The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EVENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE

FROM EVENING UNTIL MIDNIGHT, BOYS WALK FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE WITH
AN ILLUMINATED STAR AND A KING HEROD CHARACTER, TO SING CAROLS.
THIS IS DONE TO RECEIVE GIFTS. IN SOME DISTRICTS THE BOYS CARRY
PUPPET SHOWS CALLED SZOPKI. THESE ARE BUILT LIKE A LITTLE HOUSE
WITH TWO TOWERS, OPEN IN THE FRONT WHERE A SMALL CRIB IS SET AND
BEFORE WHICH MARIONETTES SING THEIR DIALOGUES.

Submitter comment: THE DRAMATIZATION AND PUPPET SHOWS WERE EAGERLY AWAITED BY THE
CHILREN OF POLAND AS WELL AS THE ADULTS.

Where learned: POLAND ; WARSAW ; MIELIEC

Date learned: 00-00-1940