Christmas in Poland and England

Christmas is the most popular family holiday in many countries, also in England and Poland. It’s favourite and most eagerly awaited holiday in the year.

In England, on 24 December usually all preparations for Christmas are complete. In the evening some people go to church to attend the so called „midnight mass”.Children don’t forget to hang up old stockings for presents.

The most important day is the 25 th of December. Early in the morning children wake up and open their present. On this day people eat Christmas dinner. Dinner traditionally consists of roast turkey with roast potatoes with vegetables. For the dessert they eat Christmas pudding. In the evening queen gives her message on TV. The tradition is that people kiss under the mistletoe. It bring luck. People go from house to house singing special songs called carol. The 26December is callet Boxing Day. It is celebratet as a bank holiday. On this day people give presents of money to paperboys or dustmen. This is last non-working day and the last day of the Christmas celebration.

Polish Christmas has many tradition. On 24 December people belived that the first person who enters the hause should be a man, because it bring luck. When the first star appears in the sky, people take their seats at the Christmas table. They leave an empty place for an unexpected guest. Traditionally dishes should be twelve. The most popular dishes are red borsch , pies ar sour cabbage with mushrooms, fish (usually carp) and pappy-seed cake. Before the family starts eating, all its members share the holy wafer. There is also a custom of giving presents. At midnight many people go to church. The first day of Christmas – 25 December is usually spent at home. The second day of Christmas is spent in a different way. People visit one another, talking or singing carols. From that day the festivities begin .