The most important winter holidays in the Roztocze region are Christmas. Traditionally, these festivities, also called Christmas (or God’s Holiday), begin for Catholics on Christmas Eve, 24 December, and last until 6 January and Epiphany1. This period also includes the feast of the New Year. This description will focus on the most typical and dying traditions celebrated on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is the first holiday and the last day of Advent. This day is associated with a huge number of rituals and beliefs, it is treated as the most magical day of Christmas, it has a predictive character2. Everything we do on Christmas Eve will be reflected during the coming year. That is why you have to get up early in the morning, you cannot quarrel with anyone on that day, it is forbidden to borrow anything, especially money, you have to settle your financial arrears before the evening, and you have to do all the preparatory work for Christmas. The morning used to begin with a ritual washing with water; in some villages, hay and a silver coin were put into a bowl. This was a symbol of washing away sins, and at the same time, a magical ritual to ensure beauty and wealth. Today this custom is very rare. However, the custom of forbidding women to leave home in the morning is still alive4. Spotting a woman on Christmas Eve morning is believed to bring great misfortune in the coming year. Therefore, women try not to leave the house in the morning, and men do all necessary errands. It is also customary for men from the neighbourhood or family to come early in the morning to the nearest houses, bringing small gifts (e.g. mistletoe to decorate the house or a piece of Christmas cake). This is supposed to bring luck to all the household members. On the other hand, if one member of the household sees a man walking outside the window, he shouts to the others: “come and see!”, while if he sees a woman, he immediately informs: “don’t look out the window, the woman is coming!”. This custom is so deeply rooted that some workplaces declare Christmas Eve a holiday for women.
It is traditional to decorate the Christmas tree only on Christmas Eve in some houses. In earlier years, instead of a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree was decorated with an ornament made of branches or the top of a coniferous tree, hung upside down from the ceiling. It symbolised the universe created by God5. After setting up the Christmas tree, Christmas Eve supper is prepared. The table must be covered with a white tablecloth, and hay is placed under the tablecloth. A plate with the wafer is placed on the table, which the whole family shares before the beginning of the Christmas Eve supper, making their wishes. There is always an extra place at the table for an unexpected guest. This is supposed to be a sign of hospitality and readiness to welcome a person in need into one’s home. An empty place also symbolises the dead of the family who are no longer with us.
Christmas Eve still remains a fasting day today, with traditional dishes of fish, poppy seeds, cabbage and peas being eaten. There is still a strict fast during the day and no sweets or alcohol in the evening in most homes. Despite the fasting, the Christmas Eve supper has a festive character. Most Poles treat the day as unique.
