Who eats Wigilia?
As Poland is more than 80 per cent Catholic, the Wigilia meal is meat-free with a main course of fish, most famously carp, which is meant to bring good fortune. The Polish karp zatorski even has EU protected designation of origin status.
What is Oplatek made of?
Sharing of the oplatek (pronounced opwatek) is the most ancient and beloved of all Polish Christmas traditions. Oplatek is a thin wafer made of flour and water, similar in taste to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass. The Christmas wafer is shared before Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper.
What is the Polish tradition for Christmas?
Among the traditional Christmas, dishes are Christmas Eve carp, Jewish-style carp, the herring, pierogi, and poppy seed cake. After dinner, people start gifting the presents and singing carols. Poland really loves its Christmas carols. And there are thousands of them.
What is the traditional Christmas dinner in Poland?
carp
A traditional Wigilia supper in Poland includes fried carp and borscht (beetroot soup) or mushroom consommé with uszka (ravioli). Carp provides a main component of the Christmas Eve meal across Poland; carp fillet, carp in aspic and gefilte fish.
Why is there no meat on wigilia?
Traditionally it was day of fasting and abstinence (not eating anything) and meat is not normally allowed to be eaten in any form. Christmas Eve is known as Wigilia (pronounced vee-GHEE-lee-uh). The meal is traditionally meat free, this is to remember the animals who took take of the baby Jesus in the manger.
Why is wigilia celebrated?
WIGILIA | THE VIGIL Wigilia (pronounced: vee gee lee a) or “The Vigil” is the traditional Polish Catholic Christmas Eve celebration feast held on December 24th. The ceremony represents, and honors, waiting for the arrival of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
What is the meaning of oplatek?
In many Polish homes throughout the world, a beloved family tradition is the breaking of the oplatek on Christmas Eve. Oplatek (plural – oplatki ) is a thin wafer made from flour and water similar in taste and consistency to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass.
Why is oplatek eaten on Christmas Eve?
“For us, Polish Americans, the oplatek, that wafer, is Christmas Eve,” says Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, author of the book Polish Customs, Traditions and Folklore. “It defines people’s heritage.” Christmas Eve marks the end of Advent. The wife breaks off a piece of the oplatek and eats it.
How do the Polish celebrate Easter?
Homes come alive with family breakfasts to celebrate Easter Sunday in Poland. The table is usually laid out with Easter eggs, spring flowers, an “Easter lamb” made of cake or sugar, and meals such as sausages, boiled eggs, horseradish soup, and bacon.
Can a Catholic eat meat on Christmas Day?
The Church tells us that we should attend Mass on these days because, in essence, a solemnity is as important as a Sunday. And just as Sundays are never days of fasting or abstinence, we refrain from penitential practices on solemnities such as Christmas as well.
What do the 12 dishes in Poland represent?
12 Apostles
Why do Poles eat 12 dishes during the Christmas Eve dinner? Tradition calls for 12 traditional courses to be served during the Polish Christmas Eve. This number is a symbol of wealth, the 12 Apostles and a representation of the 12 months of the year.
What is the meaning of wigilia?
“Wigilia,” meaning to wait (for the Christ child) and celebrated on Christmas Eve, is the most symbolic Polish family celebration of the year.