Hello

Hello,
my name is Wlodek Kaplon, and I'm 14. I live in Szamotuły(Poland), like my classmates.
I have long hair, green eyes (in the class photo I'm the boy on the left wearing the hat and green glasses). I like playing World Of Warcraft(I'm a Tauren) and listening to Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I sing in the school choir called Alla Breve).
That's all for now:)
Take care

Christmas

In Poland special attention is paid to Christmas. People start to think about it in early November and prepare very carefully.

The two nicest moments are buying a Christmas tree and presents. As Christmas is so special, the gifts we give are special, too. We choose them very carefully, because we want to make our relatives and friends happy. We also send Christmas cards to our family and friends.

Even though artificial Christmas trees become more popular every year, many people buy natural ones. The whole family comes together and chooses the tree. They want to have the most beautiful one, as they say they cannot imagine Christmas without the scent of a fresh tree.

A typical Polish Christmas tree is colourful and trimmed with hand made decorations. A few days before Christmas, Polish housewives start to prepare dishes for the Christmas Eve supper. According to the tradition, there should be twelve dishes on the table. The number of dishes is equal to the number of the Apostles. Among the dishes there are herrings, carp, trout, borsch or mushroom soup, pies and cakes.

Traditionally one place at the table should be set for an unexpected guest. If somebody comes, we have to invite him to the table and share our dinner with him. A little bit of hay is put under the tablecloth. This is the symbol of the fact that Jesus was born in a little stable.

When the table is set and the Christmas tree decorated, we wait for the first star to shine. Then we sit down to have supper. But before we start to eat we share a wafer with our family and wish each other all the best.

After the supper we unpack the gifts which were placed under the Christmas tree. Then we sing Christmas carols. Many people go to church for the midnight mass.

In Poland we spend Christmas day, December 25, with our families and on Boxing Day we visit our relatives or friends. But only if we are invited.

Polish Christmas is most beautiful. It is about peace and forgiveness. This special atmosphere makes us wait for Christmas with some impatience. For most people it is their favourite festival.

Merry Christmas!

Daria

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