Because today is Christmas Eve my opening post will concern
the traditional Polish dishes prepared for dinner. And since they are prepared only once a year, they are unique. Each year many people, including me, wait impatiently
for the supper which according to tradition should start just after the first star
appears in the sky. Because the vast majority of
Poles are Christians, the dishes that are prepared for the supper have deep religious
spirit. Even the way we set the table is special. Because Jesus Christ was born
in a stable, straws of hay are placed under a white linen tablecloth, which
is to symbolize Babe’s swaddling cloth. A lighted candle is placed in the middle of the table to welcome the Christ Child. The
most important element that must appear on each table is the blessed Communion
in the form of wafers which are shared between the family at the very beginning
of the meal. While sharing the wafers, relatives make Christmas Wishes.
Moreover, an
extra place is set for any weary stranger who may unexpectedly pass by, just like Joseph wandered from home
to home searching for a place for Mary to give birth, and in order to
commemorate all those who are departed.
Wigilia is a meatless meal because Roman Catholics used to fast
for the four weeks of Advent, including Christmas Eve. There are twelve main
dishes representing the number of Apostles and four corners of the earth. That
is why there must be mushrooms from the forest, grain from the fields, fruit
from the orchards, and fish from the lakes and sea. Meals may vary from region
to region and from family to family but in most Polish homes we can find:
borscht with mushroom
dumplings (barszcz z uszkami)
cabbage soup with
mushrooms (kapusta z grzymabi)
dumplings with sauerkraut
and mushrooms (pierogi z kapustą i grzybami)
carp in aspic (karp w
galarecie)
fried carp (karp smażony )
herring (śledź)
breaded white fish (
panierowana ryba)
noddle with poppy seed (kluski z makiem)
gruel with cracked
wheat, poppy seed and honey (kutia)
poppy seed cake (makowiec)
honey-spice cake
(piernik)
dried-fruit compote (kompot
z suszu)
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