Everyone loves Christmas. It is the most favourite and eagerly awaited holiday in the year. This is a unique time when people try to be nice, friendly and generous to each other. They seem to forget all their problems, quarrels and just enjoy being together.
Christmas is preceded by many days of preparation. Streets are lit by coloured lamps, shops are full of people buying presents, traditional ingredients for their meals and choosing Christmas cards. Christmas trees are set up in every home and decorated with sparkling tinsel, chains, balls, toys and trinkets.
The atmosphere of excitement and expectation can be felt almost everywhere. The time before Christmas Eve Supper is very important too. It is believed that everything that might happen on that day can influence the whole next year. Much attention, for instance, is paid to the person who first enters the house, and if it is a man, he ensures welfare to all members of the family. Some people say that if you ask for food on that day,you will be hungry throughout the year to come.
When the first star appears in the sky, people take seats at the Christmas Eve table. They do not forget about placing an empty plate and chair for an unexpected guest. The table is covered with a white tablecloth and hay is spread under it.
Another custom is the number of dishes. Traditionally there should be twelve of them. The most popular dishes are red borsch, boiled dough packets filled with cabbage and mushrooms, fish(usually carp) and poppy-seed cake. You are not allow to go out till the end of the supper.
Before the family starts eating, its members say a prayer, read a passage from the Bible about the birth of Jesus and next share the holy wafer wishing each other good luck.
After the Christmas Eve Supper everyone can find a present under a Christmas tree and Christmas carols are sung. At midnight many people go to church to attend a special mass during which they sing carols again. This night is miraculous because it is believed that animals can speak with human voices. Of course it is a joke. However, in the past farmers went to their barns to feed their animals with the wafer and told their children that animals could speak on Christmas Eve. In addition to that custom, people used to go out to listen to sounds outside and if ,for example, they could hear a sound of a train, they will probable go on journey next year.
The first day of Christmas,25th December, is usually spent at home. Work is forbidden. It is believed that washing up hands with silver coins in the morning may bring money. On that day and during next days carol-singers dressed as angels or devils, King Herod or Death visit people’s houses. They sing carols and play various scenes from the Bible. The second day of Christmas is spent in a different way. People pay and receive visits, spend much time at the tables talking or singing carols.
Christmas for Polish people is not only the yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but also the most traditional, family time and joyful of happiness and reconciliation. The birth of Jesus Christ is regarded as a kind of symbol which heralds the days of peace and love.
Christmas is preceded by many days of preparation. Streets are lit by coloured lamps, shops are full of people buying presents, traditional ingredients for their meals and choosing Christmas cards. Christmas trees are set up in every home and decorated with sparkling tinsel, chains, balls, toys and trinkets.
The atmosphere of excitement and expectation can be felt almost everywhere. The time before Christmas Eve Supper is very important too. It is believed that everything that might happen on that day can influence the whole next year. Much attention, for instance, is paid to the person who first enters the house, and if it is a man, he ensures welfare to all members of the family. Some people say that if you ask for food on that day,you will be hungry throughout the year to come.
When the first star appears in the sky, people take seats at the Christmas Eve table. They do not forget about placing an empty plate and chair for an unexpected guest. The table is covered with a white tablecloth and hay is spread under it.
Another custom is the number of dishes. Traditionally there should be twelve of them. The most popular dishes are red borsch, boiled dough packets filled with cabbage and mushrooms, fish(usually carp) and poppy-seed cake. You are not allow to go out till the end of the supper.
Before the family starts eating, its members say a prayer, read a passage from the Bible about the birth of Jesus and next share the holy wafer wishing each other good luck.
After the Christmas Eve Supper everyone can find a present under a Christmas tree and Christmas carols are sung. At midnight many people go to church to attend a special mass during which they sing carols again. This night is miraculous because it is believed that animals can speak with human voices. Of course it is a joke. However, in the past farmers went to their barns to feed their animals with the wafer and told their children that animals could speak on Christmas Eve. In addition to that custom, people used to go out to listen to sounds outside and if ,for example, they could hear a sound of a train, they will probable go on journey next year.
The first day of Christmas,25th December, is usually spent at home. Work is forbidden. It is believed that washing up hands with silver coins in the morning may bring money. On that day and during next days carol-singers dressed as angels or devils, King Herod or Death visit people’s houses. They sing carols and play various scenes from the Bible. The second day of Christmas is spent in a different way. People pay and receive visits, spend much time at the tables talking or singing carols.
Christmas for Polish people is not only the yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but also the most traditional, family time and joyful of happiness and reconciliation. The birth of Jesus Christ is regarded as a kind of symbol which heralds the days of peace and love.
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