How Do You Observe Polish Christmas Eve Customs?
The major Christmas celebration in Poland takes place on “Wigilia,” which is Christmas Eve. Traditionally, Wigilia is a time for forgiveness and a fresh start. A 12-dish, meatless dinner is served before other festivities begin. Clean the house and trim the Christmas tree during the daylight hours. In rural Poland, these are traditional Christmas Eve activities, and Poles fast until dinnertime. Decorate according to Polish folklore: Hang mistletoe over the front door to ward off evil; place wheat in the dining room corners and under the tablecloth to chase away misery. Set the table with a white tablecloth. Set one extra place setting to remember absent family members or accommodate an unexpected guest. According to custom, the dinner begins with a prayer and sharing of blessed Oplatek bread to represent Communion. Light the tree and serve dinner (see “How to Prepare a Traditional Polish Christmas Eve Dinner”) after the first star appears in the sky. The first star commemorates the bir
