What is traditionally eaten at Christmas in Poland?

Fish provides the main dish of the Christmas Eve feast across Poland. There are variations of carp fillet, carp in aspic, gefilte fish (Jewish-style carp), sweet with onions, carrots, almonds and raisins.

What food does Poland eat on Christmas?

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. Dessert usually comes as gingerbread, poppy seed cake, kutya or sour cheesecake.

What are Polish traditions at Christmas?

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.

Why do Polish eat fish on Christmas Eve?

A symbol of good luck and classic meat-free meal for Christians, common carp makes a popular holiday dish in Central Europe. Keeping one's fish in the bathtub for several days likely began as a pre-refrigeration storage technique.

12 CHRISTMAS DISHES - Polish TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS FOOD – Poland In

What are the 12 dishes of Polish Christmas?

What is Santa Claus called in Poland?

Święty Mikołaj (Santa Claus)

What is the Polish Christmas Eve called?

The main Christmas meal is eaten in the evening and is called "Kolacja wigilijna" (Christmas Eve supper). It's traditional that no food is eaten (or sometimes the first present opened) until the first star is seen in the sky!

Do Polish people drink alcohol 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.

Do Polish people eat turkey for Christmas?

Polish people do most of their celebrating on Christmas Eve, including enjoying a feast that's completely meat-free! While they do still eat some fish, most of the country's festive dishes are particularly great for veggies and vegans. Fancy something easy to make at home? Try borscht.

Do Polish people give gifts on Christmas?

Christmas presents in Polish households are usually opened on Christmas Eve after dinner. We don't usually open presents on Christmas Day unless you were visiting somebody's house on the 25th and then would open up those presents then. But for most the day to open gifts is Christmas Eve in the evening.

Who brings Christmas presents in Poland?

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 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.

Why is there no meat in Polish Christmas Eve?

Not eating meat

Leaving a chair empty at the Christmas table may be one of the most popular customs, but few people know its interesting history. 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.

What is the most popular Christmas food in Poland?

What is the Polish tradition of the empty chair?

The 12 Dishes of Polish Christmas

One of these rituals was called Obiat. It was a huge feast, celebrated in memory of ancestors and recently-deceased tribe members. A participant would have to sweep their empty chair before sitting at the table to 'excuse' the soul that might be seated on it.

Do Polish eat fish on Christmas?

Fish provides the main dish of the Christmas Eve feast across Poland. There are variations of carp fillet, carp in aspic, gefilte fish (Jewish-style carp), sweet with onions, carrots, almonds and raisins. Accompaniments consist of cabbage, cooked red or sauerkraut with apple salad.

How do you say Happy Christmas in Polish informal?

The short way to say “Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas” is “Wesołych Świąt.” The complete way to say “Merry Christmas” is “Wesołych Świąt Boże Narodzenie.” Boże Narodzenie literally means “God's birth.” “We wish you a Merry Christmas” is “Życzymy Wesołych Świąt.”

What fish do Polish eat at Christmas?

Not Just Carp & Herring: Traditional Polish Recipes for Fish

Today, carp is a Christmas Eve must-have for many families. Christmas Eve carp is often accompanied by hot sauerkraut with dried mushrooms, a vegetable salad or potatoes.

What are some fun facts about Christmas in Poland?

Is Christmas Eve big in Poland?

For Poles, Christmas Eve is one of the most important holidays, and, of course, is mostly just about eating. And Poles take their festive food very seriously. An old tradition has it that a 12-dish Christmas Eve dinner is a must.

What happens on the 6th of December in Poland?

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".

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.

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.