Polish people often give practical gifts,, chocolates,, alcohol,, or books at Christmas, which are exchanged after the Wigilia (Christmas Eve) dinner. Traditional items include piernik (gingerbread),, Baltic amber jewelry,, Bolesławiec pottery,, and homemade goods. Before exchanging gifts, families share the opłatek (a blessed wafer) to exchange well wishes.
Some of the classic Polish Christmas treats we carry are pralines, Krakus gingerbread in chocolate, plums in chocolate, Wedel chalwa - halvah, candies with fruit fillings, and assortments of fine dark chocolates.
On the 24th of December, the Polish house is “on fire”. By “on fire” we mean not physically burning, but actively preparing for the evening celebration including decorating the Christmas tree, preparing traditional meals, cleaning the house, dressing up, etc.
In Poland, it is customary to bring a small gift when visiting someone's home, such as flowers (in odd numbers but not 13), pastries, sweets, or a bottle of wine. Gifts are typically opened immediately upon receipt⁵.
According to declarations, the most important value in the life of the Polish people is the family. Secondly, they value their health. less important, but nevertheless significant values such as honesty, quiet life, career, faith, and respect from others.
🎁 Gifts in the evening Unlike many countries, presents are opened on Christmas Eve, right after dinner. ⭐ Waiting for the first star Dinner does not start until the first star appears in the sky, recalling the Star of Bethlehem. It is a perfect moment to slow down, observe Polish culture, and feel truly included.
It seems that the only way to avoid “tempting fate” and favor good luck is to knock on unpainted wood, pick a four-leaf clover, or hang a horseshoe above the door. Probably one of the most Polish superstitions has to do with broken mirrors and seven years of misfortune.
Tapping one's chest with a fist is a gesture of respect and is often used to express a feeling of having bonded with someone. This gesture is mostly used by young people. It can sometimes be meant jokingly or ironically.
A: Authentic Polish gifts include traditional Polish pottery, wooden crafts, handmade ornaments, and unique art pieces from Poland. These items reflect the rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship of Poland.
For everyday thank you gifts and occasions the tradition is to wrap with red ribbon. Use silver and gold ribbon to show celebrations for wedding gifts, and black and white ribbon for funerals. Avoid clocks and the number 4 when giving a gift (8 is a lucky number because it sounds like the word peace.)
Many traditional family values remain important to Poles. Parents generally expect obedience from their children, but ultimately want them to be independent and self-reliant. Children are often given considerable responsibilities from early ages. Traditionally, older relatives are cared for by the family.
What do Polish people give each other for Christmas?
And one last thing - before we start eating, we share opłatek. It is an unleavened wafer that everyone gets and shares with each other while kissing, hugging and wishing them the best. In the countryside there is even a tradition of sharing the wafer with the animals who are believed to speak on that very night!
Think slow roast duck served with braised red cabbage, honey-glazed spiced roast goose with confit potatoes, or perhaps roast pork with apples, plenty of vegetables and potatoes, alongside a simple honey cake or a more decadent layered Piernik, a Polish gingerbread cake.
Look, "Wesołych Świąt" might look like someone sneezed on a keyboard, but it's actually how you say Merry Christmas in Polish and your ticket to not being That Person at the holiday party.
In this way, children in Poland are essentially visited by St Nicholas twice each year, as Western customs have over time brought with them the tradition of gift giving and receiving on Christmas Eve.
According to Zola, the average person spends $150 on a wedding gift. We suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend $50 to $100. Friends or relatives, $100 to $150. For close friends, family members, or if you're in the wedding party, you should spend $150 dollars or more.
Here's an example: Bribery makes a corporate gift unethical when it sways business decisions or produces unfair advantages. Giving extravagant gifts to clients to obtain major contracts counts as bribery. A small gift becomes unethical when someone offers it in expectation of receiving something back.
