Christmas Eve is considered the most special night of the year. In the past it was even attributed a magical meaning, as evidenced by Christmas Eve traditions, which we cultivate to this day. Let’s find out what the hay under the tablecloth or an extra set at the Christmas table mean.
Twelve dishes
Traditionally, twelve dishes should be found on the Christmas Eve table. From where does this number come? Previously, an odd number of dishes were prepared and eaten on Christmas Eve. There were seven, nine or eleven dishes, depending on personal wealth and budget. Anyway, it was believed that these numbers could provide luck for the entire year. In current times, to symbolize the apostles, we put twelve dishes on our tables on Christmas Eve.
Hay under the tablecloth on Christmas Eve
One more Polish tradition on Christmas Eve is placing hay under the tablecloth used to cover the table on Christmas Eve. This symbolizes the place where Jesus was born, the stable in Bethlehem. Although no longer observed, previously only white tablecloths were used on the Christmas Eve table as a symbol of Mary’s purity.
An extra table at the Christmas Eve table
Another Christmas Eve tradition is to include an extra place setting at the table which reminds us to remember all the lonely people. This also means that we are prepared to invite anyone who knocks on our door that evening to the table. Additionally, an empty place setting expresses our remembrance of loved ones who are unable to spend Christmas with us or are gone forever.
Sharing the wafer
The sharing of the wafer is one of the most important traditions on Christmas Eve. Despite how it looks, it is not just a sweet custom of wishing each other well. The wafer is a symbol of reconciliation and forgiveness, and people who are at odds with each other shouldn’t sit at the same Christmas Eve table. This outwardly small gesture shows that people truly care for one another, feel united, and do not hold grudges. Another Christmas custom is the making of wishes. The Christmas Eve wafer has been attributed to magical properties as well. Supposedly, it was to protect the house from the influence of evil powers, and provide luck for the household members. Giving wafers to farm animals could also protect them from charms and illnesses. A sspecific baked colored wafer was used for this purpose.
Decorating a Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is decorated on Christmas Eve in many homes. Although this is quite a common custom, it is not specific to Polish Christmas Eve traditions. In our country it was only accepted at the end of the nineteenth century, and even then specifically in homes of the bourgeoisie and nobility. In rural houses, instead of a Christmas tree, sheaves of grain or tree branches placed inside the house were utilized instead. Decorating the Christmas tree is a German tradition that symbolizes a new, reborn life, with its history stretching back to pagan times. Also the decorations hung on a tree have a certain meaning: baubles symbolize the fruit of paradise, the star placed on top of the tree signifies the star of Bethlehem, and the chains were meant to remind of sin while simultaneously cementing family ties.
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FAQs
Christmas Eve is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. Elements common to many areas of the world include the attendance of special religious observances such as a midnight Mass or Vespers and the giving and receiving of presents.
Why do we eat 12 on Christmas Eve? ›
Why do Poles eat 12 dishes during the Christmas Eve dinner? Tradition calls for 12 traditional courses to be served during the Polish Christmas Eve. This number is a symbol of wealth, the 12 Apostles and a representation of the 12 months of the year.
What is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve? ›
Traditional dishes like pasties and ravioli with cabbage stuffing or dumplings with mushrooms and cabbage. Dumplings with potatoes and cottage cheese or stuffed only with mushrooms are other frequent Christmas Eve table items.
What is a strange Christmas tradition? ›
Other unusual traditions include heading to Christmas Mass services on roller skates in Venezuela; hiding a pickle in the Christmas tree in Germany; and the Austrian tradition that puts fear in the hearts of children, the evil Krampus.
What is the symbolism of Christmas Eve? ›
According to its original meaning, Christians gather on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Non-Christian people also celebrate this day as a family holiday with presents, a special meal and plenty of lights and decorations.
Why is Christmas Eve so important? ›
Christian churches have celebrated Christmas Eve in part because it is believed that Jesus was born at midnight. Many churches today hold Christmas Eve services or Midnight Masses. They may also hold candlelight vigils, Nativity productions or sing carols.
What are you not supposed to eat on Christmas Eve? ›
According to tradition, the Christmas Eve dinner must not contain meat.
What is the holy meal on Christmas Eve? ›
Description. The specific dishes may differ from country to country, but many of them are universal. Due to the Nativity Fast, no meat, eggs or milk (including cheese) are allowed during the supper. Thus fish, mushrooms and various types of grain are the main offerings.
Why do we eat apples on Christmas Eve? ›
The Chinese have combined these two terms into 平(píng)安(ān)果(guǒ), , meaning peace apples and begun gifting apples to friends, colleagues and teachers on this day. These Christmas Eve peace apples aren't regular apples, however. Eating one of these on Christmas Eve is supposed to bring you a safe and peaceful new year.
What is good luck to eat on Christmas Eve? ›
Origins and tradition
The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. As no meat or animal fat could be used on such days, observant Catholics would instead eat fish (typically fried in oil).
An Italian Christmas Eve—only fish, please!
According to tradition, the meal for Christmas Eve, La Vigilia, doesn't have any meat. It's all fish and vegetables.
What is the most eaten thing on Christmas? ›
According to a 2020 survey, turkey's the main event for 73% of Americans, with prime rib (69%), roast beef (66%), steak (65%), chicken (64%), roast pork (64%) and ham (62%) also coming in as popular contenders.
What is the evil Christmas myth? ›
One particularly bad cop is Krampus, a demonic half-goat monster with horns and a long tongue. He drags chains behind him as he walks and rattles them ominously. He carries a birch to whip bad children and sometimes a basket or sack for kidnapping them. The Eve of St Nicholas, 5 December, is Krampusnacht.
What Christmas decorations are pagan? ›
The evergreen tree and wreaths are originally pagan symbols of eternal life. Originally, December 25th (or the winter solstice) had two “debaucherous” pagan holidays, the Roman “birth of the unconquered sun” and the birthday of Mithras.
What is the scary Christmas creature? ›
Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas. Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”
Is Christmas Eve Eve a real thing? ›
Ecclesiastically, the eve of a feast was the night before. However, in common use, the eve is the day before. Christmas Eve Eve isn't a commonly-used term, so has no formal definition but I interpret Christmas Eve as the day before Christmas, and Christmas Eve Eve as the day before that.
Was Jesus born on Christmas Eve or Day? ›
Reading the Bible, we see that Jesus was born at night. In Luke 2:8, we read about the Shepherds that looked after their flocks at night and then an angel appeared to them telling them about the birth of Jesus. The belief is that Jesus was born on the night of the 25th of December.
Why do some celebrate Christmas on the 24th? ›
The Liturgical Calendar: The exact date of Jesus's birth was not known, so the early church designated December 25 as his birthday. The date was based on the Christian Liturgical calendar, and a liturgical day begins and ends at sunset, meaning Jesus' "birthday" starts on the evening of December 24th.
What happened on Christmas Eve Eve? ›
Christmas Eve marks the end of the Advent season, the period of preparation for Christmas, which begins on November 30, or November 15 in the East. It was on this night that the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks outside Bethlehem saw the bright star in the sky that signaled the birth of Jesus Christ.
