1. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS IN POLAND

2. ADVENT:  During these four weeks, people pray more often than usual, participate in the celebrations of Advent (ie. roraty), do not organize parties or weddings.

3. Each Sunday of Advent are lit candles in the churches.

4. CHRISTMAS:  In the Christian tradition is a celebration to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on December 25 (Gregorian calendar).

5. HABITS:  In Poland Christmas starts on Christmas Eve in the evening of 24 December.  On Christmas Eve there is gala dinner (without meat) in Poland. According to the tradition dinner starts when the first star appears in the sky to memorialize the star leading Mary to the stable.  One extra plate on the table for unexpected guest muts be placed.  There should be 12 meals on the table.  Midnight in Roman Catholic churches begin Feast of Saint Stephen. The next day (December 25) is called Christmas Day, and on December 26 in Poland is celebrated to commemorate St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian faith.

6. CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS:  Sharing wafer  Singing Christmas carols  Decorating Christmas tree  Nativity Scene  Presents - usually, this role belongs to Santa Claus (the prototype of which was, however, a genuine character)  First star  Nativity play  Carolers

7. Today we cannot imagine Christmas without a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

8. Christmas Eve wafer is a symbol of reconciliation and forgiveness. Breaking the wafer at the beginning of the Christmas Eve’s dinner expresses the desire to be together, to live in harmony.

9. Tradition tells to begin Christmas Eve dinner when there is the first star in the sky.

10. CHRISTMAS EVE DISHES:  Borscht with dumplings  Carp  Dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms  Kutia  Compote made of dried fruits  Noodles with poppy seeds  Greek style fish

11. Christmas table rich in a variety of dishes.

12. Santa Claus! The man, for whom waits all children.

13. On the occasion of Christmas we exchange gifts. Santa Claus is coming to us on 24th December. Usually the presents are put under the Christmas tree.

14. MIDNIGHT MASS  Midnight Mass is celebrated at midnight of 24 on December 25. Participation in this special Eucharist with the whole family is the most important part of the celebration of the coming of Jesus into the world in Poland.

15. In many churches there is also the habit of sharing the wafer.

16. CAROLS :  Christmas carols are sung in Poland. The texts of carols wrote the greatest Polish poets and composers. Carols are also associated with native folk art. In some historical periods have become patriotic songs, symbolized Polish nature.

17. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POLISH CAROLS:  The angel spoke to the shepherds  God is born  Silent Night  Today in Bethlehem  When Christ is born  Sleep Jesus  The Saviour is born for us  There was no place for you  Let us all to the Stable  Coming to Bethlehem  Heavenly King Triumphs  The silence of the night

18. NATIVITY SCENE  They are exposed in churches during Christmas up to Candlemas (February 2).

19. NATIVITY PLAY:  They are performed in many schools and churches.

20. CAROLERS:  go through the towns from house to house with the wishes of prosperity in the New Year. The custom is celebrated on Christmas Eve (or the second day of Christmas).  In return for your good wishes, the hosts give to carol singers sweets or a tiny donations.

21. CAROLERS

22. Christmas? Is a special time. We remember the birth of the baby Jesus, this is a time of joy, forgiveness, rest, meetings with friends and family.

23. Prepared by: Kacper Grzegorowski Oskar Nowicki Dawid Leonarczyk and Antek Narkintowicz THE END