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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F122.82 returned 71 results.
VIGALIA
A POLISH CELEBRATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE IS CALLED
VIGALIA. THERE ARE AN ODD NUMBER OF COURSES AT THE
DINNER. STRICT POLISH PEOPLE HAVE STRAW ON THE
TABLE AND ONE VACANT PLACE FOR THE CHRIST CHILD.
THERE IS ALSO A CUSTOM WHERE A WAFER IS PASSED FROM
PERSON TO PERSON, AND EACH ONE TAKES A PIECE.
THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM AND A FAMILY TRADITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
THE BREAKING OF OPLATKI (OH-PWAT-KEY)
THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM OF BREAKING UNLEAVENED BREAD
WITH ANOTHER PERSON ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND EATING THE
PIECE YOU HAVE BROKEN OFF YOUR RELATIVE'S WAFER.
BEFORE EATING IT, BOTH WISH EACH OTHER GOOD HEALTH,
FORTUNE, ETC. IT TAKES PLACE ON CHRISTMAS EVE BEFORE
DINNER AND IS PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE MIDST OF
SOME STRAW ON A DISH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
VIGILIA
BEFORE THE EVENING MEAL IS EATEN, EVERYONE PRESENT IS
GIVEN A RECTANGULAR WAFER (OPLATEK) WHICH HAS BEEN
BLESSED BY A PRIEST. THEN EACH PERSON GOES TO ALL
PRESENT AND EXCHANGES BITS OF THE WAFERS WITH THEM
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: YOU BREAK A SMALL PIECE OFF
OF ANOTHER'S WAFER, WHO, IN TURN, BREAKS A PIECE OFF OF
YOURS. YOU WISH EACH OTHER SUCCESS IN THE COMING
YEAR. AFTER ALL HAVE BEEN CONTACTED IN THIS WAY, THE
BITS ARE EATEN.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A REMEMBRANCE OF THE LAST SUPPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
VIGILIA
THE TABLE FOR THE EVENING MEAL USED TO BE SET IN THIS
MANNER: A SHEAF OF WHEAT WAS PLACED IN THE CENTER OF
THE TABLE AND THE WAFERS WERE THEN PLACED ON TOP OF
THE SHEAF. STRAW WAS THEN SPREAD ON THE FLOOR AROUND
THE TABLE AND THE MEAL WAS EATEN BY THE LIGHT OF THE
ADVENT WREATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
Date learned: 11-27-1967
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, FAMILIES OF POLISH ORIGIN TRAVEL TO
THE HOMES OF THEIR MOTHERS AND SHARE IN A MEAL OF WINE
AND UNLEAVENED BREAD. THIS SHOULD BRING HEALTH AND
HAPPINESS INTO THEIR LIVES. IT ALSO SHOWS THEIR LOVE FOR
THEIR MOTHERS.
Submitter comment:
MY SISTER, ANNE, COLLECTED THIS FROM A FRIEND, MARJORIE
COSMAN, WHO IS OF POLISH ANCESTRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented |
Date learned: 11-00-1963
WIGILIA--TRADITIONAL POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER
AT OUR HOME, WE STILL PRACTICE THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS EVE, "WIGILJA." IT IS A FAMILY
HOLIDAY AND THE SUPPER STARTS IN THE EVENING WHEN THE
FIRST STAR APPEARS.
THE SUPPER ITSELF CONSISTS OF 12 COURSES IN HONOR OF THE
12 APOSTLES. THE OLDEST MEMBER STARTS BY TAKING THE
"OPLATEK," A WHITE WAFER MADE OF FLOUR AND WATER, AND
BREAKS IT WITH THE NEXT OLDEST MEMBER, WISHING EACH OTHER
LUCK AND HAPPINESS. THE BREAKING OF THE WAFER AND GOOD
WISHES CONTINUE BETWEEN EVERYONE ELSE. THIS IS A
PRACTICE WE DO TO THIS DAY.
THIS FINISHED, EVERYONE SITS DOWN TO EAT. IT'S A CUSTOM
TO HAVE AN EVEN NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE TABLE FOR GOOD
LUCK. THERE IS AN EMPTY CHAIR LEFT AND PLACE SETTING FOR
AN ABSENT MEMBER OR FRIEND. HAY IS PLACED BENEATH THE
TABLE CLOTH IN THE CENTER OF THE TABLE IN REMEMBERANCE OF
CHRIST'S HUMBLE BIRTH.
ALL COURSES SERVED ARE MEATLESS. FIRST THERE IS HERRING,
MARINATED OR IN OLIVE OIL. NEXT IS "BARCZCY, BEET ROOT SOUP
WITH "USZKI," TINY DUMPLINGS STUFFED WITH MUSHROOMS.
