for an unexpected guest to symbolize hospitality or in memory of deceased relatives.
Christmas Wafer - Oplatek: A key tradition involves the sharing of a "oplatek" – a thin wafer similar to communion bread. Family members exchange pieces of oplatek along with good wishes for each other before the meal begins.
Meatless Meal: The Wigilia feast typically consists of twelve dishes, symbolizing the Twelve Apostles or months of the year. The meal is traditionally meatless, featuring fish such as carp and dishes like pierogi (dumplings), barszcz (beetroot soup), and various other foods made from grains and vegetables.
Hay Underneath Tablecloth: Some families place a layer of hay beneath the tablecloth to represent Jesus' manger. This custom brings a reminder of Christ's humble birthplace into the home.
First Star - Gwiazdka: The Christmas Eve dinner usually starts when the first star ("gwiazdka") appears in the sky, reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem. This signifies that it's time to sit down for the evening meal.
Midnight Mass - Pasterka: Following Wigilia, many Poles attend "Pasterka," which is Midnight Mass. This candlelit church service celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is a deeply spiritual experience for attendees.
Gift Exchange: Gift-giving often takes place on this day after dinner or sometimes after returning from church. Children eagerly await presents brought not by Santa Claus but by "Gwiazdor" (the Starman) or Baby Jesus depending on regional variations.
Throughout Christmas Eve, Poles engage in singing traditional Polish carols ("kolędy") which have both religious and pastoral themes. This day is seen as more solemn compared to Christmas Day itself which is more festive and relaxed.
