2009 Christmas Tree on Wroclaw Market Square - Lower Silesia region of Poland.

 Or, as we say it in Polish: Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku! 

With Wigilia only a few days away, many Polish housewives and chefs already started their preparations for this important traditional dinner for their family and friends.  Especially baking is started days earlier to leave time for cooking of sometimes up to twelve, mostly vegetarian dishes for traditional Wigilia dinner.  Many families, especially in the countryside, bake their own breads and poppy seed roll is a must dessert during Wigilia and for the rest of Christmas holiday.  Other common Wigilia dishes include: red beet borscht, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, fried fish – often carp, mashed potatoes topped with mushroom sauce, stuffed cabbage rolls with buckwheat groats and mushrooms and many cold side dishes such as pickled herring in wine or sour cream, cwikla- shredded beets mixed with horseradish and red cabbage salad.  

Celebrating Christmas the Polish Way is very special so, if you ever find yourself in Poland during Christmas make sure you’re invited to someones home to best experience this tradition-steeped time from  both the cultural and culinary standpoint.  

Once again, Wesolych Swiat i Smacznego!