gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 8, 2008 2:25:39 GMT 1
Have some fun finding out how much you know about Polish Christmas traditions:1. At what time on the 24th December do the Polish eat their special festive meal? The same time as usual: at 7 p.m. Noon When the lady of the house calls them When the first star appears in the sky 2. How do you wish someone a Happy Christmas in Polish? Poniedzialek Wesolych Swiat Co Slychac Dziekuje 3. What do the members of the family do before they begin to eat? They walk three times counterclockwise around the table They open the presents under the tree They share a piece of Christmas wafer They sing a traditional Christmas song 4. Which seafood dish is traditionally eaten in Poland on Christmas Eve? Salt Cod Oysters Carp Salmon 5. What do Poles drink traditionally with their Christmas Eve meal? Vodka Mineral water Tea Kompot 6. What are the main ingredients of Polish Christmas soup? Cabbage and sausages Carrot and coriander Split peas, leeks and bacon Red beetroot and uszki 7. What kind of cake is traditionally eaten at Christmas in Poland? Fruit Cake Poppyseed Cake Black Forest Gateau Cheesecake 8. The tablecloth for the Wigilia meal is always what color? white green red blue 9. What is placed beneath the tablecloth during Wigilia? hay a piece of wafer a coin a prayer 10. What do Polish people do after the traditional meal? They sing traditional songs The watch the Polish President's speech on TV They play traditional games They go to bed I scored 8 out of 10 - due in part to what I have learned on this forum.  Although I am curious about one of the answers I got wrong since I based it on what I remembered seeing in one of Bonobo's photos...
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Post by locopolaco on Dec 8, 2008 5:13:20 GMT 1
Have some fun finding out how much you know about Polish Christmas traditions:1. At what time on the 24th December do the Polish eat their special festive meal? The same time as usual: at 7 p.m. Noon When the lady of the house calls them When the first star appears in the sky 2. How do you wish someone a Happy Christmas in Polish? Poniedzialek Wesolych Swiat Co Slychac Dziekuje 3. What do the members of the family do before they begin to eat? They walk three times counterclockwise around the table They open the presents under the tree They share a piece of Christmas wafer They sing a traditional Christmas song 4. Which seafood dish is traditionally eaten in Poland on Christmas Eve? Salt Cod Oysters Carp Salmon 5. What do Poles drink traditionally with their Christmas Eve meal? Vodka Mineral water Tea Kompot 6. What are the main ingredients of Polish Christmas soup? Cabbage and sausages Carrot and coriander Split peas, leeks and bacon Red beetroot and uszki 7. What kind of cake is traditionally eaten at Christmas in Poland? Fruit Cake Poppyseed Cake Black Forest Gateau Cheesecake 8. The tablecloth for the Wigilia meal is always what color? white green red blue 9. What is placed beneath the tablecloth during Wigilia? hay a piece of wafer a coin a prayer 10. What do Polish people do after the traditional meal? They sing traditional songs The watch the Polish President's speech on TV They play traditional games They go to bed I scored 8 out of 10 - due in part to what I have learned on this forum. Although I am curious about one of the answers I got wrong since I based it on what I remembered seeing in one of Bonobo's photos... which did you get wrong? you may PM me or we can wait a while till the answer presents itself here. the only one i am not sure of is 5. i don't recall ever having anything special to drink with the meal. all the listed items are kind of standard drinks at dinner. but afterwards it was always one of those times when coffee would be served. a pretty rear occasion. partially it was due the fact that one of our family's traditional courses has always been poppy seed noodles. one needs coffee after those.   also, no.3 we always had the oldest read the bible's christmas story. the only time i ever recall seeing a bible in PL outside of the church. |
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 8, 2008 11:44:57 GMT 1
Have some fun finding out how much you know about Polish Christmas traditions: I got all the anwers right, after all I am a Pole. No wonder a Scottish guy called me presumptous and conceited!!! I would be surprised if I was wrong in the quiz. No wonder a Scottish guy called me presumptous and conceited!!! However, there are certain corrections necessary. Not uszki, but uszka. And carp isn`t seafood, it`s the freshwater fish. If you mean point 7, let`s make it more precise: the question refers to whole Christmas time or only the Christmas Eve? |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 8, 2008 15:31:28 GMT 1
