With kids out of school and parents off work, the holidays are usually filled with family, friends…and baking! After a repeat of last year’s pumpkin pie party, we decided to share recipes for some other American goodies. In preparation for our annual Christmas party, we had 5 baking events where we shared stories, laughs, recipes and of course, did some taste-testing. During the 5 evenings, we made the following:

Evening 1: Pumpkin pies
Evening 2: pecan sandies, ginger cookies, snowballs (Russian tea cakes)
Evening 3: buckeye candies, frozen fruit cups, chocolate covered pretzels
Evening 4 and 5: carrot, zucchini, pumpkin breads

Along with a number of other delicious foods, the Dec 16th Christmas party was a success. 60 people came for the festivities, which was almost double from last year’s 35 attendees. The evening, filled with fun, great food and great conversation was one to remember. Some of the cookies and breads lasted us through Christmas and were enjoyed during our Christmas Eve celebration.

In Poland, tradition holds that the main celebration and family gathering is called Wigelia, held on Christmas Eve. Twelve dishes are served, without meat, and an extra place setting for anyone who may be traveling by or who doesn’t have a place to go. Gifts are opened during the evening. The following day (25th) is reserved for extended family and the second day of Christmas (26th) for friends. Our team decided to enjoy Wigelia together this past year and reserve Christmas day to talk with family. The rest of the holidays were spent with friends — even into the New Year.

At our New Years Eve party, we had 14 people. Although the same number as last year, it was almost a completely different crowd. We played games and at midnight, shot off fireworks like the rest of Warsaw while we watched the sky glow with colors in almost any direction we looked.

One of the major Catholic holidays celebrated in Poland is known as All Saint’s Day, which is observed on November 1. It is one of the top holy days in which Poles will participate. Since All Saints Day is a bank holiday, transportation is limited, usually only shuffling people to and from cemeteries.

All Saints Day is a time to give honor to known and unknown saints and martyrs. Catholics remember the saints as well as those who have lived holy lives.^[1] The holiday is also set aside for Catholics to pray for the souls of deceased loved ones, wherever they may be. Roman Catholics believe that if loved ones are in an indeterminate state between hell and heaven in a place known as purgatory, then they can intercede on their behalf and pray their souls into heaven.

Catholic Poles will take part in this holiday typically by visiting graves of relatives. Families will clean the graves and decorate them with flowers, wreaths and candles.^[2] People will not only light candles at their relatives’ graves, but at graves of famous or important people who have been buried in local cemeteries.

People prepare the gravesites throughout the week prior to the holiday and continue on November 2, All Souls Day. We will do a follow-up with photos and more information from this year’s events afterward. Please check back with us! Until then, more information can be found at the following websites. We have included some general information sites, Catholic sites, as well as ones specific to Poland.

For more information check out these links!

References in order appeared:

1. ^{^}Information taken from Polish Culture

2. ^{^}Information taken from inyourPocket