POLANDOur traditions

CHRISTMAS EVE We celebrate Chrismas Eve in Poland 24th December. In this day we sit at the Christmas table and we eat the 12 meals. Additional

plate is for unexpected guest. We put under the tablecloth hay and

we sing Christmas carols.

Before we sit to the table we share wafer. We break it and we make a

Chrismas wishes. Then we eat wafer. In midnight we go to

shepherdess and we wait for Christmas.

CAST MONDAYThis is the day when everybody

wrap with water.We celebrate it in Poland second day of Easter. It’s the day when we can splash water on our family and friends. Often young boys with bottles full of water attack girls. In this day everybody have a big smile on face.

ALL THE SAINTS DAY

It’s the day when we mention about our family members who are not with us now. We celebrate this day in Poland at 1st November. In this day we go to the graves to pray. We bought flowers, lights candles and we put these things on the grave. This way we commemorate them.

BIRTHDAYThis is day when we celebrate

anniversary of our birth. It usually involves the submit wishes and giving gifts. Traditional part of the celebration of the birth is a birthday cake that is decorated with special candles in the number corresponding to the age of the birthday boy. Then he blows out

the candles. Another custom is to sing a special song in Poland called „100

lat !".

HARVESTThis is folk day combined with the rites of thanksgiving for the end of

the harvest. It is celebrating in Poland in the last Sunday of

Septemper after the harvest. Then people sing diffrent song and pray.

Now harvest have both religious and popular character, associated with fun to celebrate the end of harvest.

ANDRZEJKIIn this day people make divinations. It was often combined with mariage.We

make predictions from melted wax poured in cold water . It based on our imagination what wax figure shows. In

XVI century it was important and individual ceremorny. Young people belived it shows their future . Now main aim of Andrzejki is making fun

for childrens and sometimes for adults.

SANTA CLAUSE’S DAY

In Poland we celebrate Santa Clause’s Day in 6th December. We called it in

polish „ Mikołajki” This day we dedicate to Santa Clause. It’s the day when

everybody (especially children) give all gifts.

Children get diffrent presents from somebody. For example : sweets or cup with inscription „ Merry Christmas ” .

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!Aleksandra Biegańska