Polish Family in US or other countries to practice traditional customs

does anyone from Poland Have family in the united states or other countries who
still practice traditional customs, or have they lost touch with it?

Our family shares the "opłatek" before the meal on Christmas Eve - called Wigilia. After the 11 course meal we sing Christmas carols and then we "suddenly" notice presents under the tree and yell: Santa Clause was here! we open the presents on Christmas Eve.

11 course!!!!!

My cousin in Chicago celebrates very polish christmas....but she is first generation of emgiration...I am not so sure about her daughter ( 14 years old born in USA) in future...

my cousin still has Wigilia, I am not fond of fish, probably because at young
age, I had bad experience with it, making me sick for days.

then I tried to eat Tuna sandwich, and again 3 days with fever, etc, so my
mind refuses it, and I get nauseated just thinking about it.

is there other dishes that could be substituted in place of fish ? maybe chicken?

something tolerable :) lol

You are allergic to fish. Some are allergic to peanuts and can die if eaten. Some to cats....
You could probably substitute fish with a vegetable, or maybe crab? In the US they eat chicken and ham for Christmas Eve dinner, you'll just have an American type wigilia.


Hahahahahahaha Didn't realize that.

Krysia, I didnt even think of that, but that makes sense, because each time
was always fever, vomiting etc , dont mean to gross anyone out, but
yes, you have valuable point, prob should get to doc and have test for allergy
to other stuff. I know two medications I cannot take which do the same thing.

i have heard about the peanuts and people severly allergic.
even milk (people with allergies, and also fish) but didnt think I could be.

Thanks Krysia, ya opened them eyeballs LOL

can anyone tell me family custom of USA?....please......I want to know...^^

I mean tell me about the family custom of USA....sorry..typing error.....

As the Immigrants from the early 1900 died off. Wigilia started to disappear. Some first generation family members still practiced it until they died off, but on a smaller scale. Starting with the second and third generation, it was all forgotten. From the 1960's The Polish language was all but forgotten..

From my observation it varies greatly from family to family. In general it is generational: first generation most Polish, 2nd less, 3rd, even less, 4th - sometimes only vestigial elements survive, 5th - little or nothing left as family is now fully Americanised. But exceptions abound:

--People living in or near a heavily Polsih populated community tend to retain more traditions.
-- Someone in the family visiting Poland often revives ethnic interest with his/her tales, photos and souvenirs.
-- A Pol-Am marrying someone from Poland often helps re-Polonise the family.
-- Business, academic or other professional contacts with Poland or Poles often generate newfound ethnic curiosity.