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Polish Xmas 101
Topic Started: Dec 11 2011, 06:05 PM (249 Views)
LWpianistin
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HOLY CARP!!!
I just attended a Polish Christmas gathering. It was held in our barn and I happened to be working tonight, so it was me, the guy who arranged it/co-worker, and members of the Polish Society of Charleston. They brought wine, good bread, cheese, butter, and this spread made of nothing but pork fat and bits of pork. I observed the Breaking of the Oplatek, then we all went around and greeted each other while exchanging pieces of wafer. People said they give them to pets, too. After that, we sang carols :sing: , some in Polish (I followed along with them in the book) and some in English. It was so cool to observe a tradition like that, and hear people speak in Polish. I learned how to say "Thank you"!

That kind of thing is what makes Christmas time special.
And how are you today?
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Are you Polish?
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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George K
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Finally
There's something special about tradition. Family habits traditions are wonderful, but when you go back to roots, you realize that there's more than just you, and participating makes you bigger, and better.

Lithuanians break the wafer as well. Black bread, heavily buttered with some whiskey or vodka to wash it down. Of course, there's honey

Kucios

Quote:
 
On Christmas Eve the house must be thoroughly cleaned, all the bed linens changed and all family members must bathe and don clean clothes before the evening meal. For the Christmas Eve dinner, the table is prepared as follows: a handful! of fine hay is spread evenly on the table. This is a reminder that Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger on hay. The table is then covered with a pure white tablecloth, set with plates and decorated with candles and fir boughs. Live flowers are inappropriate for the table, in particular red or white poinsettias which are so popular in some countries at Christmas time. A small plate with as many Christmas wafers as there are persons present is placed in the center of the table. In some Lithuanian regions these wafers were called God's cakes (Dievo pyragai) for they were obtained from the parish and were imprinted with Biblical scenes of Jesus' birth. Although plotkele was the popular and better known term, the word is borrowed from the Slavic. It is better to say paplotelis, plokstainelis or even Dievo pyragas.

All family members make an effort to come home for the Christmas Eve supper, even from a distance. Perhaps not so much for the meal as for the sacred family ritual which draws the family members closer, banding everyone and strengthening warm family ties. If a family member has died that year or cannot attend the meal (only for very serious reasons) an empty place is left at the table.

A plate is still placed on the table and a chair is drawn up, but no spoons, knives or forks are set. A small candle is placed on the plate and lit during the meal. It is believed that the spirit of the deceased family member participates in the Kucios along with everyone.

Sometimes, I miss those things.
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LWpianistin
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HOLY CARP!!!
Not at all. British and some Blackfoot.
And how are you today?
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Oh, yum........


:D



And that means I get to tell some pollock jokes.....
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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LWpianistin
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HOLY CARP!!!
The lady who put it all together was so happy there was hay that she could put under the tablecloths. Now I know why, thanks to the amazing interwebs.
And how are you today?
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apple
one of the angels
one would think the glasses would tip.. altho they could use just a little hay.

Thanks for sharing LW and George.. please continue
it behooves me to behold
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
LWpianistin
Dec 11 2011, 06:22 PM
... so happy there was hay that she could put under the tablecloths.
What color of straw did you pull?
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PattyP
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Senior Carp
Way cool, LW.

A tired dog is a good dog.

"Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really."
A.S. Turnbull
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LWpianistin
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HOLY CARP!!!
Axtremus
Dec 12 2011, 03:15 PM
LWpianistin
Dec 11 2011, 06:22 PM
... so happy there was hay that she could put under the tablecloths.
What color of straw did you pull?
They didn't do that. It was just there for looks, I guess.
And how are you today?
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brenda
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..............
Wonderful experience, LW. Both you and the other guests are richer for the experience and the learning.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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