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The first sign of coming holidays in Poland is St. Nicholas Day (12/6). On
this day, one person was selected to represent St. Nicholas and was driven on a sleigh to the homes in a Polish village. He was dressed in a long white robe, bishop's mirth, long white beard and held
a shepherd's staff. Children who were good during the year received gingerbread cookies (pierniki),apples, and small toys. Children who were bad, received twigs as a punishment. Children and adults
alike still exchange small gifts on this day.
Wigilia - Christmas Eve
Wigilia
comes from the Latin word vigiliare, which means to watch. In Poland, the word Wigilia used to be known as the day before a feast, and now it means the day before Jesus's birth.
Supper
started when the first star appeared on the sky. Menu for this occasion was traditional, unchanging, and very carefully planned. It contained only food from forest, fields, lakes, and orchards. Meat was not allowed on Wigilia. An even number of people was seated at supper table. Number 13 was especially avoided, sign of death in coming year, and every effort was made to invite someone to share the supper – an orphan, stranger, or any single person.
All waited a moment of breaking and sharing Oplatek
– a thin wafer. The host and hostess faced one another, then broke and shared a part of the other's wafer. They wished each other fulfillment of their wishes. Then they broke and shared the oplatek with each person present.
The number of dishes served on Wigilia depended on the wealth of the family - five, seven, nine, eleven or thirteen. Uneven number of dishes was to bring harvest and good luck in the following year.
Supper started with a choice of a mushroom soup, red beet soup (barszcz) with little dumplings (uszka), or almond soup. Next came sauerkraut with mushrooms, pierogi with different kinds of filling,
potatoes, and noodles with poppy seed. Then several kinds of fish prepared differently – marinated, fried, or broiled - were brought to the table. Dessert consisted of poppy seed with honey, nuts
and raisins, fruit compote, and gingerbread cookies or cakes; as well as famous krupnik – holiday brandy made out of honey, spices, and alcohol. After supper candles were lit on a tree and gifts
exchanged.
At midnight, people went to Pasterka or Midnight Mass. Everybody attended except infants and very sick. After the sermon, the entire congregation sung Koledy
or Christmas Carols.
On the way back from the mass, men visited the homes of relatives and neighbors. Sometimes a young man visited the home of a young woman whom he liked. Playfully he would snatch
an apple from a Christmas tree. If the woman allowed him to keep the apple, he could begin his courting her. The host had appetizers ready for the guests, including krupnik and hot tea.
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