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jbeverywhere · 5 years

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Polish Christmas

Exactly Christmas in my family, in my home. Because each polish family has some own traditions, each city, each region, etc. So I’ll try to explain what’s going on in my home during Christmas :D So what’s going on? A LOT! Christmas have a loooot of traditions. I tried to focus as much as possible to remember what I want to describe and I noticed that there are some small things which we do and I even didn’t think about them like a tradition. Strange, no? :D OK. Let me try to write it. It will be so long.

Before Christmas

We don’t start that early like the rest of the world. I mean, I just came to Spain (October), on my way to the beach I saw in the shops so many christmas decorations. NOPE. Come on. Of course there are some crazy people who want to follow “american” style and decorate everything asap (like shopping centres) but houses we decorate just few days before Christmas. Also we don’t sing carols before 24.12, you can hear on the radio songs, christmas songs, but not carols. I hope you know the difference.

So in my home we decorate the christmas tree one/two days before Christmas Eve or that day in the morning. Depends how much time do we have. Normally it was me decorating with my younger brother, this year I arrived home too late so my mum did it with him. For many years we have a true, real tree. It’s getting more and more popular, for me it looks much better and I hate plastic. What do we put on it? Of course christmas balls, tinsels, lights aaaaand SWEETS! My father brings from Austria so many christmas sweets. And because during communism time there weren't many options, it was famous to put “long sweets”, my father still, every year, buys pack of them to keep his “childhood” traditions. The thing is, that we can’t eat them before the priest visit (about it later). But yeah... nobody will notice that there is one sweet less.. (or more). Even Bruno likes to go to christmas tree and enjoy ;)

For last years, my mum has learnt how to do those decorations from floss and here you have new tradition.

My father is responsible for house decorations. He is crazy. Maybe you know that movie, where one man wanted to have so much lights on his house to make it visible from the cosmos. My father is going crazy in the same way... xD At least it looks nice, just look:

Of course you have so much time to buy gifts, but like always one week before everyone is going crazy. EVERY YEAR. ehh In my home christmas gifts are quite valuable. We don’t give gifts on 6th Dec, in other families they do 2 times. We prefer once but good XD

24th December

With my father we use to go to the city to buy last things. One of them are those long sweets, another mistletoe (again, my father HAS TO have it during Christmas). I think you know the tradition - if you kiss under the mistletoe, it means love forever and more rainbow...

My father goes also to his brother house, where the aunt makes a homemade bread (traditional way in the masonry oven). It’s one of the thing on the christmas table. My mum cooks all day. It’s better to not try to help her, you know, she does it better, bla bla bla. With my brother we prepare the living room for the dinner. It’s like preparing for a biiiig party. Cleaning, cooking, decorating, taking showers like never, etc.

Jaka Wigilia, taki cały rok One of the traditions says, what you do during that day, you will do the whole year. So it’s better not to stress, not to scream, not to be sad, etc. This year my father was cleaning all the time, and during sweeping he was “angry” that all 2019 he will have to do it. To be honest I don’t remember the next day what I was doing so if there is any true - no idea.

Also strange superstition is that, the first guest on 24th Dec can’t be a woman. If the woman will pass your door first it means bad luck for the coming year for all people in the house. So in my village men are visiting each other to spread a good luck... ehh

And remember to give back all your debts before! Also means bad luck if you won’t do it. Don’t borrow things, don’t get sick, have your perfect life that one day because the coming year depends on that.

Table The table should be prepared for 1 person more than you expect. It’s for a lost tramp - it’s to show how welcoming we are or it’s for a family member who we remember about, who we want to be with us. Others say that is for Jesus Baby. Under the tablecloth we put hay. On the table we put some oats. It symbolizes poverty - you know, Jesus was born in the stable. Also on the table should be a wreath. With mum we used to create our own but now we like this one (or maybe we are too lazy xD )

The wreath is based on pine twigs. Then you should put a candle (which you can buy during the Advent in the church from Caritas) which means the giving life light (or the eternal life), the ribbons and the bows symbolize the bond in the family. This is basic, but you can make it as you want, there are many beautiful possibilities! This one is from my aunt:

You can notice there also oats and a lot of food (it’s the second day of Christmas).

