Christmas in Poland

Christmas – in Poland celebration starts since 24^th of December, it’s cool, cause in Ukraine we celebrate firstly New Year. Orthodox Christmas are later – 6^th January – which is as well important. We call it “New Year According to Gregorian Calendar” In Poland kids get their gifts on 24^th, in Ukraine it’s 31^st of December. And of course the old man who gives presents is дедушка мороз (Santa Clause) literally I can translate is as “freeze grandpa” ? Or something like that. What I like is food. My mom cooks according to Polish traditions, so 12 meals, kompot (to drink), borscht with small uszka (small dumplings), poppy seed roll (that translation I found), carp fish, sour cabbage with peas and some others. One traditional thing is that you leave one additional plate on your table for “unexpected guest”. It’s a symbol of acceptance I guess… If somebody comes, even the stranger, he is welcome. And at midnight you go to church for Pasterka to celebrate baby Jesus birth.