POLAND

Christmas traditions

Santa Claus

Santa Claus comes on December 6 and brings presents.

Christmas tree

Before Christmas we decorate trees.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe comes from park or forest. We hang it above our door, cooker or Christmas table.

It brings happines during all year.

Hay

Hay on the table is a very important symbol. Jezus slept on hay because his mother was poor. We hide hay under a white tablecloth.

Luck

On December 24, in the morning, families wait for the first guest. If it is a man or a boy, it provides fortune. If the first comes a woman the coming year will be unlucky. The guest who comes tells

the wishes and gets a small gift. Now it is usually money, but in the past it was food.

Christmas Eve

The most important day is Christmas Eve (24 December). We wait for the first star in the

sky. Then we exchange wishes and break holy wafer with our family.

Christmas Eve

We usually have twelve dishes on the Chrismas table. They symbolize the twelve disciples

who sat with Jesus at the last supper.

Pasterka

On Christmas Eve at midnight we go to church for a special mass. It’s called

Pasterka.

St. Stephen’s day

We celebrate Christmas on December 25 and St. Stephen’s Day on December 26. We

visit our relatives and spend time together.

Carols

At Christmas we sing carols by the table. We like singing very much. Carol singers go from house to

house. They often dress up. People give them treats or money.