Soon the entire Catholic world will celebrate one of the most important religious holidays – Christmas Day.
Poland is rich in Christmas traditions that are respected in every family. From the very childhood every Pole knows that God was born in Bethlehem, that there must be 12 dishes on Christmas Eve table, and one should share the wafer with the loved ones. However, besides this, there are many more Polish Christmas traditions.
Christmas cannot be imagined without carols. Christmas carols are religious songs related to the birth of Christ. There are almost 500 carols in Polish culture, the oldest of them is ” Zdrów bądź, królu anielski ” – which was recorded in 1424.
The Polish word for Christmas carols has a long history, deriving from the Latin calendae, that means calendar, or in the literal translation the “things that can be proclaimed”. In ancient Rome, at the beginning of the year, carols were used to announce what will happen next year, as well as in the form of New Year’s wishes. Later, at the end of the eighteenth century, the word “carol” assumed a Christian meaning: Poles began to use it instead of the word “kantyczki” for the definition of a Christmas song. In this sense, the word is used today.
From December 25, sometimes until the end of winter, you can hear religious songs and carols as a sign of Christmas joy, from every corner, from every house. And while everybody is preparing for Christmas, I suggest you to listen to the most beautiful Polish carols and feel the Christmas Eve atmosphere.