Polish Christmas Eve Dinner

Polish Christmas Eve dinner is called Wigilia, every year it is hosted by a Girl’s Aunt and Uncle. When the first star in the sky appears, the family gathers at the table to begin the meatless feast to commemorate the birth of Baby Jesus.  The table is decorated in a white tablecloth with a nativity scene on a layer of hay to remember the birth of Baby Jesus in the manger. Before sitting down at the table, all members of the family break the traditional wafer oplatek, and exchange good wishes.  The oplatek is a thin wafer stamped with images of the God Child, Mary and the Angels. Polish carols, kolendy, are played and sung during the meal.  Meals and traditions vary from family to family.

The Menu:

Red beet soup with mushroom filled dumplings

Barszcz czerwony z uszkami z prawdziwkow

Sauerkraut with white beans. Served with sliced challah bread.

Kapusta z grochem na goraco. Chalka.

Gefilte Fish served with fresh lemon and sliced challah bread

Ryba (karp lub walley pike) w galarecie po Zydowsku (z rodzynkami i migdalami) z octem lub cytryna. Chalka.

Freshwater fish, usually whitefish, carp, trout, walleye or pike, is breaded and fried. Served with sliced challah bread, horseradish, beet relish and chopped vegetable salad.

Ryba smazona (karp lub white fish) z sosem chrzanowym, cwikla i saltka z jarzyn. Chalka.

Pierogi stuffed with cheese, potato and onion.

Pierogi ruskie

Pierogi stuffed with sauerkraut and onion

Pierogi z kapusta

Cracked wheat pudding with honey, nuts, poppy seeds and raisins

Kutia

Poppy seed pastry

Makowiec

Cheesecake

Sernik

Dried fruit compote

Kompot z suszek

Throughout wigilia, Polish sliwowica or slivotz is served.

Polish Christmas Eve is a night of magic when animals are said to talk to people.  

Poles believe in this proverb “ As is wigilia, so is the entire year!”

Wesolych Swiat!