1. POLISH TRADITIONS AND
CUSTOMS OF CHRISTMAS
Christmas

2. BRAVELY THE WAFER
 The most important and the most
touching moment was and is sharing the
blessed wafer. Formerly wafers were
multicolored and very decorative. Today
wafers are white and decoratively
embossed . Name „cachet” comes from
the Latin word „oblatum” , that the
offering. The wafers were the first to
bake the monks of the Benedictine
monastery in France. From there, the
custom spread throughout Europe , and
together with Christianity arrived well as
Polish . The wafer was used but only to
the Mass and to the consecration of the
faithful communicants. He was a snack
of wine , a means to seal letters ,
lubricated with honey was a treat
children.

3. CAROL
 Inseparable part of Christmas is the Christmas carol. Over
time, carol song called not only for Christmas, but also the
habit of walking from house to house greeting Christmas -
New Year or visit the priest parishioners in their homes. It is
difficult to determine the exact time when the first Christmas
carols appeared in Poland. Probably it could be as early as
the thirteenth century, when it came to us by the Franciscan
Fathers. Following the example of the founder of his Order,
St . Francis of Assisi, who first arranged the manger
imagining Christmas, propagated the cult of the Infant
Jesus . They are the churches began to decorate the crib ,
they also organized the first nativity play - moving
presentation of the Christmas scenes . The oldest
Christmas carols that we know come from the fifteenth
century , and the most popular of them are carol „angel
spoke to the shepherds”. Christmas carols passed down
from generation to generation , and when it invented the
printing of printed collections called „kantyczkami”

4. CAROL- PASTORAL VISIT
 Historically, pastoral visits started in the New Year or the
next day , and was terminated in the feast of Our Lady
Gromniczej. Currently are ongoing pastoral visits usually
longer, Currently pastoral visits usually been going longer
, because Polish population has increased considerably.
Z. Kolberg wrote : „The pastor or vicar haunts the carol
houses all parishioners”. Accompanied by organist with a
bell and a boy with punnet . The priest in every hut
congratulates the New Year , insight in the listing of the
family, children wysluchyje prayers and catechism . The
first mention of the carol we have in the seventeenth
century , it is a provincial synod in 1607 piotrkowski . And
Gniezno in 1628 . Obliged the priests to „Carol exhorted
sinners , each for duty and decency urges , unfortunate
comforted”. In the villages wiped August custom that when
a priest , walking about carol , overlooked from someone's
home, the bride and the girls tried to sit on a chair or stool
on which sat a clergyman. It was believed that the one
who first sit down , this year married out.

5. CHRISTMAS TREE
 On the eves of Christmas almost every Polish
family puts in his apartment and decorate the
Christmas tree. This is one of the youngest tradition
of Christmas Eve. Initially , this also on Polish soil ,
was popular „jodlka” , or vertex of pine , fir or
spruce suspended in a common ceiling. Tree it is a
thing protect the house and its inhabitants from evil
power. Christmas in August adopted a present form
only in Poland in the eighteenth century . And this
custom he moved from Germany. The church was
originally reluctant to this custom , but quickly
continued the Christmas tree Christian symbolism
of the „biblical message tree of good and evil”
under which began as the story of humanity. The
star on the top of the tree symbolizes the star of
Bethlehem , which Epiphany taking us to the Child
Jesus . Candles on the branches like crumbs fire
that once burned in the emergency room all night
on Christmas Eve , incoming at this time the souls
of ancestors could keep warm.

6. SNATA CLAUS
 They love it all - adults and children , rich and poor ,
residents of large cities and small towns. Santa Claus
visited us on December 6 or on Christmas Eve . Rumor has
it , and was born at the turn of the century III and IV in
Turkey. Once a patron of sailors and itinerant merchants,
protect them from the dangers of travel and assured
success in trading. Some cities have made him their patron
saint : New York , Amsterdam. For the caregiver also chose
him scholars , pastors, bankers, and even prisoners. The
Holy Nicholas graduated from the seminary and for many
years was the bishop of Myra , a port town in Asia Minor.
He was a man of great heart , helping the poor and needy
He gave all his possessions to the poor, probably also did
wonders. Today, Santa Claus brings gifts every year 90
million children around the world. He leaves them under the
pillow, stockings, boots or under the Christmas tree. He is
dressed in a red coat , and on the back carries a huge sack
with presents. Not so long ago the Polish children came in
the company of an angel and devil , angel gave a polite
little ones sweets and naughty devil handed rod .

7. THE END
Prepared Emilia Totoś Kl.2c