CHRISTMAS IN POLAND

Christmas Day – in Christian tradition

feast which commemorate the birth

of Jesus Christus. It is always day

25 December.

Christmas Day is

preceded by Advent.

Christmas Eve isday 24 December.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Christmas Eve in the Polish is traditionthe most solemn andmost touching evening of the year.The word "Christmas Eve"comes from Latin and means a vigil.Christmas Supper this isstrictly a family. Adopted in Polandis the eighteenth century,when it became a tradition inthe twentieth century.This is the first housewivesarrange general cleaning,washing, cleaning.

DISHES

According to tradition, the number of Christmas Eve dishes should be eneven.Is allowed number of 12 dishes - in honor of the twelve apostles. This dishes are:

*mushroom soup*red borscht with dumplings*cabbage with peas*carp in aspic*cabbage with mushrooms*fish in Greek*noodles with poppy seeds*kutia*opium*compote of dried*dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms*noodles with cabbage

SHARING THE WAFER.

The most important and the most touching moment was and is sharing the blessed wafer. The name "wafer" is derived from the Latinword "oblatum„ or the offering. The wafer was used for the Holy Masswas not until the fifteenth century becamemore popular when there has beena massive baking. He was a snack of wine, a means to seal letters,lubricated with honey wasa delicacy for children.

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

An inseparable part of Christmas is the Christmas carol. Name carol appeared long ago.It is derived from the word "Calendae",so called because the Romansbeginning of each month.Over time carol song called notonly for Christmas, but also thehabit of walking from houseto house with the wishes of Christmas - New Year.Subsequent centuriesbrought new carols,and the greatestof their flowering datesback to the seventeenth and eighteenth century.Then arose today known carols as„Silence of the night", God is born" and others.

CHRISTMAS TREE.On the eve of Christmas almost every Polish family puts in his apartment and decor Tree decoration. It is one of the youngest tradition of Christmas Eve. Among conifer twigs wind round chains, light, straw and tissue paper, are a souvenir of Serpent-tempter. The star at the top of the tree symbolizes the star of Bethlehem, which led the Three Kings to Baby Jesus.Trees also be dressed in gingerbread figurines of humansand animals, colorfully frosted, sprinkled with poppy seeds,. Decorated Christmas tree becamehome to Epiphany. In many partsof the Polish custom of dressingthe Christmas tree has becomefirmly established until the early twentieth century.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS.Christmas Eve custom of giving gifts beginning Aug.your take even the Roman Saturnalia.As of later centuries by the Church was named Star, for gifts given when first noticed in the sky a star.Half a star identified with the star of Bethlehem. Because this part of Christmas Eve weremost interested in children, therefore no wonder that they eagerly looked out of the first star in the sky.

SANTA CLAUS

They love it all - adults and children, rich and poor,residents of large cities and small towns.It is said, and was born at the turn ofthe century III and IV in Turkey.Circulating about him many legends.In Poland, we are waiting for him on6 December and Christmas Eve.He is dressed in a red coat, and onhis back lugging a huge sack with presents.Not so long ago the Polish children came in the company of an angel and the devil.Angel polite toddlers distributed sweetsand naughty devil handed rod.

Thank you for attention

By Roksana Raubic