Oplatek (wafer) - Before meal, there is a small but very special informal ceremony that is still carried out in many Polish homes. At the start of our Wigilia dinner, just after grace, my father as the head of the household took the wafer and wished my Mom good health, happiness, love of the family and forgiveness for some of his faults. My Mom than broke off a piece of the oplatek and ate it. She then reciprocates the good wishes and shared the wafer with my Father. And this ceremony of sharing oplatek and good wishes continues with relatives, guests and children. Sharing of the oplatek is the most ancient and beloved of all Polish Christmas traditions. Oplatek is a thin wafer made of flour and water, and it taste similar to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass. The Christmas wafer is shared before Wigilia (Christmas Eve dinner). The head of the household usually starts by breaking the wafer with his wife and then continues to share it with everyone at the Wigilia table. Wishes for peace and prosperity are exchanged and even the pets are given a piece of oplatek on Christmas Eve. Of course back in the days the farm animals were also given oplatek, however I’m not sure if this part of tradition is still being practiced. Old Polish Folk Tale has it that if animals eat oplatek on Christmas Eve, they will be able to speak in human voices at midnight, but only those who are pure of spirit will be able to hear them. As a child, I remember my grandparents and my parents were always telling me this story, but since I never had pets, I never could verified if it was true or not:) Now, as a pet owner I know for sure my Max may not speak in human voice but he sure is bilingual in Polish and in English:)
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:52:18 +0000
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