As some of you know, we go to Poland every year in December to spend Christmas in Warsaw with Yaneck's parents and family. This is a special time for us and thought we would share few photos from Christmas Eve dinner table setting. Unlike in the US, in Poland we start celebrating Chrsitmas on the 24th with a no-meat dinner, when we enjoy 12+ dishes (symbolozing the 12 apostles), share Christmas wishes with "oplatek" (Polish unsour bread similar to communion), Santa Claus, and midnight mass. When it comes to Santa Claus, he is coming in Poland on Christmas Eve usually when the children see the first star on the sky:) The midnight mass is pretty special as well. The usually is dark when people come and the lights are gradually turned on when the mass starts and Christmas carols are sung. Another Polish tradition related to Christmas Eve is the extra place at the table. We always leave an one empty seat for a stranger that may need a place to spend Christmas. Interestingly enough we do it only on Christmas Eve and no other holiday in Poland…
