Christmas in.... Poland

Sunday 24 December 2017

Ever wondered what Christmas and New Year celebrations are like in the home countries of the many different nationalities who now live in Jersey? Well we decided to find out.

In the first in our brief series we begin in Poland. There are more than 3,000 Poles in the island and Pawel Kulon is one of them.

He was born in Wroclaw – a city of about half a million people - in western Poland, about five hours’ drive from the capital Warsaw, and came to live in Jersey in 2002.

He’s a lecturer in hospitality studies at Highlands College.

“Although things are changing very rapidly, Poland is still very much a Catholic country, and Christmas is still very much a religious festival,” he explains - although he admits it’s a long time since he last spent the festive period back home.

“December 24 is the big day. As a family we fast most of the day – although we might have a slice of toast first thing in the morning… Traditionally we don’t eat until the first star appears in the sky – around six or seven in the evening – so it can be a long wait – but it’s worth it.”

Unlike in Britain, the Christmas tree doesn’t go up and isn’t decorated until Christmas Eve. So whilst some members of the family are busy doing that, others get to work on preparing the evening feast and laying the table. In keeping with the theme of self-sacrifice, the main meal is cold, and predominantly vegetarian - although some families will have fish - and no alcohol is drunk.

Before tucking into “Kolacja wigilinja” (Christmas Eve supper) those gathered around the table will say prayers, and the oldest member of the family will hand round a large wafer biscuit – a host - called an ‘Oplatek’, which has a picture of Mary, Joseph and Jesus on. Everyone will break a piece off it and eat it – a nod to what Jesus did with his disciples before the Last Supper – and the highpoint of the Catholic mass. This brings the family together and is a time of reflection.

Pictured: An extra place is always laid on Christmas Eve in case an unexpected guest turns up.

An extra place is always laid at the table in case an unexpected guest arrives. And in Pawel’s household it’s a family tradition to put different amounts of money under each of the plates – something he’s continued whilst living abroad. There’s no fixed seating plan so some people end up being luckier  – and richer -than others!

“There has to be a minimum of 12 different dishes on the table,” he says, although he’s not sure why. Some websites say it’s to bring luck over the next 12 months, others say it’s to remember Jesus’ 12 key followers or disciples.

The main dish is carp – which has been breaded and fried. Also on the menu herrings – usually pickled and served with horseradish sauce – or in oil or cream. A variety of cold soups – a clear beetroot or borsch soup – and a mushroom soup. And perogi – stuffed dumplings. In most houses there is also "kompot z suszu" a drink made by boiling dried fruits and fresh apples.

The most popular desserts are "makowiec", a poppy seed roll made of sweet yeast bread, "kutia" mixed dried fruits and nuts with wheat seeds, "piernik" a moist cake made with honey (that's like gingerbread) and gingerbreads (which are usually dry and very hard), but these aren’t included in the list of 12 dishes.

The meal ends around eight in the evening and the family then sings carols, which as Pawel is keen to point out are “more religious than jolly.” It’s an agonizing wait for the youngsters because, only after the carols have finished can they open their presents which have been placed in front of the tree. If there’s a stable nearby the children will often visit and feed the remains of the host to the animals, it’s believed this has miraculous powers and allows them to speak with a human voice.

Then it’s off to church for midnight mass – a one, to one and half hour religious service. Only after they’ve returned from that can they eat meat and drink alcohol. Very often families will have hot cabbage wraps with rice and beef or pork served in a tomato sauce, and home-made vodka “to aid digestion”.

Christmas Day itself often involves going to mass again. But the celebrations are more muted and family-centred. Dinner will often be pork schnitzel or “Bigos” a hunter’s stew usually with bacon and cabbage.

“Like in Britain,” Pawel continues, “the 26 is for spending with friends. It has a sort of Sunday feel. Carol singers often come to the door and collect money for the church.”