Wigila

Wigilia is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24. The term is also often extended to the whole day of the Christmas Eve, extending further into the midnight Mass held at Roman Catholic churches all over Poland and large Polish comunities worldwide at midnight preceding the Christmas Day. In this usage, the supper itself is rather called "wieczerza" or "wieczerza wigilijna", using an Old Polish word meaning "dinner", "large supper", stemming from Proto-Indo-European root *vesper - evening.

The word "Wigilia" derives from the Latin verb vigilare, "to watch", and literally means 'eve'. The feasting traditionally begins once the first star has been sighted (usually by children) in the heavens at dusk (around 5 p.m.). Therefore Christmas is also sometimes called "Gwiazdka" (the little star, referring to the Star of Bethlehem).

Traditions and customs

 

Children usually decorate the Christmas tree on this day (if it has not been set up before).

One tradition is leaving one extra empty place setting for a stranger, called the "Unexpected Guest". This is to celebrate the tradition of hospitality in Poland. The extra seat was left open just in case a traveler, family member, or a friend appeared at the door, so there would be a place for them to sit. It also represents a place for family members who have died or, in some traditions, symbolizes hospitality for baby Jesus.

Family members begin the celebration with a prayer and breaking of the Christmas wafer (opłatek - symbolizing the bread eaten daily — our day-to-day common life) and wishing each other good fortune in the upcoming new year. (After the prayer, usually done by the man of the house, the opłatek is broken and pieces are given to everyone attending the table. From there, everyone breaks off a piece of their opłatek, and shares it with everyone else, wishing luck and joy in the upcoming year, for Christ has been born. This wish is usually finalized by a kiss on the cheek.) Readings from the Bible concerning the nativity of Jesus are practiced in more religious households. In the countryside, it is customary to feed livestock (though not dogs, cats, and other pets) with the wafer, as the animals of the household are to be treated as people that day and are traditionally believed to speak with a human voice.

The evening supper

 

After first star appears on sky and sharing the opłatek, the supper begins. The number of dishes is traditionally the number of expected guests plus one. The number of courses is traditionally established to be either twelve or an odd number (in Silesia)twelve is symbolic of the number of months in the year is good as well as to celebrate the twelve disciples of Jesus.

Wigilia is observed as a Black Fast, and as such Poles abstain from eating meat on this day. Traditional dishes include żurek, siemieniotka (in Silesia), red beet soup barszcz with uszka (small dumplings), mushroom soup, herring in oil, carp fillet, carp in aspic, potatoes, different salads, pierogi filled with potatoes, cheese, mushrooms and cabbage (kapusta), or cabbage and yellow peas, gołąbki (stuffed cabbage) kluski with poppyseed, kutia, makowki, and dried fruit compote.

Christmas carols are also sung. Some families attend the traditional midnight mass/Shepherd's Mass (pasterka).

Another major part of the Wigilia festivities is the opening of gifts. The children often open their gifts and hand out the gifts for the adults from under the tree. The gift-giver in Polish tradition is Saint Nicholas or the Gwiazdka,the Star of Bethlehem.
It is still believed that whatever happens on Wigilia has an impact on the following year. So, if a quarrel should arise, it foretells a quarrelsome and troublesome year.



I was never a huge fan of Wigilia, but I'm kinda looking forward to it this year. Some of the food is really disgusting, but hey, it's tradition. Hopefully this year will be a good one.

Wesołych Świąt Everyone!