The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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

Date learned: 00-00-1915