The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FOR THE POLISH, CHRISTMAS EVE IS CELEBRATED BY WIGILIA. OUR
VERSION OF WIGILIA BEGINS WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF OPLATECK, OR
WAFERS, WITH WHICH WE EXCHANGE GOOD WISHES FOR EACH OTHER FOR THE
COMING YEAR. WITH EACH WISH, WE BREAK OFF A SMALL PIECE OF THE
OTHER'S WAFER. WHEN EVERYONE HAS EXCHANGED WISHES IT IS TIME FOR
A DELICIOUS MEATLESS DINNER. THIS DINNER BEGINS WITH MUSHROOM
SOUP AND FEATURES PIEROGIS, HERRING AND ANOTHER FISH, POTATO
SALAD, A GREEN SALAD, AND, SOMETIMES, WHITE WINE. AFTER DINNER,
THE DISHES ARE DONE. WE THEN GATHER AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND
NATIVITY SCENE AND EXCHANGE SMALL GIFTS. THIS IS HELD AT MY
GRANDMA'S HOUSE.

Submitter comment: WHEN MY SISTER AND I WERE VERY YOUNG, MY GRANDPA AND MY DAD
WOULD CARRY IN GIFTS WHILE WE WERE DISTRACTED. THEY WOULD SAY,
"HO, HO, HO!" AND WE WOULD RUN IN TO TRY TO CATCH SANTA. SANTA
ALWAYS MOVED TOO FAST FOR US!

Date learned: 0001970S