Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia! That is the way to say "Merry Christmas" in Polish. Among Poles, wherever they are, the most beloved and beautiful of all traditional festivities is that of Christmas Eve. It is then that the Wigilia, or Christmas Eve Dinner is served. It is a solemnly celebrated occasion and arouses deep feelings of kinship among family members.
For days in advance, Poles prepare the traditional foods and everyone anxiously awaits the moment when the first star, known as the Gwiazdka, appears in the eastern sky. For that is when the feast to commemorate the birth of the Christ Child begins.
There is always a thin layer of hay under the white tablecloth in memory of the Godchild in the manger. Before sitting down at the table, everyone breaks the traditional wafer, or Oplatek and exchanges good wishes for health, wealth and happiness in the New Year. This is such a deeply moving moment that often tears of love and joy are evoked from the family members who are breaking this symbolic bread. The Oplatek is a thin, unleavened wafer similar to the altar bread in the Roman Catholic Church. It is stamped with the figures of the Godchild, the blessed Mary, and the holy angels. The wafer is known as the bread of love and is often sent by mail to the absent members of the family.
The dinner itself differs from other evening meals in that the number of courses is fixed at seven, nine or eleven. According to myth, in no case must there be an odd number of people at the table, otherwise it is said that some of the feasters would not live to see another Christmas. A lighted candle in the windows symbolizes the hope that the Godchild, in the form of a stranger, may come to share the Wigilia and an extra place is set at the table for the unexpected guest. This belief stems from the ancient Polish adage, "A guest in the home is God in the home."
The Wigilia is a meatless meal, no doubt the result of a long-time Church mandate that a strict fast and abstinence be observed on this day before Christmas. Although the Church laws have been revised and permit meat to be eaten on this day, the traditional meal remains meatless. Items that would normally be included in a traditional Wigilia menu include mushroom soup, boiled potatoes (kartofle), pickled herring (sledzie), fried fish, pierogi, beans and sauerkraut (groch i kapusta), a dried fruit compote, babka, platek, assorted pastries, nuts and candies.
After the meal the members of the family sing Polish Christmas Carols called the koledy while the children wait impatiently around the Christmas tree or choinka for the gifts to be exchanged.
Aside from the beautiful Wigilia, the Polish people have a number of other traditions that they practice throughout the Christmas season. Polish Christmas Carols or koledy are numerous and beautiful, especially when sung in Polish parishes at the Christmas Eve Mass. This Mass is called the Pasterka, which means the Shepherds Watch, and there is popular belief in Poland that while the congregation is praying, peace descends on the snow-clad, sleeping earth and that during that holy night, the humble companions of men - the domestic animals - assume voices. But only the innocent of heart may hear them.
Christmas Day itself is spent in rest, prayer, and visits to various members of the family. In Poland, from Christmas Day until the twelfth night, boys trudge from village to village withan illuminated star and a ranting King Herod among them to sing carols. Sometimes, they penetrate the towns in expectation of more generous gifts. In some districts, the boys carry on puppet shows called shopky. These are built like a little house with two towers, open in the front where a small crib is set.
During the Christmas season, the theaters give special performances. On the feast of the Epiphany, the priest and the organist visit the homes, bless them and write over their doors the initials of the three wise men - KMB (Kasper, Melchior and Balthazar) - in the belief that this will spare the homes from misfortune.
The Christmas season closes on February 2, known as Candlemas Day. On that day, people carry candles to church and have them blessed for use in their homes during storms, sickness and death.
Wesolych Swiat, Bozego Narodzenia i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!
http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Wigilia.htm
Monday, December 15, 2008
"Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia!"
Dec. 2008
“ Wesołych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia!”
Merry Christmas!
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving season with having
three different times with English parties, one time with
missionary friends and another time with our church body
eating all the leftovers from the meal the day before and there
was enough for all (about 20 or so) to have very full plates!
