Wigilia … Memories of the Polish Christmas Eve tradition
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia translates to “Merry Christmas” in Polish.
During my lifetime, Polish Christmases have of course always been filled with religious piety and joy, but my most memorable experiences have happened on Christmas Eve (De. 24).
This Wigilia, or Polish Christmas Eve Dinner, is indeed my most cherished memory. It continues to be a solemnly celebrated occasion In Polish households here in the USA and worldwide and brings families together.
In my boyhood, my mother and father would host the Wigilia. It was wonderful to have all of my brothers and sisters and later also their children gathered together for this occasion. We were far from being a wealthy family, but we had Wigilia together. And happiness abounded!
The word Wigilia derives from the Latin “vigil.” The Polish Christmas Eve family dinner begins when the “First Star” is sighted (usually an assignment for the youngest family member and sometimes helped by an adult who could “point out” the “First Star” on a cloudy evening). A small bundle of dried hay or grass is always placed on or beneath the tablecloth, symbolic of the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger.
This Wigilia dinner excludes meat, as abstinence is required for Polish Catholics. Many families prepare twelve distinct dishes in memory of the twelve apostles.
Polish soups are typically served, most often Borscht (made with beets) or some other variation. And usually, there is a special fish soup.
One very humorous highlight from many years ago occurred when my oldest sister’s husband (Bob who was not Polish) was raving about how delicious the Wilgilia fish soup was…he then noticed a small “something” floating in the broth and asked about it…and was astounded (and perhaps worse) when he was told that this was an eye from the fish head that was used to make the soup.
The Wigilia meatless meals often include: pierogis (potato dumplings); mushrooms cooked many ways; baked and fried fish; creamed and vinegared herrings; sauerkraut; home
made apple sauce; rice and noodle dishes; rye bread; nuts and fruits; and many cooked vegetables.
Desserts include fruit compote, Polish poppy seed rolls, Polish donuts (paczki), Polish pastry (chrusciki), and Polish Babka (cheese flavored was my favorite) cakes.
An important tradition is always to make an extra place-setting and open seat at the table for the “unexpected guest” to celebrate hospitality.
The Wigilia dinner always begins with the eldest family member holding a large Polish Christmas wafer (Oplatek) and breaking off a piece to begin the rit
ual. The remaining wafer is passed from member to member at the table while a prayer and good wishes for each is said. This continues until everyone at the table has shared piece of the wafer with everyone else. The Oplatek symbolizes the gifts of daily bread and blessings all of us have received and hope to receive in the coming year.
During the 40 years after WW II when the Soviet tyranny subjugated Poland, my mother would regularly hide Oplatek wafers in false (hidden) bottoms of cardboard boxes, then fill the box with worthless stuff, and have me go to the post office to mail
it to Polish relatives abroad. She knew all too well that the Russians would look inside any incoming packages from the USA. But our relatives in Poland knew what was really hidden in the box. No Soviet attempts to stomp out the Polish Christmas Eve Wigilia would be allowed to occur!
My fondest recollections are that in some years at the end of the Wigilia dinners, my family members sang Polish Christmas Carols (Kolendy) in Polish of course. These songs are quite solemn and religious tone. And what could be better than a family of all generations singing together?!
As my family has grown much older and devolved with both of my parents now deceased, my wife and I have been very fortunate in recent years to have been invited to the home of Polish cousins for the Wigilia in Marple. So wonderful that this tradition has continued! And nothing has changed! The customs/ practices of this beautiful and religious Wigilia celebration go on!
Joseph Batory is the former superintendent of schools (1984-1999) in Upper Darby. He is the author of three books and more than published 100 op-ed pieces.