DominicB
5 Dec 2014
Life / What should a foreigner do when invited to join Christmas dinner with his Polish-friend's family? [21]
I haven't met this custom. Quite the opposite, in fact, with the families I spent Christmas with in Chojnice, £owicz and Jelenia Góra. Drinking wine with wigilia was the rule, and "pasterka" meant watching a film or gathering around the fireplace and drinking wine and vodka, but not to excess. Christmas day is spent sitting at the table all day long eating and talking, with a hike in the woods or a visit to friends and family.
Your absolutely welcome. Poles love having guests at Christmastime.
Be polite, eat at least a little of everything offered to you at the table, compliment them on the cooking, play along with whatever they are doing. As for gifts, a box of very fine chocolates or a selection of very fine teas, perhaps an excellent bottle of dessert wine, fancy liqueur or mead (miód pitny) for mom, and a bottle of excellent vodka or whiskey for dad (unless you know he doesn't drink). Token gifts for other family members - nothing over a zloty, just something small to show you thought about them, especially if you've met them before. Don't bring perishable food. There will be more than enough. Homemade cookies may be a nice treat for the family if their the kind that can keep for a few days.
There is a bus from the Kaliska station, and trains as well. The bus is generally faster and cheaper, but less comfortable. The train takes longer, but its a lot more comfortable. DO NOT TRAVEL ON THE 24TH. It's murder, unless you are traveling first class. Try to go on the 21st or 22nd if you can. Check about the bus. There's PKS for sure, but I think there are also some private bus lines that are faster and more comfortable. Check. I always took the train first class on the same route, just in the opposite direction. It's worth the extra money. Second class can be very crowded at holiday time. The roads and train lines from £ódź to Wrocław are in bad shape, so plan on a long ride.
Do not openly drink alcohol on the 24th
I haven't met this custom. Quite the opposite, in fact, with the families I spent Christmas with in Chojnice, £owicz and Jelenia Góra. Drinking wine with wigilia was the rule, and "pasterka" meant watching a film or gathering around the fireplace and drinking wine and vodka, but not to excess. Christmas day is spent sitting at the table all day long eating and talking, with a hike in the woods or a visit to friends and family.
I fel nervous because I don't know if it's okay or normal for him to invite me over to his home in such an occasion, I learned that Christmas is the time for the whole family to re-united, so is it okay for me to join them?
Your absolutely welcome. Poles love having guests at Christmastime.
what should I do to express my gratitude and to please the host family? what kind of gift should I bring
Be polite, eat at least a little of everything offered to you at the table, compliment them on the cooking, play along with whatever they are doing. As for gifts, a box of very fine chocolates or a selection of very fine teas, perhaps an excellent bottle of dessert wine, fancy liqueur or mead (miód pitny) for mom, and a bottle of excellent vodka or whiskey for dad (unless you know he doesn't drink). Token gifts for other family members - nothing over a zloty, just something small to show you thought about them, especially if you've met them before. Don't bring perishable food. There will be more than enough. Homemade cookies may be a nice treat for the family if their the kind that can keep for a few days.
Lodz (my place) to Wroclaw (his hometown)
There is a bus from the Kaliska station, and trains as well. The bus is generally faster and cheaper, but less comfortable. The train takes longer, but its a lot more comfortable. DO NOT TRAVEL ON THE 24TH. It's murder, unless you are traveling first class. Try to go on the 21st or 22nd if you can. Check about the bus. There's PKS for sure, but I think there are also some private bus lines that are faster and more comfortable. Check. I always took the train first class on the same route, just in the opposite direction. It's worth the extra money. Second class can be very crowded at holiday time. The roads and train lines from £ódź to Wrocław are in bad shape, so plan on a long ride.