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The Wigilia In Poland, Christmas has been the holiest and most festive occasion of the year for many centuries. Actually since the conversion of the Polish people to Christianity in 966. The Christmas season starts with Advent. During these days, Poles start to prepare to Christmas. On the eve of Christmas day the family prepares a feast fit for a King. The word "Wigilia" derives from the Latin verb vigilare, "to watch,” to be watchful or awake. The Wigilia celebration traditionally begins once the first star has been sighted (usually by children) in the heavens at dusk. Wigilia is thus a time of watchfulness and expectancy, a time for keeping a vigil. Written with a lower-case letter, wigilia can refer to the eve of any feast. However, with a capital W, Wigilia always refers to Christmas Eve. Throughout the centuries, a rich folk tradition has developed around Wigilia, making the day’s activities into a feast for the imagination and the soul, as well as for the stomach. The tradition of keeping a vigil on the day before a holy day dates back to the Old Testament. All the cleaning and cooking had to be done by sundown on the previous day. This was done in order to keep the holy day free from work. The Poles believe that Wigilia is the day that initiates the changes that will come in the following year. For example, the way you conduct yourself on Wigilia – that’s the way you will conduct yourself thought the entire year. Or the person who rises early on Wigilia will be wide awake thought the year. Getting the house ready is important. As it starts to get dark, a lighted candle should be placed in the front window. It is a sign to a passing stranger who has no place to go that he or she is welcomed as an honored guest. Poles known for their hospitality believe that no one should be alone on Christmas Eve. Underneath the crisp, heavily starched, white linen tablecloth some hay or straw is placed. Hay and straw are symbols of the birth of the Christ child in a stable. Today instead of placing the straw under the tablecloth it is sometimes tied into small bunches and used as part of the table centerpiece. Every effort is made to ensure that there will be an even number of people at the table. An odd number might signify bad luck. Above all, the number thirteen should be avoided, whether in the number of guests or in the number of courses to be served. A custom observed throughout Poland is to allow for an extra place setting at the table. The reasons vary from region to region, from city to village, and even sometimes from household to household. There is an extra place setting for that “unexpected guest” – the lonely traveler, who sees the candle burning in the window, or an old family friend or relation, who arrives unannounced. The place setting may be for the Christ child. The setting may be in remembrance of a close relative who passed away recently. Or it may be set to show the spirits of departed ancestors that they are sill welcome on Wigilia. Many Polish homes have an extra place setting in memory of a relative who is far away and not able to be home for Wigilia. If you want to follow tradition then nothing can begin until the first star makes its appearance in the heavens. Today the heavens are sometimes clouded over. The night sky can be obscured by city lights or pollution. In that case, the long-awaited Wigilia supper can begin no later than 6:00 p.m. The family and guests gather for the breaking and sharing of the opłatek. The opłatek is similar to the wafer that is used as the sacred Host during Mass. Mainly white; the opłatek has also been baked in colors. Some Poles share the colored opłatek with the animals and are used to fashion intricate ornaments called “Wafer worlds”. The host and hostess or the oldest person there start the ceremony by taking an opłatek and extend greeting and best wishes for the coming year. Each person breaks off a piece of opłatek and offers a portion of the wafer to others along with good wishes for sound health, happiness and success in the year to come. As each wish is expressed, the well-wished person breaks off a piece of the other’s opłatek and consumes it. This is the highest and most sacred moment of the entire celebration.
The opłatek is a symbol of the strengthening of the bonds between individual family members and between families, villages, towns, and cities. It is always sent to family members and close friends who will be absent from the family table on Wigilia. Now it is time to sit down at the table. A prayer is said by the head of the household and the feasting begins. In some parts of Poland, an odd number of dishes are served, for example, seven, nine, or eleven. But remember, thirteen dishes will bring bad luck. In other parts of Poland, the meal consists of twelve dishes, symbolizing the twelve apostles. Whatever the number of dishes, it is important to at least try each dish once. “However many dishes are not tasted, a person will lose that much happiness in the coming year.” The types of foods, the number of dishes, and the order of presentation varies from region to region. What does not vary is the fact that no meat is ever served at a Wigilia supper.
After dinner, but before carols and present opening, the oldest family member reads the Nativity story to the rest of the family and guests. No Wigilia supper is complete without the joyous singing of the beloved Polish Christmas carols (Koleda: coal-EN-da) after the meal, the family gathers around the lighted Christmas tree for the singing of carols. The Midnight or Shepherds’ Mass (as it is called in Poland) is the grand finale of this festive day. Everyone who is able attends the parish liturgy. Traditionally, a carol concert precedes the Mass. The words of a Polish carol declare: “Today in Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to a Son”. Czolem, What is Amber: A lady’s name, a color, a beer? If you said all you would be right. But there is one more and I am going to tell you about it, Amber the gem stone. Webster’s Dictionary states: Amber, a yellow or brownish-yellow translucent fossil found along some seacoasts and used in jewelry, pipe stems, etc. Oh but there is so much more. I visited several web sites (I will list them below) and learned so much. I will try and give you a brief lesson on Amber. Amber, the gem of a stone that’s not really a gemstone at all, is actually fossilized pine tree resin. Amber is famous for containing insects as well as leaves, bark which became stuck and enclosed in the resin while it was still liquid. David Federman, author of the Consumer Guide to Colored Gemstones, writes, “Amber is like a time capsule made and placed in the earth by nature herself.” It has helped paleontologists reconstruct life on earth in its primal phases. More than 1,000 extinct species of insects have been identified in amber.” Remember the film Jurassic Park? In the film, millions of people saw dinosaur DNA extracted from a mosquito trapped in amber. Amber is found in several places. The two main sources of amber on the market today are the Baltic States and the Dominican Republic. Other areas are Lebanon, Sicily, Mexico, Romania, Germany, and Canada. Amber from the Baltic States is the oldest. Amber from the Dominican Republic is more likely to have insect inclusions. Beads and pendants of amber stone have been found in northern European gravesite dating back to 8,000 B.C. It was thought to have magic powers. Amber becomes electrically charged when rubbed with a cloth and can attract dust and ashes. It is warm to the touch. In ancient times, amber stone was burned to cleanse the air, especially during childbirth. It was also thought to improve eyesight by gazing into it. Amber is light, its density is comparable to that of seawater. This is a key practical benefit, because it means that large amber jewelry, such as necklaces, pendants, and earrings, can be easily made and comfortably worn. I have been talking to Joan Bittner of the Polish Art Center. Joan tells me that white (milk-butter-bone color) is the oldest amber and green amber is the youngest. There is red, which looks almost black. The honey colored amber is the traditional color. There are so many reasons for the colors. If you want more information on amber, Joan recommended the book, “Amber: Golden Gem of the Ages”. You can visit Joan at the Polish Art Center, 9639 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI. I was able to stop in the store when I was in Michigan for the National Convention. Now it is on my places to visit in the Detroit area. Amber is made into jewelry, pipe stems, rosaries, lamps, candles, incense, and more. Just a thought, but wouldn’t a piece of amber make a wonderful Christmas present? Here are some web sites I visited to learn about amber. (Ask for Amber Stone, Amber Jewelry)If you have information to submit for the Cultural Commission page, please send us an email. |