5 Facts About Christmas Traditions in Poland That Might Surprise You

Christmas celebration starts in Poland on 24th of December and most of the traditions are connected with Christmas Eve. It's the most special and meaningful day of the year. On 24th of December Poles gather around the table and eat Christmas dinner. After dinner family sits near Christmas tree, sing Christmas carols and exchange gifts. 
Christmas traditions can be different depending on the region. However below you find five most common traditions that are known and practiced in all Poland:

1) 12 dishes: There must be served 12 dishes on Christmas table. Everybody should try every dish, so in the next year nothing will be missing. Number 12 refers to number of the apostles and number of months.

2) Meatless dishes: Meat is not served on Christmas Eve in Poland. On the table, you will find mostly fishes, soups (mushroom, beet), various dishes made of potatoes, sauerkraut, mushrooms, dried fruit compote. The most common „Christmas” fish is carp- before Christmas, you can buy in many markets a live carp. Poles keep live carps swimming in the bath for few days and kill it on the day of Christmas Eve. Carp can be served fried, baked or in jelly form.

3) One empty seat: There should be left at least one empty seat with full tableware in every polish home (plate, cutlery, glass). The place is for stray wanderer- whoever knocks the door on Christmas Eve, should be invited for joining the dinner. Nobody should be alone during that day.

4)Hay under the tablecloth: The hay is put on the table and covered by a tablecloth. It is related to the fact that Jesus was born on a hay in the stable.

5)Sharing the wafer: Before starting eating, Poles share the wafer (in polish „opłatek”) and wish each other all the best. 

                                                           Photo by FotoKatolik

5 Polish Craft Beers You Must Try

1) AleBrowar: The brewery was established in 2012 by the three beer enthusiasts and it’s located in the north of Poland (Pomorze). AleBrowar has been one of the initiators of the polish craft beer revolution. My favorite is Rowing Jack- American IPA.

AleBrowar-Rowing Jack- American IPA

2) Artezan: Artezan is a first established craft brewery in Poland. It has been opened in 2012 and as one of the first, they started offering another style of beers except for broadly known lagers. Among offered beers, you may find very intriguing types, for example: Cymbopogon (Wheat Ale with lemongrass), Bevo! Bevo! (Rye Ale with orange zest and bergamot).

                                                             Artezan - Wheat Ale

3)Podgórz- It is a small brewery from the south of Poland that exists since 2014. I have discovered Podgórz by trying its American Pale Ale- “Space Sheep” and must admit it was one of the best I’ve tried so far. As a big fan of light, summer beers, I can definitely recommend you also its Summer Ale: Sheldonada.

                                                  Podgorz - Space Sheep

4)Bazyliszek: The brewery has existed since 2014 in Natoiln, near Warsaw. I appreciate Bazyliszek for the unusual ingredients that they use to brew the beers (potatoes, acorns, herbs, flower petals, pine shoots, and even milk). I don’t usually choose stouts, but for their cocoa-vanilla rye stout, I make an exception.

                                                      Browar Bazyliszek - Sen O Warszawie

5) Ursa Maior- Ursa is the brewery located in Bieszczadzkie mountains. It is also the most ecological brewery in Poland. Ursa’s beers you may try in its pub in Krakow in Plac Wolnica.

I have tested all of the offered beers and I have never been disappointed, However, Ursa’s Golden Ale is still my number one. 

                                                      Ursa Maior- Golden Ale

On our Craft Beer Tour, I always care that at least half of the tested beers come from my favorite breweries. I think the five places I mentioned are the best representative of polish craft sector.

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Here you can find the a great article about Krakow written by Waytostay : Visit Krakow in 48 hours