Christmas in Silesia Kamil Polaski 5B Advent Advent is an important season in the Silesian year, with special church services, known as RORATY, being every day. Children go to church with lighted lanterns. Advent lasts for four weeks. Christmas tasks Special task carried out during Advent is baking Christmas cookies called gingerbread and making Christmas decorations. Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is an important part of the Polish Christmas, in fact, the most important rituals are celebrated. Beautifully lit Christmas trees are placed in all public areas, outside churches and in houses. Traditionaly the trees are decorated with many homemade decorations. On the top of the tree, there is a star. In many homes lights are hung on the branches of the trees making a special Christmas atmosphere. Sometimes the trees are left standing until February 2nd, the feast day of St Mary of the Candle of Lightning. Christmas food A traditional food found on Silesian table is OPATEK, which is a piece of bread pressed with a holy picture on the surface. Opatek is more symbolic than real food. We eat with at least 12 diffrent vegetarian dishes like: mushroom soup, carp, cabbage with pea, stuffed dumplings and bread roll with poppy seeds - makwki. In some homes some hay is put under the tablecloth, which is connected with Christs manger. We sing Christmas carols and share opatek with members of the family and our neighbors. People do two things: forgive hurts that have occurred over the past year and wish the person all the best in the coming year. Christmas gifts After dinner on Christmas Eve, all family members open gifts found under the Christmas tree and then we go to church for midnight mass - PASTERKA. After Christmas Eve, we spent together two holy days, sitting at the table, eating, singing Christmas carols and we enjoy presents, which we found under the Christmas tree I love Christmas Time Kamil