Christmas

December 23, 2022
Where do your Wigilia (Christmas Eve) dishes come from?

As we gather for our Wigila (Christmas Eve) supper, the dishes we prepare are a mixture of traditions from our families. By repeating these customs, we create memories for future generations...

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November 29, 2022
Kraków Szopki – the perfect Polish Christmas centrepiece

We all love crinkly sweet wrappers in dazzling colours at Christmas. I remember the delicious sweets we would string and hang on our tree as children. Poles in Kraków, however,...

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December 21, 2021
What’s the essence of Wigilia (Christmas Eve)?

As I wish you all Wesołych Świąt and a Happy Christmas in these uncertain times, let's look back at Polish Christmases of the past. Soon we will sit down to...

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December 19, 2020
5 ways to make your Christmas truly Polish

This post is particularly poignant when our Christmases may be different, we may not sing as many carols but we can listen and our opłatek may not be shared with...

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December 5, 2020
Are you making traditional Polish Christmas decorations?

Are you thinking about buying new decorations?  Think again. Our ancestors made their own and we all have memories of making them with our parents but homemade isn't just for...

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December 20, 2019
Joyous treasures: Polish Christmas Carols

I'm not sure how aware I was that new kolędy (carols) are constantly being conceived as we tend to sing the ones we know from childhood, many dating from the...

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December 4, 2018
Saint Nicholas, Święty Mikołaj or even Santa Claus – will he visit you on 6th?

When the cold wind bites and the rain patters on the window, listen carefully for a gentle knock on the door. If you open it even just a crack, the bajka...

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December 27, 2017
Hej Kolęda, Kolęda!

Carollers (Kolędnicy) on the whole sing about the Nativity, but in Poland the tradition of Kolęda doesn't just focus on the birth of Jesus. From 26th December, St Szczepan's (St Stephen's)...

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December 14, 2017
Messages for your Christmas cards in Polish/English

Christmas Greeting Guide Stuck on those Polish Christmas cards greetings? Feel that there's nothing to add in English to the "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" already in that Christmas...

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December 9, 2017
Last minute Polish Christmas gift guide

Polish Christmas Gift Guide Still looking for the perfect present for someone of Polish heritage or just love all things Polish?  Read on for some late ideas for friends, children...

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