Traditionally  on the Polish table, on Christmas Eve  12 meals. Their number is symbolic.  According to the Christian tradition, it answers  twelve  to the apostles, while according to folk beliefs it refers to the 12 months of the year.  However, not everyone could afford twelve dishes  because of this people  the poor ate only nine, seven or less dishes. They were not, however  random numbers. Seven is the number of days in the week, and nine were the choirs of angels.

When we talk about tradition and symbolism, it is worth remembering that:

• we leave at the table  one free seat for an unannounced guest;

• we put hay under the tablecloth as a symbol of the stable in which Jesus was born; 

• we sit down to the table in a moment  the appearance of the first star, which showed the Three Kings the way to the stable in which to enter the world  he came  Jesus;

• we share the wafer - a symbol of reconciliation,  forgiveness  and  love.

Christmas Eve dishes  is getting ready  from the produce of the earth, such as: poppy seeds, fish, cabbage, peas and honey. According to the tradition of Christmas  on this day, we should prepare dishes from everything that is born in the field, forest and meadow. Whereas  trying each of the dishes is to ensure us  abundance, vitality and happiness for the next year, skipping at least one dish means that we will miss some  a pleasure for the next year.

Depending on the region of Poland and family traditions, the dishes may differ slightly. There will be red borscht in one house -  in another - mushroom soup, in one - noodles with poppy seeds -  in another  kutia. 

Traditionally on Polish  tables  this evening cannot miss:  

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1. Beetroot  with dumplings / patties or mushroom soup with noodles.

2. Dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms.

3. Cabbage with peas or mushrooms.

4. Fried carp or jelly.

5. Greek-style fish.

6. Herring in cream,  oil or tomatoes.

7. Vegetable Salad.

8. Noodles with poppy seeds or kutia.

9. Poppy seed cake.

10. Gingerbread Staropolski.

11. Cheesecake.

12. Compote of dried fruits.

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DISH SYMBOLISM:

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• Borscht is a traditional Christmas Eve soup in many homes. Beetroot is associated with the belief that those who eat them will live to a ripe old age, enjoying flawless beauty throughout their long life.  Maybe there is something to it because   beetroot  improve morphology.

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• Mushroom soup.  In the past, mushrooms were associated with strength and health, and in folk tradition it was believed that they had magical powers. In addition to mushroom soup, mushrooms also appear in Christmas Eve cabbage, bigos, croquettes, dumplings and dumplings.

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• Fish . Traditionally, Christmas Eve is a dinner  they fast, so they are served instead of meat fish that symbolize Jesus and rebirth. Most often it is mainly fried carp or herring.  From the fish dishes of the day  on the Christmas Eve table there are various types of fish salads, Greek-style fish or herring in cream, tomatoes or oil, which symbolize fasting and waiting.

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• Cabbage, mushrooms and peas were supposed to bring happiness, prosperity and health to the household, i.e. they were supposed to protect against diseases.  Cabbage, on the other hand, symbolizes the durability of life forces.

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• Compote of dried fruits  is a typical Christmas Eve drink,  decoction of boiled dried fruits such as apples, plums and pears. You can add dried apricots, figs and raisins to it. It must include a cinnamon stick and a few cloves. It improves digestion, so it fits perfectly with a rather difficult to digest meal on Christmas Eve.  Apples  they are a symbol of love and health. According to old beliefs, pears were supposed to bring longevity, and plums warded off evil. On the other hand, dried raisins and figs were a symbol of purification and abundance.

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• According to folk beliefs, the poppy brought wealth,  abundance, fertility  and fertility.  That is why it is so important  dishes  on  Christmas Eve  the table  are  kutia,  noodles  with  poppy seed  if  Poppy seed cake.  Christian Sources  say that she Golgotha, where Jesus died, in the place where His drip  blood grew poppy.  

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• Gingerbread symbolized prosperity and was associated with a higher social status.

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• In turn, bread is a symbol of new life and prosperity. Its consumption during the Christmas Eve dinner is to ensure prosperity in the coming year. Anyway  before the era  Christianity people on Christmas Eve (then called  Szczodre Gody or the Christmas of the Winter Sun) shared the bread, not the wafer.   

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It is worth knowing that these rites  were in Polish lands before Christianity.  It's Christianity  adopted the symbolism and  customs of the Generous Mating Holidays of the Slavs  that people, attached to their traditions and  rites, persuade to a new Christian religion. We celebrate Christmas as we know it today only from IV-V AD.   

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Tasty and healthy holidays,  to

2021 was a year of joy and abounded in  this  all,

  what we missed in 2020.