We had a lot of time to reflect on the many good things we
do have and the blessings that God has given us. And now,
December 7th, our minds have begun to change thinking and
gear towards Christmas. Today, we started focusing on
Christmas, too, by making an advent chain using activities “to
do” for each day until Christmas Eve (the main day here - not
Christmas Day) to prepare our hearts for the season. Also,
today is the first time I listened to Christmas music while making
the dough for Christmas cut-out cookies we'll need for our
English Christmas party. So, for us, the season has “officially”
begun! Instead of us writing all the information down, the
enclosed paper gives you an idea of what a traditional Polish
Christmas looks like. We have had the privilege to be a part of
many of these traditions with our Polish friends. We’re looking
forward this year to celebrate together with our church family
and friends.
We wish you a very blessed holiday season. May God give
us opportunities to tell people we know about Christ and His
love this season!
Merry Christmas!,
Paul, Carlene, Andrew, Aaron and Alaina
SEND International * PO Box 513 * Farmington, MI * 48332 * (248) 477-4210 * Info@send.org
ul. Malinowa 2 * 59-300 * Lubin * Poland* +(48+ 76) 844 1351* pceager@orange.pl * eagercarlene@yahoo.com
Vonage: 574-830-1260
“ Wesołych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia!”
Merry Christmas!
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving season with having
three different times with English parties, one time with
missionary friends and another time with our church body
eating all the leftovers from the meal the day before and there
was enough for all (about 20 or so) to have very full plates!
We had a lot of time to reflect on the many good things we
do have and the blessings that God has given us. And now,
December 7th, our minds have begun to change thinking and
gear towards Christmas. Today, we started focusing on
Christmas, too, by making an advent chain using activities “to
do” for each day until Christmas Eve (the main day here - not
Christmas Day) to prepare our hearts for the season. Also,
today is the first time I listened to Christmas music while making
the dough for Christmas cut-out cookies we'll need for our
English Christmas party. So, for us, the season has “officially”
begun! Instead of us writing all the information down, the
enclosed paper gives you an idea of what a traditional Polish
Christmas looks like. We have had the privilege to be a part of
many of these traditions with our Polish friends. We’re looking
forward this year to celebrate together with our church family
and friends.
We wish you a very blessed holiday season. May God give
us opportunities to tell people we know about Christ and His
love this season!
Merry Christmas!,
Paul, Carlene, Andrew, Aaron and Alaina
SEND International * PO Box 513 * Farmington, MI * 48332 * (248) 477-4210 * Info@send.org
ul. Malinowa 2 * 59-300 * Lubin * Poland* +(48+ 76) 844 1351* pceager@orange.pl * eagercarlene@yahoo.com
Vonage: 574-830-1260
Saturday, December 13, 2008
December 2008 Prayer Update
December 7-13
Praise: Ben Rowe (short-termer for one year with SEND) has arrived and is getting settled and adjusted and well on his way learning Polish and getting involved in music ministry in the church which is an area we really, really have needed help. Also, we have felt the Lord leading us to begin a seeker type/discussion group for our English students. Ben would like to reach out by teaching the Bible so we’ll see what happens!
Prayer: Pray that indeed English students will want to be a part of this discussion group and that God would give Ben and Paul and others involved wisdom to know how to plan for this.
Pray also for our English Christmas parties we’ll be having this Friday, the 12th—4:00 for the children’s groups and 6:00 for the adults. We’ll be talking about Christmas and singing carols and decorating Christmas cookies. Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak and move!
We will also be starting the Scouts club again, this Saturday being the first meeting. This is geared to teach youth life skills, character building and Bible lessons. For now, it will be once a month. Pray for God’s leading and wisdom and for changed lives in the youths!
December 14-20
Praise: We’re so thankful for our Mother Church who encourages us and helps us. They let us “be on our own” but the Pastor and others are willing to help. Tomek, from the church, will be giving the message this Sunday.
Prayer: We’ve given parents and students from our English classes and others we know, a questionnaire asking them their interests for their child (Bible stories, crafts, music workshops, etc…) and for the parents themselves (cooking classes, ladies meetings, various workshops, etc..) and we are waiting now until they have been returned. We are praying that from these, we will know better what the needs and interests are and plan activities accordingly. Please pray for parents and kids to turn these sheets in and then for wisdom in how God wants us to use them.
