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advent Adventis an important period in the Polishyear. The wordadventderives form Latin and meanscoming.Adventconsists of fourSundays. In the churchthereisanadventwreath with fourcandles. EverySundayanothercandleis lit. The mainpuropse of adventis to remindpeoplethatthey’rewaiting for JesusChrist’scoming.
Advent Eachcandle form adventwreathasitsownmeaning: • I candle = peace • II candle = faith • III candle = love • IV candle = hope
advent The firstSunday of adventstartsnewliturgicalyear. The dominant colourof this period ispurple.Thiscoloursymbolizes the period of penanceand reconciliation with God and people. „Roraty” is a mass special for advent and itstartsatsunrise. One of the most characteristicelements of this mass is a candle(roratka) – symbol of God’sMother. Nowadaysthis mass iscelebrated in the eveningbecausemanychildrenyoungpeoplecome.
advent One of the symbol of advent is also special calendar. It helps with counting down days which remain until Christmas. It’s popular among children because nowadays the calendar is a box with small windows. There are 24 windows and every day kids open new one and find chocolate there.
ADVENT Polish people ususally don’t eat meat on Fidays (during advent) and also they prepare fasting dishes for Christmas Eve.
Christmastree There was an old pagan custom of suspending at the ceiling a branch of fir, spruce or pine called Podłaźniczka(top of the tree). The branches were decorated with apples, nuts, cookies, colored paper, stars made of straw, ribbons and colored wafers. People believed thatitwillbringcopiousharvest and success in the next year.
Christmastree Christmas tree should be decorated during Christmas supper. But nowadays children decorate Christmas tree with their parents a day before Christmas Eve or in the mornig of Christmas Eve. Christmas tree is decorated with nuts, shiny apples, candles, baubles and handmade decorations.
Christmastree Conifer is a symbol of life, rebirth and fertility. First Christmas tree appeared in Poland between XVIII and XIX century.
Christmastreein Georgia Georgians have their own traditional Christmas tree called Chichilaki, made from dried up hazelnut or walnut branches that are shaved to form a small coniferous tree. These pale-colored ornaments differ in height from 20 cm to 3 meters. Thesetreesare the most common in regions near the Black Sea.
Christmastree Decorations of Christmastreehavetheirownmeaning: • the Star of Bethlehem – helps with comingbackhome from longjourney • Lightning – protectsagainstbadghosts and unfriendlylooks of people • Apples – guaranteeshealth and beauty • Nuts – bringswealth and power • Paper chains– rememberaboutsins, intensify family ties and protecthomeagainsttroubles • Bells – meansgood news and happy events • Angels – care for home • Mistletoe – createsthe place for people in love and shoud be keptuntilnextChristmas • Tree – issource of life
Christmaseve It’s a day just before Christmas and it’s also the end of advent. Christmas Eve is celebrated on 24th December. But orthodox church has Christmas Eve on 6th of January (Julian calendar).
Christmaseve ChristmasEvehasitsroots in ancient Rome. Sturnaliawas an annual celebrationbetween 17 and 23 Decemberin honor of Saturn (god of agriculture). It was a day of reconciliation and equality. Duringthosedaysthere was no trade and slaves celebrated on a par with free. People offeredsacrifice to Saturn. Fathers of familiesreceivedwaxcandles and clayfigurines.
Christmaseve ChristmasEve in PolishmeansWigilia . Wigilia derivesfromtheLatinwordvigilare, whichmeans to watch orkeepvigil.
Christmaseve • Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting. • On Christmas Eve, so important is the first star of the night that it has the affecionate name of ‘little star’ (Gwiazdka), in remembrance of the Star of Bethlehem. • On that night, all people watch the sky impatiently, hoping to be the first to cry out ‘The star!’. • When the star appears, the feast begins and people start eating.
Christmas EVE Christmas Eve supper consists of fasting dishes. It starts from reading a part of gospel according to St. Lukas. Many years ago people didn’t celebrate Christmas Eve on Sunday (if it was like this) because you can’t fast on Sunday and they prepared Christmas Eve supper on Saturday.
Christmaseve • According to tradition, a bit of hay spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Jesus Christ was born in a manger.
Christmaseve • Familymembers sit aroundthetable. • According to tradition, an empty place isleftat the table for a guest, homeless, poor person or for unexpectedpeople. • Somepeoplebelievethat the empty place should be left for a person whodied in the currentyear.
Christmaseve • One traditionisquiteunique for Poland – sharing a thinwafer(Opłatek). It’smade of flour and water. On thiswaferispressed a holypicture. Thiscustomdatesback to XVIII century. • The wafersymolizes the breadand on the otherhand love, frendship, period of reconciliation and forgiveness.
Christmaseve • In the past people took the wafer and went from house to house to wish their neighbours ‘Merry Christmas!’. • Nowadays people share the wafer with their family members. • Each person shares piece of the wafer with another person and they are supposed to forgive any hurts and to wish happiness in the upcoming year.
Christmas EVE There are many customs connected with Christmas. Some people believed that a person who died is present around the table during Christmas Eve supper. To see that person, you have to go to hallway and look through the keyhole to see Christmas table.
Christmas EVE You shouldn’t quarrel with other people during Christmas Eve. It’s better to share happiness and joy.
Christmas EVE On Christmas Eve the first guest should be a boy – his coming symbolizes luck in New Year.
CHRISTMAS EVE In Poland womenprepare red borscht with specialkind of dumplingscalleduszka(like small ears). Theyputinside a coin (1 grosz). A person whowillfinditduringChristmassupperwillhaveluck in upcoming New Year.
CHRISTMAS EVE You shouldn’t get hurt or during Christmas Eve because it means problems with health next year.
CHRISTMAS EVE You should put a scale of carp into you wallet to be sure of happiness during the whole year.
CHRISTMAS EVE It’s good to try all 12 dishes during Christmas Eve supper to have enough food next year and to not be out of dishes.
Christmassupper • During Christmas supper there are 12 dishes on the table – symbol of 12 apostols: • dumpling with cabbage and mushrooms • mushroom soup • herring soup • beetroot soup (red borscht)
fried carp (and other fish) • cabbage with mushrooms • cabbage with peas • croquette (pancakes with mushrooms and cheese)
compote of dry fruits • cheese cake • poppyseed cake • ginger cake
Santa claus In the middle of Christmas supper Santa Claus comes and everybody waits impatiently for him, especially children. Santa Claus gives presents, but first children have to do something. Sometimes he can’t come and he leaves presents under the Christmas tree.
ChristmasEve • After supper family members sing together Christmas carols. Polish carols are beautiful but a bit difficult. • Families wait till midnight and they go to the church. There is a special mass which is called Midnight Mass (Pasterka) – it is organized once a year.
CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Mass starts at midnight. It’s the first mass during Christmas. Pasterka commemorates expectation and prayers of shepherds who were going to Bethlehem. It’s also one of the most important traditions in Poland.
Thankyoufor attention! MerryChristmas!
