Christmas in Poland
Streets are lit by coloured
lamps: shops are full of people buying presents ,chooing Christmas cards : Christmas trees are set up in every home and decorated with sparkling tinsel
,candles, chains ,toys and trinkets. The day preceding Christmas is a unique
one. It is belived that everything that might happen on it might influence the
whole year to come.
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.
The moment everyone waits for is Christmas Eve. When
the first star appears in the sky ,people take their seats at the Christmas
table.They do not forget to leave an empty place for an unexpected guest. The
table is covered with a white tablecloth and hay is spread on it. Another
custom is the number of dishes. Taditionally there should be twelve of them and
they all must be tasted. The most popular dishes are red borsch ,pies or sour
cabbage with mushrooms ,fish and poppy-seed cake. Before the family stars
eating ,all its mebers share the holy wafer.
There is also a custom of giving
presents and everyone may find something nicender the Christmas tree. At
midnight many people go to church to attend a special mass during which
Christmas carols are sung.
The first day of Christmas - 25 december - is
usually spent at home. Work is forbidden. On that day carol-singers dressed as
an angel ,a devil ,King or death ,visit people's houses. The second day of
christmas is spent in different way. People visit one another ,spend much time
at the table talking or singing carols. From that day the festivities begin.
by Asia Ś.
