Christmas
Written by Jagoda Urban-Klaehn Monday, 04 December 2006 17:00
Yes, Poland is mainly a Catholic country. Roman Catholic Church observes Advent. Advent is a time of fasting and restricted entertainment. There are no Christmas parties before Christmas season in Poland. However there are few occasions in time of Advent when the restrictions of Advent are loosen a bit: St. Andrew night (Andrzejki) on November 30, St. Barbara Day - celebrated as mining feast, December 4 and St. Nicolaus night on December 6th.
Written by Jagoda Urban-Klaehn Friday, 01 December 2006 17:00
This is an excerpt from Jadwiga's Crossing novel devoted to Polish immigration to America. The story was told to the children to keep their patriotic feelings alive during the time when Poland lost its independence.
Everyone knows that in the beginning the only stars in the sky ere the ones God created for Himself and His angels to see. They were very high in the sky, and no one living on the Earth could see them.
Written by Lorraine Grochowsa Kiefer Wednesday, 29 November 2006 17:00
In America, Christmas music is often played in stores right after Halloween or the week before Thanksgiving. It is not heard in Poland until after the Christmas Vigil Mass. Bells are rung, shots are fired, and carols are sung after midnight.
Written by Jagoda Urban-Klaehn Monday, 12 December 2005 17:00
Polish and American Christmas do not overlap in their timing. We do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Poland, so there is not any special day, such as the day after Thanksgiving, that marks the beginning of the Christmas season as in America. Poles do not really start celebrating Christmas until Christmas Eve, but then the Christmas season in Poland finishes much later than in America. The Christmas season in Poland starts with the end of Advent (Christmas Eve) and finishes with Candlemas on February 2.
Written by Lorraine Grochowsa Kiefer Wednesday, 07 December 2005 17:00
It hardly seems possible that once again I am writing a Christmas column! For some reason it seems the same main ideas and thoughts keep coming to mind. When my Babci Stella Grochowski was alive there were always a lot of wonderful treats at the holidays. She thought nothing of kneading by hand huge bowls of yeast dough for babka, paczki, and pierogi. She passed away over 20 years ago, but it seems like only yesterday that I watched her roll yeast dough in her spotless kitchen.
Now it is my job to make many of these family traditions. Much reading and experimenting with recipes has given us the directions for the many breads and cakes she made by memory or touch.
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