December 21-27
Praise: For a school break for the kids and for English classes for two weeks. It’s nice to have a breather once in a while. J
Prayer: Pray for special times this year for each member of our church this Christmas. Our church body has grown so much closer these past several months and we have a burden for all to know Christ (for some who don’t know Him yet) and for all to know Him deeper.
December 28-January 3
Praise: God has given Paul wonderful opportunities these past weeks to share with his English conversation students what it means to be a Christian. We’re thankful they’re open and pray that they’ll continue to be.
Prayer: Daniel Trusiewicz, leader for the Baptist missions movement here in Poland, will be visiting us this Sunday, the 28th, and giving the sermon. Pray for the Lord to speak through Him and that we can mutually encourage each other. Pray for God to raise up many Polish leaders and missionaries. There are so few Polish pastors and missionaries.
SEND International * PO Box 513 * Farmington, MI * 48332 * (248) 477-4210 * Info@send.org
ul. Malinowa 2 * 59-300 * Lubin * Poland* +(48+ 76) 844 1351* pceager@orange.pl * eagercarlene@yahoo.com
Vonage: 574-830-1260
Praise: Ben Rowe (short-termer for one year with SEND) has arrived and is getting settled and adjusted and well on his way learning Polish and getting involved in music ministry in the church which is an area we really, really have needed help. Also, we have felt the Lord leading us to begin a seeker type/discussion group for our English students. Ben would like to reach out by teaching the Bible so we’ll see what happens!
Prayer: Pray that indeed English students will want to be a part of this discussion group and that God would give Ben and Paul and others involved wisdom to know how to plan for this.
Pray also for our English Christmas parties we’ll be having this Friday, the 12th—4:00 for the children’s groups and 6:00 for the adults. We’ll be talking about Christmas and singing carols and decorating Christmas cookies. Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak and move!
We will also be starting the Scouts club again, this Saturday being the first meeting. This is geared to teach youth life skills, character building and Bible lessons. For now, it will be once a month. Pray for God’s leading and wisdom and for changed lives in the youths!
December 14-20
Praise: We’re so thankful for our Mother Church who encourages us and helps us. They let us “be on our own” but the Pastor and others are willing to help. Tomek, from the church, will be giving the message this Sunday.
Prayer: We’ve given parents and students from our English classes and others we know, a questionnaire asking them their interests for their child (Bible stories, crafts, music workshops, etc…) and for the parents themselves (cooking classes, ladies meetings, various workshops, etc..) and we are waiting now until they have been returned. We are praying that from these, we will know better what the needs and interests are and plan activities accordingly. Please pray for parents and kids to turn these sheets in and then for wisdom in how God wants us to use them.
December 21-27
Praise: For a school break for the kids and for English classes for two weeks. It’s nice to have a breather once in a while. J
Prayer: Pray for special times this year for each member of our church this Christmas. Our church body has grown so much closer these past several months and we have a burden for all to know Christ (for some who don’t know Him yet) and for all to know Him deeper.
December 28-January 3
Praise: God has given Paul wonderful opportunities these past weeks to share with his English conversation students what it means to be a Christian. We’re thankful they’re open and pray that they’ll continue to be.
Prayer: Daniel Trusiewicz, leader for the Baptist missions movement here in Poland, will be visiting us this Sunday, the 28th, and giving the sermon. Pray for the Lord to speak through Him and that we can mutually encourage each other. Pray for God to raise up many Polish leaders and missionaries. There are so few Polish pastors and missionaries.
SEND International * PO Box 513 * Farmington, MI * 48332 * (248) 477-4210 * Info@send.org
ul. Malinowa 2 * 59-300 * Lubin * Poland* +(48+ 76) 844 1351* pceager@orange.pl * eagercarlene@yahoo.com
Vonage: 574-830-1260
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