which did you get wrong? you may PM me or we can wait a while till the answer presents itself here. I will reveal the answers soon! ...partially it was due the fact that one of our family's traditional courses has always been poppy seed noodles. Yum! also, no.3 we always had the oldest read the bible's christmas story. the only time i ever recall seeing a bible in PL outside of the church. That is a great tradition! |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 8, 2008 15:37:32 GMT 1
However, there are certain corrections necessary. Not uszki, but uszka. And carp isn`t seafood, it`s the freshwater fish. We sometimes use the term 'seafood' to describe any type of fish or shellfish, regardless of whether or not it is salthingyer or freshwater. Noun 1. seafood - edible fish (broadly including freshwater fish) or shellfish or roe etcIf you mean point 7, let`s make it more precise: the question refers to whole Christmas time or only the Christmas Eve? Actually, it was question #8. |
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Post by locopolaco on Dec 8, 2008 21:10:45 GMT 1
bjaly - byawee
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 8, 2008 23:38:58 GMT 1
Although I am curious about one of the answers I got wrong since I based it on what I remembered seeing in one of Bonobo's photos... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Gigi, never ever make a judgment based on what I and my family do! We are not normal Poles! hahahahaha We follow Polish customs but hate boredom and routine. Our fancy tablecloth at Christmas  Routine tablecloth  Can you see the reversed colors on both? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 9, 2008 3:10:29 GMT 1
Gigi, never ever make a judgment based on what I and my family do! We are not normal Poles! hahahahaha So noted... ;D ;D I prefer the red tablecloth myself. It looks very festive and is much more forgiving with food and wine stains than a white one. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 9, 2008 3:35:23 GMT 1
which did you get wrong? you may PM me or we can wait a while till the answer presents itself here. #8 and one other. Hopefully this is close enough to explain: Pierwszy był nieprawidłowy. Wy rzeczywiście czekają na gwiazdę? We'll give Jeanne, Mary, and Mike one more day if they want to try. I am sure that Tufta would easily ace it since he is a "normal Pole". |
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Post by locopolaco on Dec 9, 2008 4:15:35 GMT 1
which did you get wrong? you may PM me or we can wait a while till the answer presents itself here. #8 and one other. Hopefully this is close enough to explain: Pierwszy był nieprawidłowy. Wy rzeczywiście czekają na gwiazdę? We'll give Jeanne, Mary, and Mike one more day if they want to try. I am sure that Tufta would easily ace it since he is a "normal Pole". Tak pani Gigi, to tak naprawdę, na pierwszą gwiazdę. ale, to powinno być "wy .. czekacie". "czekają" - oni/one - they we'll talk about the first sentence later; it's just technicalities. obviously i understood. good job. i forgot to say that we did the reading first, i think. i'll let you know in a few short weeks. lol |
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Post by locopolaco on Dec 9, 2008 4:31:45 GMT 1
Gigi, never ever make a judgment based on what I and my family do! We are not normal Poles! hahahahaha and i am an american  hmmm   .  ;D |
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Post by grammyk on Dec 9, 2008 4:56:29 GMT 1
which did you get wrong? you may PM me or we can wait a while till the answer presents itself here. #8 and one other. Hopefully this is close enough to explain: Pierwszy był nieprawidłowy. Wy rzeczywiście czekają na gwiazdę? We'll give Jeanne, Mary, and Mike one more day if they want to try. I am sure that Tufta would easily ace it since he is a "normal Pole". Thanks, I'd love to try but honestly know very little on this....soooooo I will just wait for the answers and learn. |
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Post by tufta on Dec 9, 2008 12:34:13 GMT 1
which did you get wrong? you may PM me or we can wait a while till the answer presents itself here. #8 and one other. Hopefully this is close enough to explain: Pierwszy był nieprawidłowy. Wy rzeczywiście czekają na gwiazdę? We'll give Jeanne, Mary, and Mike one more day if they want to try. I am sure that Tufta would easily ace it since he is a "normal Pole". I am not sure if the idea of being a nornal Pole embraces special predilection towards boredome or routine ;D However, if your remember a song to the poem by Jacek Kaczmarski entitled 'Wigilia na Syberii' or 'Christmas Eve supper in Siberia' - one verse was 'nie bedzie tylko gwiazdy na niebie = only the star in the sky will be missing'. That's the one! Children are waiting for the first star to appear, weather permitting, so sthe supper may start. The start symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem which led the magi to the place of birth of Christ. The white tablecloth symbolizes the diapers of the little Christ, while the hay under the tablecloth stands for the hay the chld was lying on. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 9, 2008 19:31:34 GMT 1
