Everyone loves Christmas. It is favourite and most eagerly awaited holiday in the year. This is a unique time when people try to be kind, friendly and generous to one another. They seem to forget all their problems, quarrels and just enjoy being together.
For Poles, Christmas Eve is a time of family gathering and reconciliation. It's also a night of magic: animals are said to talk in a human voice and people have the power to tell the future. It was bolstered by sayings such as, "As goes Christmas Eve, goes the year." Hoping for a good 12 months, everyone was polite and generous to one another and forgave past grievances.
The traditional Christmas Eve supper consists of twelve dishes representing the twelve months of the year. No meat is served during the supper, only fish, usually herring, carp or pike. Other traditional dishes appearing on the table include red borscht, mushroom or fish soup, sauerkraut with wild mushrooms or peas, dried fruit compote and “kutia”, a dessert especially popular in eastern Poland. Boiled or fried “pierogi”, Polish dumplings usually made with sauerkraut and mushrooms.
The Christmas Tree is decorated with tinsels, lights and glass balls. Gold, silver and white chains resembling long, silver and glittering hair is also hung on the tree and a star is placed on the top. After the meal, the candles on the Christmas Tree are lit and people eat, talk and sing carols. Christmas Eve is finished by going to Church for a Midnight Mass service.
If you would like to feel the spirit of Christmas in Poland don’t hesitate and visit our country. We invite you to Cracow where you not only see the most interesting polish customs but also you can take part in the Traditional Christmas Festival during which you will have the possibility to see the famous Cracow’s “szopka” (nativity scene).
For accommodation we recommend Radisson Blu Hotel Ressort wich offer a special package for Christmas.
Why Radisson Blu, Cracow?
· Perfect location in the Cracow city center, next to the Market Square and the Wawel Royal Castle;
· Delicious, international cuisine served in two restaurants and bar;
· Free High Speed Internet access in rooms and conference center;
· Highest service standard based on motto Yes I Can!
