What food do they eat in Poland on Christmas?

A map of Polish specialities Today's Christmas dinner usually opens with cold plates, including varieties of soused herring, followed by borscht or mushroom soup, and then the hot dishes: often carp, pierogi stuffed with sauerkraut and mushrooms, and croquettes.

What foods are eaten on Christmas in Poland?

Why do Polish eat 12 dishes for Christmas?

Why do Poles eat 12 dishes during the Christmas Eve dinner? Tradition calls for 12 traditional courses to be served during the Polish Christmas Eve. This number is a symbol of wealth, the 12 Apostles and a representation of the 12 months of the year.

Do Polish eat meat on Christmas Day?

Notably, the twelve dishes are all meat-free except for fish. For a long time, Christians were supposed to refrain from eating meat until the midnight mass. It's no longer required by religious authorities to not eat meat on Christmas Eve, but the tradition has continued nonetheless.

What is the 12 dish Christmas tradition?

A twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper is traditionally prepared to commemorate Jesus' twelve disciples in Central, Northern and Eastern European cultures, especially those that were formerly part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and neighbouring countries.

What Are 12 Polish Christmas Dishes?

What are the 12 Polish dishes?

How do they celebrate Christmas in Polish?

Sometimes on Christmas Eve both adults and children go to their neighbors and family. As a reward, they receive money or sweets. When midnight comes many Polish people are going to the Christmas mass. Pasterka is a midnight mass celebrated by Roman Catholics during Christmas between 24 and 25 December across Poland.

What is Santa Claus called in Poland?

Święty Mikołaj (Santa Claus)

What is Santa called in Poland?

Gwiazdor, translated literally as 'Star-man' is the name traditionally used in Greater Poland, Kujawy, Western Pomerania and Kaszuby for the figure who brings gifts on Christmas Eve and is distinguished from Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus, who is only recognised in these regions as bringing gifts on the 6th of December, ...

What do Polish people call Christmas?

Christmas in Poland is called "Boże Narodzenie", which translates to 'God's Birth'. The Day of Saint Nicholas on 6 December is the unofficial beginning of the festive season in Poland. Well-behaved children receive small gifts on the day, whereas naughty children receive a lump of coal or a twig, called "rózga".

Why do Polish people have fish at Christmas?

Or you can take it home and let it swim in your bathtub. The latter method is a tradition surrounding Christmas Eve carp in Slovakia, Poland, and Czechia. A symbol of good luck and classic meat-free meal for Christians, common carp makes a popular holiday dish in Central Europe.

Do Polish people drink on Christmas Eve?

As a rule, Poles do not drink alcohol on Christmas Eve. A special compote is made of dried fruits, primarily plums and apricots. This tastes quite unusual and is unpalatable for some; however, it somehow always seems tasty when eaten at Christmas.

What are 5 interesting facts about Poland?

Why do Polish eat fish on Christmas Eve?

Christmas in Poland is a pescatarian's dream. In strict keeping with old Catholic tradition, Poles usually abstain from meat and hard liquor on Christmas Eve. However, wine and fish are acceptable, and the latter is abundantly featured in traditional dishes.

Do you fast on Wigilia?

An elaborate Polish Christmas tradition is “Wigilia,” a strict 24-hour fast that begins on Christmas Eve and ends with a huge Christmas feast.

Do people give gifts in Poland?

Handshakes and gifts are in

Polish businesspersons often give gifts at an initial business meeting and give flowers at meetings with people they already know. At the signing of a contract or a social occasion, business etiquette in Poland requires that you bring a small gift or flowers.

What is girl Santa called?

Santarina is the female version of the popular Santa Claus. The gender is not the only difference between Santa and Santarina. Also, the female Santa is not bulky and she is always very attractive. Another code that they will break is to dress in pretty clothes to jolly up the holiday mood.

Do people in Poland give gifts for Christmas?

Saint Nicholas continues to bring presents on 6 December, in a tradition that is observed by families and in schools throughout Poland. And across most of the country, Santa is also the most popular purveyor of presents at Christmas too in most parts of the country.

Is Krampus from Poland?

Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”

Is Krampus a real thing?

Krampus is a mythical creature who is often depicted with horns and a demon-like face. According to myth, which likely originated in what is now Germany and Austria, the creature punished children who behaved badly.

Do Polish people believe in Santa?

In Poland, Santa visits children on the eve of his name day (by the way, name days are quite big in our country!) and leaves presents under their pillow or under their bed. And it is not all of his duties! After this very busy night, on December 6th, he visits children in kindergartens and primary schools.

Is Christmas dinner on 24 or 25?

The feast, usually on the night of the 24th and lunch on the 25th, is a big one. The family gets together at both meals, and some have the leftovers from the dinner prior to the lunch the next day. The traditional offering for Christmas is sugar-coated almonds. Roast turkey is the most common choice of meal.

Is Christmas big in Poland?

Poland is a largely catholic country and Christmas Eve is a very important and busy day. It's now often the most important day over Christmas - even though it's not a holiday but Christmas and the 26th December are holidays!

What does Wigilia mean in Poland?

Wigilia (Polish pronunciation: [vʲiˈɡʲilja]) is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24.