Christmas In Poland

• 24.12 – Christmas Eve

• 25.12 – Christmas Day

• 26.12 - Second Day of Christmas

Christmas traditions in Poland

 

First star, beautifully decorated Christmas tree and the wafer are the most important symbols of

Christmas. The meaning of these symbols and traditions connected with them should be known by

everybody

First StarIt is the symbol of the first star, which appeared

when Jesus was born.Thanks to it, the shepherds and Three Kings could

reach the place of thesaviour's birth. We are waiting for the first star

today, when it shines, then, according to tradition, we

can sit downat the Christmas table and share the wafer. 

Wafer

Its name is connected with the Latin word “oblatum” which means a gift. This is just a thin piece of crunchy wheat

flour and water. There are Christmas scenes on it .

The tradition of sharing bread comes from pagan

traditions. Now it is a Christian custom, and we share the wafer before the

Christmas supper.

Christmas Hay

We put it under the white table-cloth on the table where we have

Christmas supper. It is a symbol of a place where Jesus was lying after his birth,

a shed and hay.

Christmas treeIt is usually decorated on Christmas Eve . Once these

werethe ornamented sheaves of hay

or branches. Christmas decorations should be

connected with symbols ofChristmas, and on its top people

hang a big bauble. Once these were apples,

now we have glass baubles. The green tree is the symbol of the

Saviour’s birth.

CarolsWe begin to sing them at Christmas table. These are the

songs telling about the Lord's birth. Their name comes from

Latin word “calendae”which meant the first day of month. First they were sung by

the Romans, then Christians started to sing them. The oldest Polish

Christmas carol is “Farewell, the King of Angels”, and it dates from about

1420 .

Presents

For many people this is the most pleasant Christmas custom. This custom was

connected

with St Nicolas. Today, we consider presents as gifts

from little Jesus.

ShedJesus was born there.

It is a symbol of us as well.

Jesus comes to the sheds, that means

that He comes to usand gives us hope,

love and faith.

He is born in us!

 

Christms Midnight Mass

This is the traditional Mass which is celebrated at

night from 24 on 25 December.

It is a symbol of watching the Jesus’ birthplace by the shepherds. We take

part in the mass with our

families and this is the most important moment

of Christmas time.

Nativity plays at our school

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR WATCHINGWATCHING

Prepared by the students from school in Raciborowice