Children are waiting for the first star to appear, weather permitting... The weather angle was my downfall...I could not understand what would happen if it were a cloudy or snowy night. I probably "over-thought" my answer! |
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 9, 2008 20:21:20 GMT 1
I am not sure if the idea of being a nornal Pole embraces special predilection towards boredome or routine ;D However, if your remember a song to the poem by Jacek Kaczmarski entitled 'Wigilia na Syberii' or 'Christmas Eve supper in Siberia' - one verse was 'nie bedzie tylko gwiazdy na niebie = only the star in the sky will be missing'. That's the one! Children are waiting for the first star to appear, weather permitting, so sthe supper may start. The start symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem which led the magi to the place of birth of Christ. The white tablecloth symbolizes the diapers of the little Christ, while the hay under the tablecloth stands for the hay the chld was lying on. We are not normal!!! We are no normal!!! We ignore stars in the sky because krakow is so polluted that stars are invisible!!!! We don`t use white tablecloth because we don`t want to eat on symbolic diapers!!!! We don`t put hay under the tablecloth because it seems littering to me!!! Out of sheer practicality we don`t put an extra plate for an accidental comer because there is no room for it on the table and if one comes, we will always be able to get one from the kitchen!!! And they never come so why should I take pains and keep a useless plate!!!! That`s the truth about our Christmas!!!!! Now you can shoot me for not being Polish enough!!! But, how many of you keep fish in the bathtub, HUH? |
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 9, 2008 20:26:37 GMT 1
Gigi, never ever make a judgment based on what I and my family do! We are not normal Poles! hahahahaha and i am an american hmmm ;D Aren`t you?? I have always thought that you had spent so many years in US that you started thinking in American way, lost true connection with Poland, and even forgot a lot of the language too. ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 9, 2008 22:55:53 GMT 1
...That`s the truth about our Christmas!!!!! Now you can shoot me for not being Polish enough!!! Don't fret so, Bonobo, I think they were just guidelines, not hard and fast holiday rules... ;D ;D ;D Besides, it is much more interesting to combine the old traditions with personal ones so that they are meaningful to your family. But, how many of you keep fish in the bathtub, HUH? Not me - but my sister's friend had a penguin in hers! Apparently her young child "borrowed" one from the local zoo, stuck it into his backpack, and brought it home for a bath in their tub. Luckily the zoo has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy and all was forgiven! ;D ;D ;D |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 9, 2008 23:00:11 GMT 1
Tak pani Gigi, to tak naprawdę, na pierwszą gwiazdę. ale, to powinno być "wy .. czekacie". "czekają" - oni/one - they we'll talk about the first sentence later; it's just technicalities. obviously i understood. good job. Thanks! I am glad it was close enough to understand. i forgot to say that we did the reading first, i think. i'll let you know in a few short weeks. lol I would enjoy hearing about your family's celebration! |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 9, 2008 23:10:38 GMT 1
Thanks, I'd love to try but honestly know very little on this....soooooo I will just wait for the answers and learn. Okay...here are the "official" answers, although as we are learning the actual traditions may vary for "normal" Poles, "abnormal" Poles, and Poles who live in America: ;D 1. At what time on the 24th December do the Polish eat their special festive meal? When the first star appears in the sky 2. How do you wish someone a Happy Christmas in Polish? Wesolych Swiat 3. What do the members of the family do before they begin to eat? They share a piece of Christmas wafer 4. Which seafood dish is traditionally eaten in Poland on Christmas Eve? Carp 5. What do Poles drink traditionally with their Christmas Eve meal? Kompot 6. What are the main ingredients of Polish Christmas soup? Red beetroot and uszki 7. What kind of cake is traditionally eaten at Christmas in Poland? Poppyseed Cake 8. The tablecloth for the Wigilia meal is always what color? white 9. What is placed beneath the tablecloth during Wigilia? hay 10. What do Polish people do after the traditional meal? They sing traditional songs |
