The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

OPLATEK

EVERY YEAR WHEN THE WHOLE FAMILY GETS TOGETHER ON
CHRISTMAS EVE FOR THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER, THE HEAD
OF THE FAMILY, USUALLY THE GRANDFATHER, TAKES A
PLATE OF OPLATEK (COMMUNION-LIKE WAFER) AND GIVES
EVERYONE PRESENT A PIECE OF IT. EVERYONE PRESENT THEN
APPROACHES EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM, STARTING WITH
THE ELDER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY; AND THEY OFFER THAT
PERSON A PIECE OF THEIR OPLATEK WHILE TAKING A
SMALL PIECE FROM THAT PERSON. WHILE THIS IS BEING
DONE, CHRISTMAS WISHES AND WISHES OF GOOD LUCK FOR THE
COMING YEAR ARE ALSO EXCHANGED BY THE PEOPLE SHARING
THEIR OPLATEK. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY AKISS OR A
HANDSHAKE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT, MY MOTHER, HAD ONLY TO FILL IN A FEW
DETAILS AND GIVE ME THE CORRECT SPELLING FOR THE WORD
OPLATEK, WHICH IN AMERICA MEANS WAFER OR ANGEL-BREAD.
THIS TRADITION IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE IN OUR FAMILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-08-1964