What is Polish Oplatki?
Christmas wafer (Polish: opłatek, plural opłatki; Lithuanian: kalėdaitis, plural kalėdaičiai; Slovak: oblátka, plural oblátky) is a Catholic Christmas tradition celebrated in Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia. The custom is traditionally observed during Kūčios in Lithuania and Wigilia in Poland on December 24.
What is the pink Oplatki?
Traditionally at midnight the head of the household takes the pink oplatek and shares it with the animals on his farm or at his home. This custom brings us back to that Holy Night when even animals were able to speak, and to remind us that we are all God’s creatures.
What is the Polish tradition for Christmas Eve?
Wigilia feast
In Poland, Christmas Eve is a day first of fasting, then of feasting. The Wigilia feast begins at the appearance of the first star. There is no red meat served but fish, usually carp. The supper, which includes many traditional dishes and desserts can sometimes last for over two hours.
What is the Polish Christmas wafer called?
oplatek
The oplatek, embossed with a Christmas scene, is shared among family members before Christmas Eve dinner. Nothing says “I love you,” at least in my Polish-American family, quite like the sharing of a thin, flat, tasteless wafer called an oplatek at Christmas.
What is the oplatki tradition?
The oplatki tradition is one rich in spiritual symbolism, and can even help heal family division. In many Polish homes throughout the world, a most beloved family tradition is the breaking of the oplatek on Christmas Eve.
What is the Polish tradition of breaking the Oplatek?
In many Polish homes throughout the world, a beloved family tradition is the breaking of the oplatek on Christmas Eve. (The oplatek tradition spread among Lithuanians, Czechs and Slovaks. And even families decades removed from their Eastern European roots share the wafers.)
What is an Oplatek?
And even families decades removed from their Eastern European roots share the wafers.) Oplatek (plural – oplatki ) is a thin wafer made from flour and water similar in taste and consistency to the hosts that are used for communion during Mass. Oplatki are often stamped with an elaborate Christmas scene.
Why do animals eat Oplatek on Christmas Eve?
Wishes for peace and prosperity are exchanged and even the pets and farm animals are given a piece of oplatek on Christmas Eve. Legend 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.