Food The tradition say: 12 dishes! And I know families where they do it. In my home we have 6. I think that when are you going to spend that dinner with a big group, like more than 20, then 12 dishes is ok, everyone can prepare something and it’s easier to eat it. For 6 people in my home, 12 is too much, definitely. There is some superstition that we should eat 12 or at least odd number of dishes (like 9 or 7). But in my home we don’t care. You should try each of the dish. This is my nightmare because I don’t like most of the christmas dishes, they are based on sauerkraut which I hate. So for me it’s like enjoy one pea etc xD And when “normal” people are overfull after the dinner, I may be hungry xD

Step by step

The dinner we can start when we notice the first star on the sky. And because in Poland during the winter the sunset is really early (between 15-16:00) so the dinner is also early. In my home we start more or less around 17:00. In some families the time depends also on working hours of a family member (like policeman, nurse, doctor, etc). First we pray, there is like a list of prayers. In my home is: Our Father, The creed, The Angelus. Then one of us reads part about Jesus born from the Gospel according to Luke. Then is time for wishes. This tradition is very important. We do it also during christmas dinners with friends or following days with all people who we meet and we want to wish them something. In the past we used to send a lot of Christmas postcards with wishes to the families which are far away or friends. Now it’s time of online wishes. We send them from 24th till 26th Dec. I like wishes only when I say them to people who I know very well and I know what I want to wish them for the coming year. And yes, it’s time to hear “I wish you a boyfriend/fiance/husband”. KAWALER TIME. Ehhh. On youTube you can find many guides how to skip (or answer) those questions xD But let’s come back. So it’s wishes time, we use the Christmas wafer to share and wish. Also the next day you take it with you when you go to visit anyone.

When this step is done we can eat! When you sit finally, you can’t leave the table till the end. Only person who brings dishes can leave the table. In my home we try to do it but also we help our mother with bringing new dish and cleaning previous one. In the past there was tradition that the all family ate from the same bowl. My fathers remembers that. We have never done it. Let’s write about those dishes finally. So we start with borscht with ravioli - barszcz z uszkami (beetroot soup). Symbolizes beauty and longevity.

Then is time for pea soup with dried plums. Luck, wealth and health.

Third soup is a mushroom soup. The same, wealth, health and luck.

Then is sauerkraut with pea or pea with sauerkraut. Meaning the same like above.

Then my favorite: pierogi! Normally should be with sauerkraut and mushrooms, for me and my brothers we have with apples xDDDD

And the main and last dish: fish! And again, in my family we have fish with chips xDD Just because us small children we didn’t like fish so at least we could eat chips. In “normal” families” they just have boiled potatoes - boring :P Fish - it should be carp. My parents prefer trout. For us, we have fillets, this year of a codfish. Why? Because I don’t like when food looks at me (that has eyes. That why I don’t eat sea food...).

And of course with sauerkraut. It’s very healthy, I know, my father loves to eat it a lot! He is crazy with sauerkraut and always says that I get sick because I don’t eat it...

For drinking we have kompot. Because this dinner is a special one, also there is special kompot made from dried plums. There are 2 groups of people, who hate it or love it. Guess which group I’m in XD

Because for the dessert there is another “stomach”, you still can eat. Christmas sweets: poppy seed cake and gingerbread.

Of course the best after that heavy dinner is red WINE. This year we had a white one, because my parents got this bottle from us for their 25th wedding anniversary and we couldn’t drink it before because I’m in Valencia.

