Opłatek, not presents, epitomises the true Polish Christmas spirit

Any links to that? Yes, I knew him but not about any such contacts. during martial law we both used the US Embassy to despatch stories whilst sidestepping the commie censors.

Of course not. I think it's a perfectly legitimate way to give believers a feeling of connection to the religion, especially crucial when it was young and there's no reason to change now.


I'm not a believer (though, like Camille Paglia, I respect religion). It's never been my favorite holiday but I have no desire whatsoever to inflict my lack of faith on people who do find comfort in it.

In fact the only time I've mentioned him on PF is in connection with that one appraisal of French Christmas. As someone interested in ethnology, the subleties of celebrations are something I try to follow.

Nor is it mine if one thinks in terms of the noisy, brash, gaudy, tacky, razzle-dazzle shop till you drop frenzy into which hyper-commercialised Christmas has deteriorated. But anyone able to appreciate the solemn, spiritual and symbolic (rather than the commercial, frivolous and bacchic) has to get blown away by Polish Wigilia. In fact, probably no other nation has any single occasion crammed to overflowing with so many beautiful once-a-year customs, symbols, lore, legend, delicacies and uplifting kolędy. By comparison, Christmas Day is an anti-climactic also-ran.

Wigilia is an occasion and Christmas Day is no big deal in Poland. New Year's Eve is another big holiday (strengthened in the PRL due to Russian influence?) but epiphany is like Christmas Day, not much happens for most people.

Christmas in America is a festive season (who does advent in the US?) and Christmas Day marks the end of it (no Boxing Day whch I had no idea what it was before I moved to Poland saw references to it on Sky TV).

New Years Eve isn't as big a deal in the US (outside a few big cities) and Epiphany is mostly known where there are orthodox (Greek where I'm from) or from Spanish speaking countries (Christmas isn'ta big holiday in Spain, Epiphany, dia de los reyes magos, has always been bigger). Latin America seems to be a mixed bag in holiday terms....

That has absolutely no relevance to the topic at all.


Yes they do, but why not just get on with your own Xmas? Nothing wrong with you wanting to celebrate it's true meaning, but if others want to give presents, even to excess, that is their business. You are just trying to take the moral high ground again.

Warsaw Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz was largely instrumental in launching the Three Kings Cavalcade. This is a great family occasiosn, the Three Kings arriving on horseback and camelback, kids dressed as angels and devils engage in a pageant symybolising the struggle between good and evil (guess which side wins?!), other religious, historic and folkloric figures all wending their way through Old Town and ending with communtiy kolędy singing. A beautiful new custom in the spirit of the season. Also Polish Catholics mark their doorways on the Epiphany with blessed chalk and write: K+M+B 2017. After 6 Jan priests make their annual pastoral rounds to the homes of parishioners. Some of the shop-till-you-drop ballyhoo has been seeping over into Poland but has yet to destroy the beautiful old traditions.

Here it is (in French unfortunately, but I am sure you are fluent enough to understand it).
lemonde.fr/elections-europeennes/article/2009/06/01/pologne-le-passe-controverse-d-un-candidat-nomme-bernard-margueritte_1200738_1168667.html

Here is the gist of it: on 4th April, speaking to Rzeczpospolita, M. Margueritte revealed his past contacts with the Polish political police (SB). [...]. The journalist says he was briefly registered as a source in 1971, under the "Gamma" pseudonym.

Funny it comes from the same newspaper who he used to work for..

@Wincig
Good thing you gave the gist because the link produced: internal service error (whatever that means). More Gatesian gobble-dee-gook which I cannot stomach!
I wonder if Beranrd simply agreed to sign up or actually snitched on someone. He never came across as a commie sympathiser.

America is much too big a place to make such sweeping generalisations. Many German Americans attach quite a lot of importance to Advent wreaths, as do the Dutch (Holland, MI for example) to St Nicholas and PolAms to Wigilia. If you are irreligious, you probably associate mainly with those of similar ilk rather than with devout church-goers, meanng that you may not be too plugged into that parficular communtiy.

Could this be because we Christians profess that Jesus is the reason for the season ?
We Christians celebrate the birth of Christ and the Un Believers have no reason to celebrate Christmas so they ridicule our religious beliefs.


What I have read about Poland's Christmas's is that it is now more about commercially imposed emphasis on food, booze and presents.
Is midnight mass still the highlight of Christmas celebration in Poland ?

For a part of the religious side of society it is.
There is also the more secular one- most pubs open up at the same time and can't complain about attendance.
Both are called pasterka but one obviously in a joking manner.

Not quite, it is probably the sole occasion in the year when members of families get together (at least in Europe where Thanks giving does not exist)

Christmas, Easter, Birthday, Nameday, Mother's day, Father's day, Granddad's Day, Grandma's day and all other days ' even 'boys' day' are driven by commerce and industry where the prime aim is for them to force you to buy cards and presents that no one actually needs or wants.

If you buy cards or presents only for the specified days to show how much you care for the recipients, it shows that you do not care for them throughout the year. Better to buy unexpected presents because you want to and not because you have to.

Doesn't that depend on the giver? Hiw well they know the recipient? I've usually received gifts that I really liked.
And while I agree to a certain extend with your opinion- I prefer to look at it from different perspective- not as a reason to pretend you care but an excuse to show someone you care.

Terri, you are a genius. When I was reading that post it felt like I wrote it myself. You are so damn right. The date-compelled gifts or words are worth zero. Tell her that you love her any other day when she just got up and before the makeup goes on and it means something. On the other hand, one "you weigh too much" and you are fu*cked for life and not in a good way.

We quit buying gifts years ago because we have everything we need. Plus, shopping is so much more fun than getting it all wrapped up.

But one needs to discuss it with your nearest and dearest first. WIthout it, they will expect a present on the special day and when they don`t get it, might feel terribly disappointed.

For me, oplatek is probably the nicest Polish custom I can think of.

Yes, but don`t forget about a similar custom: sharing an egg on Easter Sunday.

I think it depends on the people. It can be great and touching but it can also be horrible

You are right, I had forgotten that aspect of it (Rose tinted glasses) but you have just reminded me...........

You mean non-believers forced to stick to the custom by family? :)

No, I mean the characters and relationships between those involved

Oh, yes, sharing a wafer with sb one doesn`t like. Life.... :)

Instead of spirit, you can use other percent liquids as Christmas presents. Here - craft beer for daddy. And a tie with pineapple motiffs.
The cat is not a present.

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