Christmas Eve is the most touching evening of the year in Polish tradition. When the first star appears in the winter sky - the symbolic twin of the Star of Bethlehem, we sit in a solemn mood at a beautifully set table, where dishes prepared according to recipes from the albums of previous generations reign. What did Christmas Eve look like in the past? The history of Christmas Eve traditions.
Old folk rituals are disappearing, buttraditional Christmas Eve dishesare an encrypted letter sent from generations past. We do not always understand their symbolic meaning, but sometimes we wonder why it is carp and not trout, plums and not cherries and poppy seeds must be the main repertoire of the festive menu. Many of these questions are answered in our text.
Christmas Eve dishes: history of Polish traditions
Twelve dishes for Christmas Eve? Not necessarily!
In the old Polish tradition, the number of fasting Christmas Eve dishes had to be odd, as opposed to people sitting at the table, which always had to be even, otherwise the disease could appear in the family.
There was also a class tradition here. The farmer ate seven, the farm noble - nine, and the we althy magnate - thirteen. Odd-numbered dishes were a omen of he alth, prosperity and, above all, fertility in the fields and orchards. So where do these magic twelve come from?
In the homes of we althy people on Christmas Eve, to the joy of modern nutritionists, twelve fish dishes were tasted, which symbolized each of the Apostles. But our ancestors did not have to eat sharks or halibut from distant seas, it was enough to prepare fried carp in almond sauce, marinated herring or in honey sauce, zander in mushrooms, bluebells or horseradish …
Carp the king of Christmas Eve
Why? Already in ancient China, it was a symbol of happiness, in Italy - an aphrodisiac, and in the former Polish lands, primarily as a long-lived fish, it foretold a chance for a happy old age.
The husk of this Christmas Eve fish, carried in a wallet, attracted the prosperity of its owner until the next Christmas, and an unmarried woman hung in a red bag on the door invited happy love home.
Peas with cabbage, the magic of poppy and the sweetness of honey
Each region of former Poland had its traditional Christmas Eve dishes, but their ingredients were similar. In Pomerania and Poznań, noodles with poppy seeds were eaten, but in Kresy - kutia and noodles also with seeds of a hypnotic plant.
Traditional soups were borscht with dumplings and mushroom soup with herring, and for dessert, fruit compote, which was always dominated by prunes.
Christmas Eve cookies are primarily gingerbread cookies in which all the sweetness of honey has been enchanted. When we bake them with our children, we certainly do not know that in noble houses it was primarily a snack for liqueurs, because although fasting on Christmas Eve was in force, it is prohibition, for example in Mazovia and Podhale - not necessarily.
Each of these ingredients was supposed not only to taste delicious, but also to evoke he alth and prosperity for household members eating Christmas Eve dishes.
Polish Christmas Eve always starts with breaking the wafer
Apart from the symbol of reconciliation, consent and forgiveness of sins, breaking the wafer augured the abundance of bread in the family. Pies, peas, cabbage, bigos often appeared next to fish soups and dishes on holiday tables. It is not a coincidence. Peas were supposed to protect against scabies, and cabbage, as proven by contemporary research by German scientists, symbolized good fertility and vigor in a marital alcove.
Poppy seeds, so often used in traditional dishes, were also supposed to prevent the household members and animals from perceiving God's service as an unpleasant duty. But also the mysterious power of the poppy was supposed to bring a flow of money and prosperity.
It was believed strongly, so not only was the potential poppy gold in kutia or twigs consumed, but also scattered in the chambers. On the other hand, mushrooms in soups were a testimony of tradition, wisdom and good memory.
Sharing the wafer with animals
Before going to midnight mass, and after the Christmas Eve supper, the host broke the wafer and left food in as many parts as he had his farm animals. First, he thanked the horses for their hard work in the field.
They also got broad beans to make them more beautiful, cows were given cake to give them tasty milk, and hens got peas to carry eggs as many as grains they ate.
The rest of the text after the movie:
ImportantIn the past centuries it was believed that on this special night of great hope, heaven merges with the earth, and the spirits of loved ones reappear next to their loved ones to enjoy the warmth of the family for a while. This is why in old Polish manors and farms an additional plate was left for a lonely wanderer, and at midnight they talked with animals,especially with birds and cattle, because it was believed that sometimes it was in random travelers and lesser brothers that the souls of their ancestors were revealed.
See also: Russian traditions, or how to make a pie for Christmas Eve
Old Polish folk beliefs did not take into account the whims of fussy eaters at the Christmas Eve table
Everyone had to taste at least a small amount of the dish on the Christmas Eve table, otherwise he would be hungry. But it was not allowed to gobble up, you had to leave a lot of leftovers for the livestock.
In a word: fast, varied and moderately consumed Christmas Eve, even in the eyes of the most demanding dieters, can be considered not only a beautiful Polish tradition, but also a he althy feast.
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In the old days people experienced a lot of suffering for dental reasons. No wonder that on the most important day of the year they tried to prevent it in a ritualistic way. In the morning, the teeth were rubbed with garlic to prevent gum disease.
Nuts in dishes were supposed to ensure he althy teeth. And apples eaten in compotes protected against sore throats. The undisputed queen of dessert compotes was the dried plum. It is not known whether it was caused by its purple glow or he alth benefits, but our ancestors associated it primarily with a long and cheerful life.
On the other hand, the honey in gingerbread or kutia was an old Polish panacea for winter depression. It was also eaten on Christmas Eve, as it drove poverty out of the home pantry in the following twelve months. It was a symbol of hope, it was supposed to help gourmets sweeten the hardships of everyday life.
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