And now is the best time for all children. It’s presents time! In my home gifts bring Santa Claus. In the past in some regions it was Ded Moroz - Dziadek Mróz (russians...). The youngest goes to Christmas tree and take and share gift by gift with others. If you were naughty during the year you will get a rod - rózga. Bruno is always a good boy :D

After everything you can sing carols, lay down, visit others orrrrrrrrrrr watch Kevin! That’s also very polish tradition. Every year on the TV on 24th Dec there is Home Alone. Always. Once they didn’t want to play it, but people were going crazy and finally Kevin appeared. We know this movie by heart. I don’t remember Christmas without that movie xD

Also we say that after the dinner you should listen to animals, because they will speak that time with a human voice and they will tell you what they think. For girls, they should go outside and listen to the dogs barking. It’s important from which side they bark, because from there their future husband will come - kawaler xD

At midnight we should go to the church for a special mass. It’s called Midnight Mass - Pasterka. I’ve never been 🙈 I’m sleeping already xD It’s a mass where 80% of people in the church are drunk... after wine and classical polish alcohol - vodka. But my cousins and neighbors go every year, by foot, 2km, drinking % during the way to warm up xD It’s nice when is snowing, then we say that we have a true Christmas.

That’s all about first day. Let’s go on more! Are you still fascinated? ;)

25th December

We start a day with a mass, some people with hangover. Pasterka was a first mass with carols, this one is the second one. After the mass we usually go to the cemetery to visit our grandfather. Then at 12:00 we go to the sister of my mum to eat lunch together (2 families, ~12 people, depends on the year). Ester lunch we eat together too but in our house. The lunch is very typical polish, with chicken broth - rosół, and then some potatoes with what my aunt wanted to prepare but always there is a chicken chop to choose. And of course kompot and sauerkraut. After that, dessert - some special cake. Then we clean the table and we put another food, like salads, cakes, fruits, meats, etc. You know, eat eat eat repeat. And on the table appears of course polish treasure - vodka! :D I know, for you polish people may drink a lot, but it’s kind of roots, for us it’s nothing special, we just enjoy it in that way. This year we tasted a homemade vodka of my uncle based on quince. Tasty!

We can stay in that aunt house till night or change, visit others, wait for others, depends on the moods and it’s more spontaneous.

This day we start also caroling! It’s my favorite tradition! Mostly children are going from house to house, with some costumes, singing carols, doing some performance, people give them some sweets, cakes and money! You can be Maria, Joseph, shepherd, king, Death, etc, etc.

Long time ago my grandpa made a Nativity with some figures. My cousins (I was ~10) were doing the performance with some rhymes and carols, they could earn a lot of money because it was really well prepared.

Hahaha XD me on the right xD We still have that Nativity and I hope my brother with the youngest cousins will go next year, because it was really nice! 2 years ago, my cousins and friends (16-18 years old) decided to walk and sing. 1 year ago I joined them and we made some costumes, prepared some rhymes and carols. And we walked from house to house in our village and we performed. Of course in every house they give you money and they make you drink vodka... so imagine how we looked like at the end 🙈 Guess who I was XD Of course a devil XD

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This year we went only to our families or people who told us to visit them, we spent more time in their house (yes, drinking) and we just were singing, without any rhymes and costumes. Just to keep the tradition but in a basic way.

I love it ! :D

26th December

Second day of celebration. Of course we start with a mass. This day you take to the church oats from the table, to make them saint and then you spread them in the house you visit. My father’s favorite tradition XD He always goes to my cousin Kinga and spread around her room, bed, kitchen, in her clothes, everywhere. For girls it’s kind of luck, but yeah... clean it later.

Then just lunch. and then we wait for guests. Because grandma lives with us, second day we spend at home because their children with families are visiting her and us. So party in our house. And oats spread in our house as a revenge. Clean it... Again eating and drinking, also singing carols. In my family we love to drink, sing and dance :D

You know what is also connected with Christmas? Oranges and mandarins! We eat tones of them during Christmas :D Of course they are not polish, I think it’s because in communism time it was a luxury and to make Christmas a special time.

We can also go second time for caroling to the house which we haven’t visited yet but this year we didn’t.

