Well, I’m running a bit late due to the holidays. Today is Christmas Eve, and tonight I will participate in two Polish family traditions.
In the early evening, I will be having the Polish dinner known as Wigilia (veh-GEEL-Yuh). It consists of a number of non-meat dishes, basically practicing abstinence before the birth of Christ. With this being the first Christmas since my mother passed away, my brother has taken over the dinner chores and location. While I have never been a fan of most of the food served, I will go to keep peace in the family.
Next will be going to midnight mass, known as Pasterka (pah-STARE-kah). My church does the mass in both English and Polish, with the church choir singing Polish Christmas carols, known as koledy (koh-LEH-dih) a half hour before mass. My parish, Our Lady Queen of Aspostles in Hamtramck, Michigan, is a very traditional Polish church, and goes all out in decorating the altar for the holiday. As I am an early-to-bed person, I hope that I can stay up and not fall asleep in church.
Christmas day will be quiet for me, I will probably treat it as a regular day off, except to go visit my folks at the cemetery. Actually, I could use the rest, considering that I’ve been busy shopping, working, and baking the past few weeks. With mom gone, I’m not as motivated about the holiday to be honest.
I leave you with some koledy performed by the beautiful Polish choir Mazowsze (mah-ZOV-sheh). Merry Christmas to all of you.
Chew on it and comment.
Luegra 