Advent is an important period in the Polish year. The word advent derives form Latin and means coming. Advent consists of four Sundays. In the

church there is an advent wreath with four candles. Every Sunday another candle is lit. The

main puropse of advent is to remind people that they’re waiting for Jesus Christ’s coming.

Each candle form advent wreat has its own meaning:I candle = peaceII candle = faithIII candle = loveIV candle = hope

The first Sunday of advent starts new liturgical year. The dominant colour of this period is purple.This colour symbolizes the

period of penance and reconciliation with God and people. „Roraty” is a mass special for advent and it starts at sunrise. One of the

most characteristic elements of this mass is a candle(roratka) – symbol of

God’s Mother. Nowadays this mass is celebrated in the evening because many

children young people come.

One of the symbol of advent is also special calendar. It helps with counting down days which

remain until Christmas. It’s popular among children because nowadays the calendar is a box with small windows. There are 24 windows and every day kids open new one and find chocolate

there.

Polish people ususally don’t eat meat on Fidays (during advent) and also they prepare

fasting dishes for Christmas Eve.

There was an old pagan custom of suspending at the ceiling a branch of fir,

spruce or pine called Podłaźniczka (top of the tree). The branches were decorated with

apples, nuts, cookies, colored paper, stars made of straw, ribbons and colored wafers.

People believed that it will bring copious harvest and success in the next year.

Christmas tree should be decorated during

Christmas supper. But nowadays children decorate Christmas

tree with their parents a day before Christmas Eve or in the mornig of

Christmas Eve. Christmas tree is

decorated with nuts, shiny apples, candles,

baubles and handmade decorations.

Conifer is a symbol of life, rebirth and fertility. First Christmas tree appeared in Poland

between XVIII and XIX century.

Georgians have their own traditional Christmas tree called Chichilaki, made from

dried up hazelnut or walnut branches that are shaved to form a small coniferous tree.

These pale-colored ornaments differ in height from 20 cm

to 3 meters. These trees are the most common

in regions near the Black Sea.

Decorations of Christmas tree have their own meaning:the Star of Bethlehem – helps with coming back home from long journey Lightning – protects against bad ghosts and unfriendly looks of peopleApples – guarantees health and beautyNuts – brings wealth and powerPaper chains – remember about sins, intensify family ties and protect home against troublesBells – means good news and happy eventsAngels – care for home Mistletoe – creates the place for people in love and shoud be kept until next Christmas Tree – is source of life

It’s a day just before Christmas and it’s also the end of advent. Christmas Eve is

celebrated on 24th December. But orthodox church has Christmas Eve on

6th of January (Julian calendar).

Christmas Eve has its roots in ancient Rome. Sturnalia was an annual

celebration between 17 and 23 December in honor of Saturn (god of agriculture). It was a day of reconciliation and equality.

During those days there was no trade and slaves celebrated on a par with free.

People offered sacrifice to Saturn. Fathers of families received wax candles and clay

figurines.

Christmas Eve in Polish means Wigilia . Wigilia derives from the Latin word

vigilare, which means to watch or keep vigil.

Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting.

On Christmas Eve, so important is the first star of the night that it has the affecionate name of ‘little star’ (Gwiazdka), in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem.

On that night, all people watch the sky impatiently, hoping to be the first to cry out ‘The star!’.

When the star appears, the feast begins and people start eating.

Christmas Eve supper consists of fasting dishes. It starts from reading a part of

gospel according to St. Lukas. Many years ago people didn’t celebrate Christmas

Eve on Sunday (if it was like this) because you can’t fast on Sunday and they prepared Christmas Eve supper on

Saturday.

According to tradition, a bit of hay spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Jesus Christ was born in a manger.

Family members sit around the table.

According to tradition, an empty place is left at the table for a guest, homeless, poor person or for unexpected people.

Some people believe that the empty place should be left for a person who died in the current year.

One tradition is quite unique for Poland – sharing a thin wafer (Opłatek). It’s made of flour and water. On this wafer is pressed a holy picture. This custom dates back to XVIII century.

The wafer symolizes the bread and on the other hand love, frendship, period of reconciliation and forgiveness.

In the past people took the wafer and went from house to house to wish their neighbours ‘Merry Christmas!’.

Nowadays people share the wafer with their family members.

Each person shares piece of the wafer with anotherperson and they are supposedto forgive any hurts and to wish happiness in the upcoming year.

There are many customs connected with Christmas. Some people believed that a

person who died is present around the table during Christmas Eve supper. To see that

person, you have to go to hallway and look through the keyhole to see Christmas table.

You shouldn’t quarrel with other people during Christmas Eve. It’s better to share

happiness and joy.

On Christmas Eve the first guest should be a boy – his coming symbolizes luck in New

Year.

In Poland women prepare red borscht with special kind of dumplings called

uszka (like small ears). They put inside a coin (1 grosz). A person who will find it

during Christmas supper will have luck in upcoming New Year.

You shouldn’t get hurt or during Christmas Eve because it means problems with health

next year.

You should put a scale of carp into you wallet to be sure of happiness during the whole

year.

It’s good to try all 12 dishes during Christmas Eve supper to have enough food next year

and to not be out of dishes.

During Christmas supper there are 12 dishes on the table – symbol of 12 apostols:

dumpling with cabbage and mushrooms mushroom soup herring soup beetroot soup (red borscht)

fried carp (and other fish) cabbage with mushrooms cabbage with peas croquette (pancakes with mushrooms

and cheese)

compote of dry fruits cheese cake poppyseed cake ginger cake

In the middle of Christmas supper Santa Claus comes and everybody waits

impatiently for him, especially children. Santa Claus gives presents, but first

children have to do something. Sometimes he can’t come and he leaves

presents under the Christmas tree.

o After supper family members sing together Christmas carols. Polish carols are beautiful but a bit difficult.

o Families wait till midnight and they go to the church. There is a special mass which is called Midnight Mass (Pasterka) – it is organized once a year.

Christmas Mass starts at midnight. It’s the first mass during Christmas. Pasterka

commemorates expectation and prayers of shepherds who were going to Bethlehem.

It’s also one of the most important traditions in Poland.

Merry Christmas!Merry Christmas!