Young wild freeeeee :D

Uffff this is how we do it! It’s all about family, to spend time together, to be a little bit lazy, to enjoy, spread luck and many nice wishes around. I hope I didn’t forget about all suspicious in my family. And I hope you know better now polish Christmas and maybe one year you will have a chance to spend Christmas in snowy Poland :)

#christmas #poland #traditions #winter

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totalkpoptrash · 7 years

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92 truths tag meme

Rules: Write 92 truths about yourself then tag 25 people

Thank you @literally-just-yoongi-trash for the tag (not sure if anyone else tagged me in it, I’m not going back any farther than the last month hahaha)

LAST…

[1] drink: black coffee

[2] phone call: My husband

[3] text message: My supervisor/best friend Kelly

[4] song you listened to: BTS - Save Me

[5] time you cried: Uhhh last night I got a little emotional over Born Singer while I was watching that live performance, you know that one where they stand on the rotating platform yeah I cry every time ok bye.

HAVE YOU EVER…

[6] dated someone twice: Yeah but it was like, 6th grade so not really.

[7] been cheated on: yuuuuup

[8] kissed someone and regretted it: Yeah when I was drunk XD

[9] lost someone special: Too many this last year and a half, if I’m being honest. 4 and counting.

[10] been depressed: Have you met me?

[11] gotten drunk and thrown up: Only once and I don’t actually remember the puking part.

LIST 3 FAVOURITE COLORS:

[12] green

[13] black

[14] bright af pink

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU…

[15] made new friends: Tons, that’s what happens when you move across the country and have to meet all new people again :/ (But I love my friends no joke, especially all of you guys)

[16] fallen out of love: No. I think love evolves for me as I get older and my relationship has definitely changed a lot over this year due to everything that has happened to us, but not in a bad way. I’m very lucky to have a relationship that has grown and changed with me ever since I was young and I hope it continues to be that for both of us.

[17] laughed until you cried: So many times!

[18] found out someone was talking about you: Yeah a lot :/

[19] met someone who changed you: Oh absolutely. That’s what human interaction is all about man

[20] found out who your true friends are: Yep

[21] kissed someone on your facebook list: I mean yeah XD

GENERAL…

[22] how many of your facebook friends do you know in real life: I’d say 80-90%

[23] do you have any pets: Yes, a dog, his name is Obi Kenobi

[24] do you want to change your name: Not really, I like it now more than I did when I was younger

[25] what did you do for your last birthday: Uh..... I WENT TO THE FUCKIN WINGS TOUR IN NEWARK WITH THE COOLEST PEOPLE AND HAD THE BEST TIME EVER AND ALSO LOST MY VOICE FOR A WEEK which was really embarrassing when I got to see my dad for the first time in like 18 years 2 days later.... and I could barely talk....

[26] what time did you wake up: about 12:30 PM

[27] what were you doing at midnight last night: Just settling in after getting home from work.

[28] name something you cannot wait for: J Hope’s mix tape. I have a feeling this boy is gonna drop fire on us.

[29] when was the last time you saw your mother: Almost 2 years ago :/

[30] what is one thing you wish you could change about your life: I wish I still worked at my old store with the staff there, but could bring my new friends/coworkers that I love with me. I really hate the management team where I’m at now, they are lazy and rude.

[31] what are you listening to right now: No music but I should change that.

[32] have you ever talked to a person named tom: I have an uncle named Tom so yes XD

[33] something that is getting on your nerves: I think I’m getting ANOTHER cold :/

[34] most visited website: .........Do I have to say it???

[35] elementary: My dear Watson? (Central Elementary School, Snohomish WA)

[36] high school: Cheney High School, Cheney WA

[37] college: I went to college but the government shut down in America screwed my financial aid application so I didn’t go back for my last 2 classes because in the mean time I ended up getting a promotion to a job that I really loved and it was full time and my classes wouldn’t have worked out around my schedule. Ugh if I’d known then that I was gonna have to give it up and move here because my husband’s dad was dying.... I would have taken online classes or done night school or somethiiiiing.

