It didn’t matter if the tree wasn’t always real. Or that we weren’t wealthy.
What mattered was that we spent the holiday celebrating the birth of Christ in the company of family and friends — Polish style.
My parents saw that our Polish heritage played a huge part in celebrating Christmas when I was growing up. There are so many memorable traditions, a few of which I try to carry on today.
Christmas Eve, or “Wigilia,” was our most important holiday tradition. We’d eat delicious pierogi and break bread. The bread, or Christmas wafer called oplatek, was imprinted with a holy picture. We offered our oplatek to family and friends to ask for their forgiveness, or to extend a wish for happiness.
Also on Christmas Eve, I or one of my three sisters would add hay to our crèche in preparation for the Christ child. We’d then dress in our Sunday best, pile in the car and attend midnight Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Even though we didn’t understand the language of our parents — no matter how hard they tried to teach us — just listening to the Polish Christmas carols gave me more reasons to love the season.
And even though I can barely stay awake for a midnight Mass today, to this day, hearing Polish carols transports me back to my childhood.
My parents always did their best to make sure we had wonderful presents to open. But while the presents nestled under the tree brought sparkles to our eyes, it was the manger that took center stage in our home.
Baby Jesus was not added to the crèche until Christmas morning, and the scene would remain center stage until the three kings arrived Jan. 6.
For us, that one solitary life changed the world. Nothing meant more than honoring the birth of Christ with the breaking of oplatek and a Christmas toast among family and friends.
The faith my parents instilled is a constant with me today. My crèche for baby Jesus always has a prominent place in my home. My parents still mail me oplatek so I can break bread with my family and friends.
I may sing Christmas carols in English, but the English does not diminish the feelings brought on by the beautiful Polish verses.
I am so very grateful to my incredible parents for honoring our heritage over the years, teaching us that no matter what you believe, we should treat each other with love, dignity and respect.
Mary Rathman is the editorial assistant at The Laker/Lutz News, joining the paper in 2002. In addition to proofing stories, advertisements and pages, she compiles the What’s Happening, Health and Chalk Talk columns.
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