THEN TWO KINDS OF FISH ARE SERVED, FRIED OR IN GELATIN
WITH HORSERADISH. THEN SAUERKRAUT WITH MUSHROOMS. NEXT
IS SERVED THE MILLET WITH PRUNES OR "KASZA JAGLONA." THEN
THERE ARE CHEESE DUMPLINGS FOLLOWED BY STEWED FRUIT OF
APPLES, PEARS, AND PRUNES. THE MEAL IS COMPLETED WITH
TEA OR COFFEE AND DIFFERENT CAKES FOR THE SEASON, SUCH AS
POPPY SEED, ALMONDS, OR COFFEE CAKE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
"BABKA."
AFTER SUPPER, EVERYBODY SINGS CHRISTMAS CAROLS BY THE LIT
CHRISTMAS TREE. WE BEGIN WITH "WSROD NOCNEZ CISZY," AT
MIDNIGHT'S SILENCE.. OTHER FAVORITES ARE "DZISIAJ IR
BETLEJEM"-TODAY IN BETHLEHEM, "GDY SIE CHRYSTUS RODGI,"
WHEN CHRIST IS BORN, "LULAJZE JEZUNIU," ROCK A BYE BABY
JESUS, AND "PRZYBIEZELIDO BETLEJIM POSTERZE," SHEPHERDS
COME TO BETHLEHEM.
AFTER THE CAROLS, PRESENTS ARE OPENED FROM UDNER THE TREE
AND AT MIDNIGHT THE CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS IS ATTENDED.
James Callow comment:
TRANSCRIBED FROM HANDWRITTEN 5 X 8 CARD. SPELLING MAY BE
WRONG FOR THIS REASON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Date learned: 10-28-1967
WIGILIA
IN POLAND, THE MOST POPULAR SEASON IS CHRISTMAS TO THE
EPIPHANY. THE SEASON BEGINS ON THE VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS
(DEC. 24). THE APPEARANCE OF THE FIRST STAR OF THE EVENING
IS THE SIGNAL FOR THE CLOSEST OF KIN TO COMMENCE THE
TRADITIONAL "WIGILIA" (CHRISTMAS EVE SUPPER). STILL
PRACTICED IN SOME VILLAGES IS THE CUSTOM OF SPREADING
HAY BENEATH THE TABLECLOTH. THE SUPPER BEGINS WITH THE
BREAKING AND SHARING OF THE OPLATEK (BLESSED WAFER)
ACCOMPANIED BY A MUTUAL EXCHANGE OF WISHES. THEN AN ODD
NUMBER OF TRADITIONAL MEATLESS DISHES ARE SERVED ONE BY
ONE. AS THE REPAST ENDS, THE STRAINS OF OLD POLISH
CAROLS ARE SUNG THROUGHOUT THE HOUSEHOLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-11-1972
POLISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, IT WAS A CUSTOM IN OUR FAMILY TO GATHER
AT THE HOME OF OUR GRANDPARENTS FOR A MEAL AND CELEBRATION.
AT MIDNIGHT EVERYONE TOOK A PIECE OF WHITE WAFER,
CALLED OPLATKI, AND WENT AROUND TO ALL THE OTHERS,
WISHING THEM A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THE RECIPIENT OF THESE
GREETINGS WOULD BREAK OFF A BIT OF THE OTHER PERSON'S
WAFER AND THEN OFFER HIM HIS OWN, RETURNING THE GOOD
WISHES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THE CUSTOMS STOPPED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS
AGO WHEN THE GRANDFATHER DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; VARSITY NEWS OFFICE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 04-11-1967
OPLATEK IS A CUSTOM WHERE THE FAMILY BREAKS BREAD AT
CHRISTMAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 11-12-1967
MANY POLISH FAMILIES EAT FLAT UNLEAVENED BREAD ON
CHRISTMAS. THE BREAD IS IMPRESSED WITH HOLY PICTURES.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HIS MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
OPWATEK (BREAKING OF UNLEAVENED BREAD AT CHRISTMAS,
AT THE MAIN MEAL ON CHRISTMAS DAY, A LARGE, SQUARE-SHAPED
PIECE OF WHITE, UNLEAVENED BREAD, BEARING AN IMPRESSION
OF THE NATIVITY SCENE, IS PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE
TABLE. EACH PERSON BREAKS OFF A SMALL PIECE, AND GOES
AROUND TO EVERYONE ELSE AT THE MEAL, BREAKING THE BREAD
WITH THEM SO THAT EACH PERSON GETS A PART OF THE OTHER
PERSON'S BREAD. THIS BREAD-BREAKING IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED
WITH A KISS AND A SINCERE EXPRESSION OF WELL WISHING.
THIS CUSTOM IS TO DEMONSTRATE CHRISTIAN UNITY AND FILIAL
LOVE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A CUSTOM WHICH HAS BEEN WELL-KNOWN AMONG THE POLISH
FOR MANY YEARS. MY GRANDMOTHER HAD LEARNED THIS FROM
HER FAMILY AS A CHILD. SHE HAS BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY
FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS, BUT SHE STILL FAITHFULLY OBSERVES
THIS CUSTOM, AND HAS INFLUENCED HER CHILDREN AND THEIR
CHILDREN TO DO THE SAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Oplatki CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 00-00-1915