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Post by tufta on Dec 10, 2008 8:57:55 GMT 1
All perfect now This one may be misleading though 5. What do Poles drink traditionally with their Christmas Eve meal? Kompot This special kompot wigilijny or Christmas Eve compote is icooked on dried plums. The necessary additions are vanilla sugar, fresh lemon juice, cinnamomum, and cloves. I mean that's the routine recipe, but as Gigi has wisely pointed out we are here (world) to experiment too. In my family this kind of kompot is cooked and drunk just once a year. The 'ordinary' kompot is popular in Poland too, the typical one is cooked on rhubarb and apples. Virtually all fruit may be and are used to prepare kompot - my favourite drink. I mean soft-drink Strawberries, pears, cherries, you name it and I prepare it Now, what's that? Am I talking the boring kitchen stuff??  ;D That's how kompot wigilijny looks and is served:  |
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Post by nancym on Dec 10, 2008 10:40:15 GMT 1
Nice quiz! I got 8 right, imagine my surprise! I remember Bobonono's (what is that name, again?) pictures of carp in the bathtub  |
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Post by jeanne on Dec 10, 2008 12:37:50 GMT 1
Drat! I waited too long to read this post...sorry! But I did attempt the anwers before reading everyone's responses and I'm proud to say I only got numbers 5 and 7 wrong, mostly due to educated guesses and Bonobo tutelage!
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 10, 2008 19:32:41 GMT 1
I remember Bobonono's (what is that name, again?) pictures of carp in the bathtub The true name is Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz, wieś Chrząszczyrzewoszyce, powiat Łękowody. |
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 10, 2008 19:36:34 GMT 1
Don't fret so, Bonobo, I think they were just guidelines, not hard and fast holiday rules... ;D ;D ;D Oh, I see. Not only meaningful. Practical, primarily. A penguin instead of turkey for Christmas Eve supper? Hmm, those Americans.... |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 10, 2008 22:21:44 GMT 1
Nice quiz! I got 8 right, imagine my surprise! Drat! I waited too long to read this post...sorry! But I did attempt the anwers before reading everyone's responses and I'm proud to say I only got numbers 5 and 7 wrong, mostly due to educated guesses and Bonobo tutelage! So all three Polish Americans who took the quiz scored 8 out of 10. The average score is 5 out of 10. Which of course means that we are...ahem...above average! |
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 10, 2008 22:32:13 GMT 1
So all three Polish Americans who took the quiz scored 8 out of 10. The average score is 5 out of 10. Which of course means that we are...ahem...above average! I am really sorry for misleading you with my abtraditional non-typically Polish photos, this red tablecloth, etc etc. If not for that, you would have scored 9 or even 10!!! I am going to shoot myself if you don`t want to do it. |
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gigi
Kindergarten kid
Posts: 1,470
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Post by gigi on Dec 10, 2008 22:40:24 GMT 1
I am really sorry for misleading you with my abtraditional non-typically Polish photos, this red tablecloth, etc etc. If not for that, you would have scored 9 or even 10!!! I am going to shoot myself if you don`t want to do it. Do what? Shoot you??? |
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 10, 2008 22:58:57 GMT 1
I am really sorry for misleading you with my abtraditional non-typically Polish photos, this red tablecloth, etc etc. If not for that, you would have scored 9 or even 10!!! I am going to shoot myself if you don`t want to do it. Do what? Shoot you??? Yes, shoot. Mere shooing wouldn`t be a sufficient punishment. |
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Post by valpomike on Dec 11, 2008 2:56:21 GMT 1
This brings to mind, of the Polish man, who told his wife he was going to shoot them both, and himself first.
Sorry for the Polish joke, but this made me think of it.
Mike
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Post by nancym on Dec 20, 2008 21:59:41 GMT 1
The true name is Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz, wieś Chrząszczyrzewoszyce, powiat Łękowody. I found those videos on YouTube - I can almost pronounce the name now ;D |
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hmmm 
;D
;D
