The Polish Christmas Eve supper, called Wigilia, starts when the first star of the evening appears in the sky.
Family members break the Christmas wafer, wishing each other health, success and prosperity.
They then take their places around the Christmas Eve table for the culinary celebration of the vigil.
There is an extra chair and plate at the table, to extend hospitality should an unexpected visitor arrive.
The Polish Christmas Eve supper includes 12 dishes, meat-free as it is a fast day, the culture.pl website noted.
"The soups are three in number, followed by three fish dishes [including carp] accompanied by noodles, cabbage and dumplings," according to the Catholic Culture website.
Then come the desserts, which are "also three, one of which is always a fruit compote with twelve dried fruits symbolic of the Twelve Apostles."
At the end of the Christmas Eve supper, Poles sing carols and exchange presents.
Pixabay license. Image by Jason Gillman from Pixabay
Source: gov.pl, culture.pl, Catholic Culture
