Why carp for Polish Christmas?

As well as the obvious Jesus - fisher connection,
Jesus was (somewhere in the Bible) the alpha and the omega.
The fishy symbol is the alpha. I don't know about the omega. (But that doesn't look like a fish.)

Meat could not be eaten on many holy days, but fish was somehow exempt.
In mediaeval Europe, some people, especially the Basques did a rather good trade in salted Cod from the other side of the Atlantic, which they sold across Europe, but maybe Poland preferred to stick more to the freshwater stuff.

Tradition. Someone started it, others felt like keeping it going. It just spread from there :]

Before Christianity adopted the fish symbol, it was known by pagans as "the Great Mother", and "womb". Its link to fertility, birth, and the natural force of women was acknowledged also by the Celts, as well as pagan cultures throughout northern Europe. In certain non-Christian beliefs the fish also has been identified with reincarnation and the life force. In pagan beliefs, Ichthys was the offspring of the ancient Sea goddess Atargatis, and was known in various mythic systems as Tirgata, Aphrodite, Pelagia, or Delphine. Greeks, Romans, and many other pagans used the fish symbol before Christians. Hence the fish, unlike, say, the cross, attracted little suspicion, making it a perfect secret symbol for persecuted believers. So the early Christians made practical use of this symbol for practical convenience. So yes it was adapted by Christianity. But it has nothing to do with the age of pisces. Just because pisces is represented by the symbol of fish it has nothing to do with Christianity. So get your facts strait.

I'm sure I asked that once, but surely...



"I wonder what would happen if I put Krzystof the Carp in the bathtub for a few days"
and a tradition was born.

Don't know. But think about it. Everything was started by one guy/girl, usually considered crazy by his/her peers.

Who was the first person to go up to a cow and say, "Hey, let's pull on those dangly things and drink what comes out."

Why do we still drink the milk? We're drinking a liquid produced by a fat animal's nipples.

Two farmworkers were sitting having their lunch in a field of cows.
One says to the other "Do you know what time it is?"
So the other reaches forward to the cow innocently grazing in front of them and lifts its udder.
"Quarter past one."

Some time passes.
The first one asks again "Do you know what time it is?"
Again, the other one puts his hand under the cows udder and lifts it.
"Ten to two."

More time passes.
Again, "Do you know what time it is?"
The second farm worker lifts the cow's udder.
"Two o'clock."

"How can you tell, just by feeling that cow's udder?"
"If I lift that cow's udder, I can see the clock on the church over there."

Awaiting moderation.

i wouldnt be so sure of that

the bible, old and new testament, is littered with references/symbolism to astrological ages (taurus, aries, pisces aquarius) - go and read a little more and then come back with some straight facts

Man returns home from his fishing trip with a cock-sucking carp!
Wife asks, "What am I supposed to do with that?"
Man says, Teach it to cook and then fukc off" :O)

I was born and raised in Poland. You don't keep the carp in the bath tub for DAYS. My dad used to bring it home in the morning and it would swim in the bath tub for like 4 hrs and then we killed it and cooked it. The killing was crazy because the carp was trying to get away and it was slippery. And how do you bring it home? Um how about in a bucket of water? ( I mean how do you bring a fish into a tank?) The fish isn't dirty either. You have to consider that just because things are a certain way in the US does not mean they will be the same in Poland. You might consider the possiblity that it may actually taste decent. I don't think it's the worst fish to pick.

So anyways, yes teh carp didn't taste bad at all....and I hate fish in general.

I think they mean carp taste bad because it is a bottom dweller fish and
me personally I cant stand fish and get grossed out when people eat it
cause fish is... ok cant say anymore cause I am getting grossed out talking
about it.

blec..

If carp are such dirty bottom feeder fish what is all the hoopla in the states and in Canada to a point with catfish? a delicacy almost in some places.. also bottom feeders..both quite taste... and those who eat pork? hmmm..and those who let their dogs lick their faces LOL...

I've had carp for Polish christmas before, but thankfully, my father began preparing other more tasty fish for christmas when I was still young, like salmon.. I continue the tradition. I now make a lot of shrimp, lobster, scallops for christmas these days : )

Carp has too many bones, and is too fatty for me...

Salmon is too long to fit in a regular Polish bath tub. That is why we use carp. Simple as drut.


Don`t forget about cats!


Its fattiness is lovely. The first thing I do while eating carp is sucking out its fat. Yummy!!!!

Carp? Crap more like. I agree with Filios, it has hospital potential. Fish bones like mini-swords and fatty. If a food is fatty, it has to taste good.

carp is the tradition... some people eat other fish, because not everybody likes carp...


and you two, if you don't like it, don't eat it... no whining...

;)

Don't worry.. last time I had it was about 15 years ago.. only salmon and other fruits of the ocean for me now :)

When people start having carp as children and like it then, they will always stick to it and know how to cope with fishbones. No hospital is needed.

Practice makes perfect.

I think the fishbones stick to them. Stick to it indeed.

A Blackman, Afro, Negro, Coloured Person, African American (seems every few years they wanna be called something else!) once told me that the secret of carp is after cleaning it to salt it and freeze it. Then rinse off the salt when it thaws, salt & pepper, dip in flour, roll in egg wash and cornmeal and fry. Never tried it that way, but since Afros are big carp lovers in America he might have had a point. If anyone on the forum tries this, please let us know, OK?

Carp is awesome!! In Germany it is only in season from October -April. They are farm raised. They deep fry them and they are delicious. I cant even begin to tell you how popular they are. Every restaraunt has a sign outside saying that they have fresh Karp. On the first day of the season you can't even get into a restaraunt b/c they are so jam packed. It's one of the, if not the, most popular and sought after fish over there. And it is not full of bones, plenty of flesh on them to eat. Don't knock it til you try it.

Not everybody eats carp - in my family we had szczupak - northern pike. Still in aspic, with stuffing, but pike, not carp.

It's terrible.

I love eating fish. I regularly make Sushi with prawns, tuna, salmon, swordfish and I love my cod/skate/haddock/rock but Carp?!!?? As a big fan of fish, I was very much looking forward to trying carp this Christmas. Very disappointing :(


I have unfortunately. I've even tried the jellied version which is worse!

Christmas dinner in Poland was (carp aside) most enjoyable, but other than tradition, I can't see any good reason to eat this particular member of the fish family! Having said that, I pretty much feel the same about Turkey!!

I have eaten turkey only once in my life. It was disgusting, it smelled like fish.

I normally have goose for Christmas dinner...it's lovely. And great Roast Potatoes from the fat!

Superb, it's away from carp and back to turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and sprouts for Xmas dinner and trifle for dessert. I like the Polish offerings other than carp though.

you cant beat turkey,ham and roast beef,potatoes,roast potatoes,cocktail sausages,stuffing,carrots,peas,brussel sprouts

oh an plenty of desserts

Hey! I am very strict of what my dog eats! And I never let them likc themselfs... you know where

Just be thankful it isn't "crap"!.

It could be any fish!
As for carp - inurement.

youtube.com/watch?v=ys3Y5ZMtp34

youtube.com/watch?v=WK9671CNVO4

There's a comic about this and other Polish customs called "Marzi".
dupuis.com/catalogue/UK/al/4748/petite_carpe.html
I found the comic quite interesting. However, it's not (yet) available in English.
But if you can read French, Polish or Dutch.. :-)