Wigilia -- The Vigil
For Poles, Christmas Eve is a night of magic when animals are said to talk in human voices and people have the power to predict the future. It’s a time for families to gather and reconcile any differences, and to remember loved ones who have gone before them.Wigilia (vee-GEEL-yah), which literally means "vigil," or waiting for the birth of Baby Jesus, is considered more important than Christmas Day itself.
How Poles Decorate
Preparations begin early on Christmas Eve. Years ago, it was traditional for country families to hurry to the forest to cut boughs of evergreen to be tucked behind holy pictures in the home or above the entryway. Everyone vied to be the first to cut the top off a fir tree to be hung from a beam in the home’s ceiling. The girls of the family decorated the boughs with red apples (to bring beauty and health), nuts (to bring happiness and love) and ornaments made of straw (to bring wealth), paper and bread. The decorations stayed up until Jan. 2, the Feast of the Three Kings.City families have Christmas trees decorated with lights, apples, nuts, candies and toys. Hung from the ceiling are pajaki, spider-web-like decorations, and dozynki, colorful harvest wreaths decorated with flowers and stars. In Krakow, there are szopka (SHOP-kah) -– miniature Krakowian puppet theaters. These elaborate creations are made of tin foil and entered into competition each year on the square of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Krakow.
The Table Is Prepared
Straw or hay, a reminder of Christ’s humble birth in a stable, is placed under a white linen tablecloth, which symbolizes Mary’s veil, which became the Babe’s swaddling cloth. The mother of the family places a lighted candle in the window to welcome the Christ Child. The eldest woman of the house places the blessed Communion-like wafers –- oplatki (oh-PWAHT-kee) -– on the finest plate she owns. Today, in a concession to tradition, many people place straw and evergreen sprigs on a serving platter covered with a fine white napkin on which the oplatki rest.An extra place is set for any weary stranger who happens to pass by, in the same way Joseph wandered from home to home looking for a place for Mary to give birth.
The Star Supper
After sunset, the youngest child is sent to watch for the first starof the evening (gwiazda). This is why the wigilia dinner is also known as the Star Supper. Having sighted it, the candles on the table are lit and the dinner begins. But not a morsel is eaten before the "breaking of the oplatki."The eldest family member takes the oplatek wafer, breaks it and shares it with the next eldest with wishes for good health, good luck and good fortune. Each person then shares pieces of the oplatek wafer with everyone else present at the table. It can be a very emotional time as grudges are forgotten and deceased family members are remembered.
Some Poles share a pink-colored oplatek with the household (and barnyard) animals because they were the first to greet the Baby Jesus at midnight. The animals also receive a taste of every course at the meal mixed in with their feed.
Instead of sending Christmas cards to friends and family not present, Poles send oplatki, first tearing off a small corner to show that the donor has broken it with them as a token of affection.
The reason for candles on the table is for the somewhat maudlin tradition of checking to see if each person casts a shadow on the wall. No shadow means death in the coming year.
The Wigilia Meal
Wigilia is a meatless meal because, years ago, Roman Catholics fasted for the four weeks of Advent, including Christmas Eve. In the past there were twelve main dishes (representing the Apostles), but, these days, many families have replaced this tradition with a twelve-fruit compote for dessert.The foods are to represent the four corners of the earth -- mushrooms from the forest, grain from the fields, fruit from the orchards, and fish from the lakes and sea.
Meals vary from family to family but usually include a special soup followed by many elegant fish preparations, vegetables, and pierogi.
Typical dishes include barszcz wigilijny z uszkami (Christmas Eve borscht with mushroom uszka dumplings), carp in aspic, herring (sledze), breaded whitefish, meatless cabbage rolls (golabki), and noodles with poppyseed. Desserts might include nuts, tangerines, chocolates, makowiec (poppyseed roll), mazurek (a jam-filled flat pastry), piernik (honey-spice cake), pierniczki (gingerbread cookies), kompot (fruit compote), cognac, liqueurs, mead and krupnik (a honey-spice cordial). Kutia, a kind of gruel with cracked wheat and honey, is also eaten in some parts of Poland on Christmas Eve.
The Starman Makes an Appearance
At the end of supper, Father Christmas, known as The Starman (very often the parish priest in disguise), accompanied by singing Starboys, pays a visit. He brings rewards to good children from Starland, and scolds the naughty ones, who eventually get their reward, too.Koledy -– carols -– are sung and presents are opened by all. Then the family prepares for Midnight Mass known as Pasterka or Shepherds Mass because they were the first to greet the Baby Jesus.
