Karolina Grabek

Four weeks before Christmas people go to the church on a special mass called Roraty. They bring Chinese lanterns that light up the dark church just like Christ lights up the darkness of the sin and death.

Boiled dough pockets filled with sauerkraut and mushrooms

Stewed with

desiccated

fruit.

Herring salad

RavioliBeetroot soup

Fried carp

Dumplings with poppy and sugar

Kutia- boiled groats with poppy and sugar

Boiled sauerkraut with mushrooms

Sauerkraut with pea

Poppyseed cake

Bread

Under the tablecloth there is hay to remind people that Jesus was born in the poor crib.

At the table people in Poland keep the one empty place for a stranger who is alone and needs help and may apper during the supper

The main moment during Christmas Eve is Christmas Eve Supper. It starts when the first star appears at the sky like a Bethlehem star has leaded shepards and kings to the Nativity.

During the Christmas Eve Supper people sing different carols.If they can, they play musical instruments as well. The most popular carols in Poland are „Cicha Noc” and „Przybieżeli do Betlejem”

In that evening Santa Claus comes to children who were good in the hole year. He usually hurries so gives leave presents under the Christmas tree.

After the Christmas Eve Supper many people go to the church for the Christmas midnight mass. It’s the first mass during Christmas. It reminds shepherds’ waiting. Speciall place in the church takes up the Nativity- which shows the crib and God’s child in it, Virgin Mary, St. Jozeph, angles, shepards, animals and kings who accompannied God’s child after birth.

People in Poland love Christmas