The Christmas tradition remains almost unchanged. In contrast, the customs accompanying Christmas Eve are only recreated in open-air museums and chambers of memory. Members of the local Country Housewives Circle gathered at the Wysokie Regional Chamber of Remembrance to remember some of them.

Wanda Szpuga, Teresa Kwoka, Stanisława Kusz, Henryka Sobczuk, Jolanta Kiecana, Maria Szypuła, Grażyna Kwoka and Barbara Muszyńska talk about the Christmas Eve tradition:

“On Christmas Eve, you had to see the man first. He brought good luck for next year. When setting the table, there always had to be an extra plate. It was a sign that an unexpected visitor was still in sight. And the table was necessarily covered with a white tablecloth, under which lay hay, symbolizing the stable where the Lord Jesus was born. In addition, there was a galette and bread. These were the main dishes. There was also a candle, symbolizing the light of Christ. Hay was also under the Christmas tree – say the ladies.

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– In the past, we didn’t say “Christmas Eve dinner”, but “pośnik”. This name comes from the fact that the dishes were on an empty stomach. They came from the orchard, the forest, the waters and, of course, the fields. The dishes were prepared based on the crops that had been harvested throughout the summer. The man thought about it and worked, that everything had to be ready for Christmas Eve.

– On Christmas Eve, one of the family members went to the forest. I had to bring a tree. Once there were small Christmas trees, later they were installed and decorated with handmade toys, made of paper, tissue paper, straw. The nuts were golden. It is a sign of prosperity in the house. The children had a lot of fun at that time, because they were making chains. Today we already have a Christmas tree with more beautiful “bubbles”, but we also have a tradition of crochet balls, angels, stars and bells. Many things have changed since ancient times, but we try to keep these traditions.

“The children had a lot of fun decorating the Christmas tree and they really enjoyed it. Very often they broke a bauble, but it was very interesting and very attractive to them.

– Before we sat down for Christmas Eve dinner, the host would bring a large sheet of straw from the barn, a smaller bale of hay and a king (sheaf – editor’s note) of grain – or four basic grains: rye, wheat, oats, barley or just wheat. In the corner of the apartment, the king was placed, which was to symbolize the grain harvest the following year. Without the king, it was impossible to start Christmas Eve dinner. Entering the apartment, the host uttered the following words: “For luck, health, with Saint Viliya. So that we can bring this year, we will wait for the next one. And the householders said, “God grant us to be with you.”

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– When everything is ready for the table, the oldest person takes the wafer and gives it to everyone to share with everyone and make wishes. The most important wish is “happiness, health, prosperity, so that we can look forward to next year”. The first star in the sky shines and then everyone eats a meal. 12 dishes were prepared, they symbolized the 12 months of the year or the 12 apostles. One such tradition, which still exists today, says that everyone should try all the dishes on Christmas Eve. Each dish brought happiness. We have borscht with dumplings, dumplings with mushrooms, cabbage with peas, fish, herring, stuffed cabbage, dried compote, kutia and noodles with poppy seeds. Some of the sweet dishes at the end were pancakes or donuts. If the children were bored at the table, the host brought straw to the room. We jumped into this straw. It was a big attraction. Kutia was thrown to the ceiling, and the number of grains left there meant a good harvest. The housewives were not happy about this, as the huts had been whitewashed just before Christmas. And when they “knocked” with a spoon of kutia on the ceiling, when it stuck – there was already a stain for the whole winter.

– There was also a custom that the farmer would take an ax in his hand, go out to the orchard, because if a tree did not bear fruit sooner, he would strike and frighten the tree so that it would bear fruit the next Next year. Apparently that helped.

– On Christmas Eve evening, the girls went out and listened to where the dog was barking. Whose barking they will hear, of the one from whom they were expecting a bridegroom.

“Once the wafers were colored and with that wafer, the farmer would go to the barn and distribute it to the cows. According to tradition, cows were believed to start talking. Before Christmas Eve, there was a prayer, then a lot of singing: pastorals, Christmas carols. You sang at midnight mass at home, then you went to midnight mass, which was at midnight. Torches were used to go to midnight mass, because in the past the chapels were not close, but far away. Frost, not frost, everyone went there.

On the occasion of the coming Christmas, we wish you the best and a happy new year!

AP/ed. DySch

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