[38] hair color: Naturally brown, currently pink AF

[39] long or short hair: SHORTTTTT

[40] do you have a crush on someone: Too many someone’s and they’re all kpop idols

[41] what do you like about yourself: I like my hair and I think my ears are cute :3

[42] piercings: each ear, 3 times

[43]blood type: When I ask my mom she says ‘the common one’

[44] nickname: Missa, Cabbage, Boo Boo, Missile, Scooter, Sissy, MEMU,Mel, Melrose, too many others.

[45] relationship status: Married for almost 9 years. but I’m a hoe for Jimin (and all of BTS let’s be real)

[46] zodiac sign: Pisces

[47] pronouns: She/her

[48] fav tv show: Probably Parks and Rec and Scrubs

[49] tattoos: I have 4 and I’ve been itching for more lately.

[50] right or left hand: Right

FIRST…

[51] surgery: I had a really bad infection from tripping in an outhouse when I was a toddler and landing on a piece of wood or a nail or something right in the juncture of my thigh to my groin. They had to pack it full of gauze and change it out several times. I don’t remember much of it but I think that was the earliest? If not then it was probably the stitches on my lip when I tripped and landed face first on a metal toy chest and my teeth went through my lip.

[52] piercing: ears

[53] best friend: My first best friend was my cousin Elizabeth who was a couple months younger than me

[54] sport: I played basketball in second grade if you can call it that XD

[55] vacation: Uhhh ‘To the property’ as we called it, which was really just us going across the state to the place where my parents were building a vacation cabin up in the mountains.

[56] pair of trainers: I have no clue but I did have a pair of bad ass Goosebumps sandals that glowed in the dark at one point.

RIGHT NOW…

[57] eating: nothing

[58] drinking: black coffee

[59] i’m about to: go get something else to drink at the gas station

[60] listening to: nothing still XD

[61] waiting for: uh..... me to get tired?

[62] want: money to deal with all of my stresses XD

[63] get married: I already did?

[64] career: Ugh. Again. Want to go back to my old store. I was on the management track there, supervising, running 4 departments, managing 17 vendors, and so much happier.

WHICH IS BETTER…

[65] hugs or kisses: hugs

[66] lips or eyes: depends on the person

[67] shorter or taller: I prefer taller in both usually

[68] older or younger: I used to swear I’d never be interested in younger guys... then I married one.... and then I found kpop.... Honestly I don’t care, I like both.

[70] nice arms or nice stomach: arms I think. I really like shoulders.

[71] sensitive or loud: both?

[72] hook up or relationship: depends on the person XD

[73] troublemaker or hesitant: depends on the situation? I’m kinda both

HAVE YOU EVER…

[74] kissed a stranger? Probably

[75] drank hard liquor? yep

[76] lost glasses/contact lenses? never had either

[77] turned someone down: Yea a few times

[78] sex on first date? Uh... I mean.... I wouldn’t call it a date... >.>

[79] broken someone’s heart? According to him, yes.

[80] had your own heart broken? Of course.

[81] been arrested? not yet

[82] cried when someone died? Too much lately

[83] fallen for a friend? off and on in my life. I love very openly and freely

DO YOU BELIEVE IN…

[84] yourself? In some respects

[85] miracles? I believe in the universe, is that the same?

[86] love at first sight? I believe in ‘infatuation at first sight’

[87] Santa Claus? The man. The Myth. The Legend.

[88] kiss on the first date? I mean I would if I was feelin it.

[89] angels? Not in the specific sense of the word, but something.

OTHER…

[90] current best friend’s name: Kelly for people I know in real life, and too many to name of my online/kpop friends. you know who you guys are and you literally keep me alive so thanks. I love you.

[91] eye color: Brown

[92] favorite movie: Labyrinth. Uhhh I tag the usual suspects, but I won’t list them, I know you’ll all see them and this is from like a month ago so XDDDD

#me #personal #not kpop #tag games #tags

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