Christmas symbols

Hi!

I will write about Polish Christmas symbols, traditions and customs, because others have written about other things.

Christmas tree – symbol of life (green, fresh needles)
Things on the Christmas tree:
- chains - they symbolise the snake from the Bible - devil or strengthened family bonds
-star – Star of Bethlehem
-apples - health and beauty
-nuts - guarantee the prosperity and vital forces,
-honey gingerbread - good luck for the New Year,
-lamps and glass balls were supposed to protect the house from demons
-cherubim (small angels)- these are carers of the house

Presents – we get presents because Jesus got the presents from the Three Kings
Christmas carols - the most well-known of carols are “Silence night, holy night”, “Today in Bethlehem”
Carol singers – the people dressed up as animals (stork, goat, bear) – Mazury – the part of Poland
Carol singers – the people dressed up as Santa Claus, animals… - rest of Poland

Wafer- symbol of conciliating and forgiving, sign of friendship and love

First star of the sky - symbolic reference to the Star of Bethlehem
Christmas play – show of the Jesus born (first Christmas play was created by Franciszek from Asyż)
Santa Claus – bishop of Mira (he lived in 3rd and 4th century AD)

Mistletoe - under mistletoe people in love kiss

The number of Christmas dishes refers to important symbols :
12 Christmas dishes on the table = 12 apostles
7 Christmas dishes = 7 days in week
9 Christmas dishes = 9 of heavenly hosts

Christmas

It's December now so we've got Christmas in Poland. It's a dominant subject in winter. Maybe you would like to find out about the way we celebrate it in our country.

In Poland Christmas is the most popular holiday. Everyone waits for it actually for the whole year. On this night we can be with our families and friends. We live in reconciliation. I think there's no person who dislikes X-mas.

In Poland some people read the Bible. There has never been such a custom in my house. When the first star is in the sky we (me and my family) just start celebrating. We share the wafer. In Poland on the table there should be 12, 9 or 7 dishes during the Christmas supper. In my house there have always been 7 or 9 (it depends on my mother - she cooks). Oh, and we have a Christmas tree of course! But only I can decorate it. I could say it's our house custom! ;) I always make home gingerbread with my mother and sister. There's no X-mas with no gingerbread in my house.

Now the most important thing about Christmas - presents! In Poland it could be anything - from a great modern brand-new computer to ugly drawers. No present can destroy our good mood - it's Christmas! I usually get books because everyone in my family knows that I love them. I often get DVD films too.

Merry Christmas!!!!!! ;*

Christmas in Poland

Christmas is the best moment in the whole year. This is the only moment when the whole family can spend a little time together.

In Poland we celebrate for three days. In every house there are artificial or live Christmas trees, under which on 24th of December there are a lot of gifts. Children wait to unwrap the gifts. Before Christmas, all the children write a letter to Santa Claus.
People decorate their homes with lights. At home everyone waits for Christmas Eve and then we all sit together at the table. All people share the wafer. We make a wish and sing Christmas carols.

In the evening Santa Claus arrives. On the table there should be 12 dishes: fish, dumplings, cabbage with mushrooms, borscht, fish soup. At night we go to church. We enjoy the fact that Jezus was born.

Merry Christmas!!!

Magda

Christmas in Poland

Hi! :)
Christmas is the most popular holiday in Poland. We have a few interesting customs in Poland, e.g. we put some hay under the tablecloth. There is also an empty plate on the table for an unexpected guest.

We want to buy presents for our family. Women clean the house and prepare food, men bring a Christmas tree home and children decorate all the house.

On 24th December in the afternoon we wait for the first star to appear in the sky. Later, the family gathers at the Christmas table and the Christmas dinner begins. We share the holy wafer and wish everyone "Merry Christmas!". Next, we get presents from Santa Claus and we are very happy. At midnight we go to a midnight mass and sing corols.

I like Christmas very much. It is super to celebrate it :)


Ola

Hi!

Christmas is one of the most important family holidays in Poland. We start our preparations for the holiday a few days before it. Everyone buys presents for the family and friends.

At first I and my family tidy our house and decorate it. Father goes to the special shops and buys a Christmas tree. At home I and my brother decorate it. On the table there must be 12 dishes, so there is a lot of work to do for my mother and grandmother.

On 24th December whole the family gathers at the Christmas table. There is an empty plate for an unexpected guest. My brother looks out of the window to find the first star. When there is one in the sky we share the holy wafer. Then we sit at the table and have the dinner. After it we sing carols and get presents. At 12 p.m. we go to church for a midnight mass.

Ania

Agata

Hi!;]
My name is Agata . I'm 14 and I'm from Poland . I'm a student of Piotr Skarga lower-Secondary school in Szamotuły .
I have long blond hair and blue eyes .
At the weekdays I get up at 6.3O am . My favourite subject is Biology and Music. I like listening to music: R&B, pop, house .I like animals very much. I have had lots of animals in my life. Now I have 2 little dogs . Their names are York and Bazyl. At the weekends I meet with my friends and watch lots of films, I usually go shopping with my friends. At the weekdays I go to school after that I learn .
I'm looking forward to hearing from you .;];];];]
Agata

Christmas in Poland

Hi!
Maybe I'll tell you about Christmas in our country.

In Poland we celebrate for three days. Before Christmas we buy presents , decorate our houses and our Christmas trees .We cook traditional dishes.

24th December is the most important day . Children wait for the first star that appears in the sky- it's the sign that they can start the Christmas supper. After the supper Santa Claus visits houses and gives or leaves presents.

Tradition says that animals can talk on Christmas Eve. We share the holy wafer at the beginning of the supper.We leave na extra chair and plate for a stranger who would like to eat with us. People in Poland don't eat meat -they eat fish(especially carp).

At midnight everybody goes to church (Poland is mostly a catholic country)and prays to God like sheppards who prayed to Jesus when He was born. During Christmas we like singing or listening to Christmas carols.
On 25th and 26th December we relax , we visit family and eat a lot of food.

How do you spend Christmas. What do you do on Christmas Eve? Do you look for the presents under the Christmas tree like us?

Ala