What is the Polish Christmas wafer called?
oplatek
Sharing of the oplatek (pronounced opwatek) is the most ancient and beloved of all Polish Christmas traditions. Oplatek is a thin wafer made of flour and water, similar in taste to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass. The Christmas wafer is shared before Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper.
What does wafer symbolize?
n. 1. the sacrament of Holy Communion; the sacrifice of the Mass; the Lord’s Supper.
What are Polish Christmas traditions?
Among the traditional Christmas, dishes are Christmas Eve carp, Jewish-style carp, the herring, pierogi, and poppy seed cake. After dinner, people start gifting the presents and singing carols. Poland really loves its Christmas carols. And there are thousands of them.
What is the meaning of oplatek?
In many Polish homes throughout the world, a beloved family tradition is the breaking of the oplatek on Christmas Eve. Oplatek (plural – oplatki ) is a thin wafer made from flour and water similar in taste and consistency to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass.
What are some Polish traditions?
7 unique Polish traditions you won’t find anywhere else in the…
- The drowning of Marzanna.
- Leaving an empty chair on Christmas eve.
- Kanapki, the open sandwich.
- Poprawiny, a second wedding party.
- Śmigus Dyngus, Wet Monday.
- Sto Lat, a birthday blessing.
- Tłusty Czwartek, Fat Thursday.
- Zaduszki, All Souls Day.
Why is Oplatek eaten on Christmas Eve?
The oplatek, embossed with a Christmas scene, is shared among family members before Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas Eve marks the end of Advent. Traditionally, that meant the last day of fasting, so in mostly Catholic Poland, the dinner was typically meatless.
Is waffle and wafer the same?
As nouns the difference between waffle and wafer is that waffle is (countable) a flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern or waffle can be (uncountable) speech or writing that is vague, pretentious or evasive while wafer is a light, thin, flat biscuit.
What is Santa Claus called in Poland?
Gwiazdor
In Polish, he’s called Gwiazdor (gvia-zdoohr) and he’s an older fellow dressed a bit like a bishop. He not only carries presents with him but also the aforementioned birch switch – if you’ve been bad, you’d better watch out.
What is the drowning of marzanna?
The drowning of Marzanna (topienie Marzanny) The figure is braided from straw into the shape of a human and dressed in traditional local women’s clothing. The tradition started by burning the straw doll and drowned it in the river afterward.
What do they call Santa in Poland?
9. Polish: Święty Mikołaj (lit. Saint Nicholas)
Why do the Polish celebrate on Christmas Eve?
Many Christians in Poland and around the world start celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve. It is also known as the Vigil of Christmas and is perceived as the culmination of the Advent season.
What do they do with Christmas wafers in Poland?
It is considered the most ancient and beloved of Polish traditions. In Poland and some parts of Central Europe, these Christmas wafers are dyed and used as ornaments. They are also sent as small trinkets with greeting cards to loved ones who are away from home.
What’s the tradition of sharing a Christmas wafer?
Polish Christmas Wafer: A Flavorless Tradition That’s Oh So Sweet : The Salt Before Christmas Eve dinner, some families share the oplatek along with good wishes for each other. The tradition dates back hundreds of years: Back when bread was scarce, exchanging it with neighbors was a gesture of goodwill.
What is the Polish tradition of breaking the Oplatek?
In many Polish homes throughout the world, a beloved family tradition is the breaking of the oplatek on Christmas Eve. Oplatek (plural – oplatki ) is a thin wafer made from flour and water similar in taste and consistency to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass. Oplatki are often stamped with an elaborate Christmas scene.
What’s the significance of the oplatki Christmas wafer?
The purpose of this act is primarily to express ones unconditional love and forgiveness for each member of his or her family. The significance of the Oplatki Christmas wafer is in that it shadows the Eucharistic meal that Catholics participate in at each Mass.