POLISH AMERICAN news December 2016 / January 2017 Customs That Unite Poles Around the Polish American Cultural Center Museum Exhibit Hall World 308 Walnut Street Throughout the year, there Featuring Polish History and Culture are many customs, traditions and patriotic events that unite Polonia Open 10 AM to 4 PM around the world. Christmas is one FREE ADMISSION that has been uniting Polish people for over 1,050 years. In 2016, the January through April Polish people marked the 1,050 Monday to Friday Anniversary of Christianity in Poland and the beginning of documented Polish history. Everyone is invited May through December to celebrate the treasured Polish Christmas customs and spread the Polish American Monday to Saturday word to family and friends. For more information, visit: Cultural Center PolishAmericanCenter.org/Polish_Christmas_Customs.htm Gift Shop is Open During 308 Walnut Street Regular Exhibit Hall Hours Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia! That is the way to say “Merry Philadelphia, PA 19106 Christmas” in Polish. Among Poles, wherever they are, the most (215) 922-1700 beloved and beautiful of all traditional festivities is that of Christmas Closed on Holidays Eve. It is then that the Wigilia, or Christmas Eve Dinner is served. It is a solemnly celebrated occasion and arouses deep feelings of kinship among family members. Internet at: PolishAmericanCenter.com For days in advance, Poles prepare the traditional foods and Museum Exhibit Hall Schedule everyone anxiously awaits the moment when the fi rst star, known as Winter & Early Spring the Gwiazdka, appears in the eastern sky, for that is when the feast December 24, 2016 through April 29, 2017 to commemorate the birth of the Christ Child begins. Monday through Friday 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. There is always a thin layer of hay under the white tablecloth Reopens on Saturdays beginning with the fi rst weekend of May in memory of the Godchild in the manger. Before sitting down at the table, everyone breaks the traditional wafer, or Oplatek, and After the meal the members of the family sing Polish Christmas exchanges good wishes for health, wealth and happiness in the New Carols called the koledy while the children wait impatiently around Year. This is such a deeply moving moment that often tears of love the Christmas tree or choinka for the gifts to be exchanged. Polish and joy are evoked from the family members who are breaking this Christmas Carols are numerous and beautiful, especially when sung symbolic bread. The Oplatek is a thin, unleavened wafer similar to in Polish parishes at the Christmas Eve Mass. This Mass is called the altar bread in the Roman Catholic Church. It is stamped with the the Pasterka, which means the Shepherds Watch, and there is a fi gures of the Godchild, the blessed Mary, and the holy angels. The popular belief in Poland that while the congregation is praying, peace wafer is known as the bread of love and is often sent by mail to the descends on the snow-clad, sleeping earth and that during that absent members of the family. holy night, the humble companions of men - the domestic animals - The dinner itself differs from other evening meals in that the assume voices. But only the innocent of heart may hear them. number of courses is fi xed at seven, nine or eleven. According to Aside from the beautiful Wigilia, the Polish people have a number myth, in no case must there be an odd number of people at the table, of other traditions that they practice throughout the Christmas otherwise it is said that some of the feasters would not live to see season. Christmas Day itself is spent in rest, prayer, and visits another Christmas. A lighted candle in the windows symbolizes the to various members of the family. In Poland, from Christmas Day hope that the Godchild, in the form of a stranger, may come to share until the twelfth night, boys trudge from village to village with the Wigilia and an extra place is set at the table for the unexpected an illuminated star and a ranting King Herod among them to sing guest. This belief stems from the ancient Polish adage, “A guest in carols. Sometimes, they travel through the towns in expectation the home is God in the home.” of more generous gifts. In some districts, the boys carry on puppet The Wigilia is a meatless meal, no doubt the result of a long-time shows called szopki. These are built like a little house with two Church mandate that a strict fast and abstinence be observed on towers, open in the front where a small crib is set. this day before Christmas. Although the Church laws have been During the Christmas season, the theaters give special revised and permit meat to be eaten on this day, the traditional meal performances. On the feast of the Epiphany, the priest and the remains meatless. Items that would normally be included organist visit the homes, bless them and write over their doors the in a traditional Wigilia menu include mushroom soup, boiled initials of the three wise men - KMB (Kasper, Melchior and Balthazar) potatoes (kartofl e), pickled herring (sledzie), fried fi sh, pierogi, beans - in the belief that this will spare the homes from misfortune. and sauerkraut (groch i kapusta), a dried fruit compote, babka, platek, assorted pastries, nuts and candies. The Christmas season closes on February 2, known as Candlemas Day. On that day, people carry candles to church and have them continued next column --> blessed for use in their homes during storms, sickness and death. Let Everyone Know You're POLISH AMERICAN news 308 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Telephone: (215) 922-1700 PolishAmericanCenter.com December 2016 / January 2017 Join the Polish American Congress Read the Polish American News Online at: Eastern Pennsylvania District PolishAmericanNews.com December 2016 / January 2017, Polish American News - Page 2 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas to our Supporters and Friends and a Happy New Year to all our American Workers Radio Broadcasts Families, Friends and Polonia Applebee’s The Edward M. Adamow Family Rev. Msg. Kevin Lawrence (Castor & Aramingo) Dolores Bartosiewicz Mr. & Mrs. John F. Lesniewski Benefi cial Bank Michael & Donna Blichasz Rev. Msgr. George Majoros Gerard Cuddy, President/CEO Janusz Brach Edward Masternak Comcast Business B4B Mary & Jacek Brach Capt. & Mrs. David McGuigan, USN (Ret) Eugene A. Gniewek Funeral Home Congressman Bob Brady & Family Bogusia & Lucjan Mirowicz Edward R. 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Allegheny Avenue Philadephia, PA 19134 Polish Army Veterans Post 121, Camden, NJ 215-423-0432 Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia Edward R. Czepulkowski, FD i staff & employees oraz Szczesliwego Nowego Roku Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! The Parish Family of Polish Eagle Sports Club St. Adalbert Church 3157 E. Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA Fr. Jan Palkowski 215-423-0800 Pastor December 2016 / January 2017, Polish American News - Page 3 Mass to Mark the 1,050th Anniversary Polish Christmas Open House of Christianity in Poland at Museum On Sunday, October 23, 2016, the people of St. Joseph’s Church, On Saturday, December 10th, the Polish 10th and Liberty Streets in Camden, New Jersey, welcomed members American Cultural Center Museum at 308 of Polish American Congress and TriState Polonia who attended a Walnut Street in historic Philadelphia will special Mass to mark the 1,050th Anniversary of Christianity in sponsor its annual Christmas Open House.