Dominika Rojek VA
The tradition of All Saints Day has its origins in ancient Celticfestival of "Samhain" (death of the body). All Saints’ Day is afestival which has been celebrated in Poland and the rest ofthe Catholic world for many centuries. All Saints Day is a daywhen people all over Poland visit the graves of loved onesand to place candles and flowers on graves. The specialcandles, which can burn for many hours, are placed there sothat departed souls can find their way through the darkness.Cemeteries are lit by many hundreds of these candles and atnight the cemeteries can often be seen glowing from longdistances. Many Poles travel long distances to visit familygraves and to remember the dead.
On Polish graveyards collections ofmoney are being organised to therestoration of monuments and charitycells.
Easter is major holiday in Poland, and Easter celebrations are not limited to EasterSunday. Easter-related traditions take place for more than a week. From Palm Sundayto Wet Monday, this period is marked with religious rites and practices with theirorigins in pagan times. It is important to note that Easter in Poland is celebratedWestern Roman Catholic calendar. Holy Week lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.Palm Sunday, the week before Easter Sunday, is marked by church attendance withpalm-leaf substitutes in the form of willow branches or handmade bouquets of driedflowers. On Easter Saturday, baskets of Easter food are taken to church to be blessed;the food that is blessed is eaten as a part of the Easter Sunday meal. The Easterbreakfast consists of hard-boiled eggs, cold meats and other dishes, including a cake inthe form of a lamb to symbolize Christ. Easter Monday is a family holiday in Poland andis called Smigus Dyngus or Wet Monday, after the practice of men and boys pouringwater on women and girls. However, the tradition isn't necessarily limited to malespouring water on females - the roles are often reversed.
For me Christmas the most important time in the whole year. Christmasalways spent together I, mum, dad, brother and sometimes grandmother.The first I and mum together decorate Christmas tree with balls, chainsand lamps and decorated the whole house as well. We also sentChristmas cards for friends and family. Dishes prepared parents. It istwelve: red beet soup with little dumplings, ravioli, herring. There arealso the main carp. When the first star appeared on the sky. Under thetable-cloths hay is laid but one place remains for an unexpected visitor.It folds wishes on each start and it is divided wafer. We gave the wafer toanimals so that they can speak in a Human voice. When we will atesuppers already unpacked the presents from under the Christmas treeand we sang together carols next we went to the church for ChristmasMidnight. These moments become in memory for long time.