(Each Saturday, a faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com)
By THE REV. ROBERT M.
KOERBER
Christmas, or the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, will soon be upon us. It has been described by many as the “most wonderful time of the year,” but Christmas today is so much different than that first Christmas in Bethlehem.
Throughout the years, this holiday has been shaped by many ethnic customs, rituals and traditions. For example: The modern Christmas tree finds its origin in Nordic customs and traditions, where an evergreen tree would be placed in homes and would last for 12 days as families celebrated light overcoming darkness, along with their “yule logs.”
The history of Santa Claus finds its origins in a 4th century Bishop, Nicholas, of Myra in Asia Minor, who was known for his generosity, especially towards poor children, and who wore a red cape. According to tradition, St. Nicholas was the first to place a present in a stocking over a fireplace. And then there is “Sinterklass,” a Dutch character, patterned after St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, who is known to carry a big, red book in which is written whether a child was good or naughty in the past year.
As noted, around the world, the celebration of Christmas takes on so many traditions. In a Polish home, the celebration of Christmas goes back through the millenniums to its homeland, and later was carried with the Polish immigrants who came to America seeking religious freedom and who brought with them and their families, not only their language, but also their faith in God, along with their traditions.
One of these traditions is known as “Wigilia,” or the Christmas Eve vigil meal. Although there may be slight variations of this tradition, the following are the essentials of how I and many others of Polish ancestry observe the “Wigilia.”
The Table: A white cloth covers the table. The centerpiece of the table is a candle placed on a separate white cloth. Straw is laid on or under the cloth. In our tradition, the candle represents Christ coming into the world, the center cloth represents the swaddling clothes the infant Jesus was wrapped in and the straw represents his bedding as He was laid in the manger. At dusk, tradition holds that the oldest family member takes the youngest one outdoors, searching the skies for the first visible star. When they return, it is the mother who lights the candle, along with the words: “The light of Christ.” A prayer is then said asking that Christ would be present among those gathered. On this special night, an extra place is set at table, an empty chair, remembering first, the loved ones who have passed, as well as present family members and friends who are absent due to distance and cannot sit at the table. But this empty place is also set for the “Unseen Guest,” Jesus Christ.
For some, a prayer is offered that God might send someone in need to their home, guided by the star to share in our “Wigilia.” I know of Polish homes where guests have been invited as well as strangers. It is a humbling experience. There is an old Polish saying: “Gość dom, Bóg w dom” which translates to, “A guest in the home is God in the home.”
The Oplatek: The Oplatek is a very thin wafer, made of flour and water, stamped with images of the Nativity. It measures approximately 3 by 5 inches. It is placed on a separate dish. The “Oplatek” represents Christ as the “Bread of Life” and is shared with all gathered, each breaking a piece from the others with this saying: “I wish you much health, happiness and prosperity now and in the new year.”
It is also a time where forgiveness is asked of others for past wrongs. In the packet of “Oplatek” there usually is three white wafers and one pink. This pink Oplatek is set aside and shared with pets and in the past, farmers shared this holy bread with their stock. It is also a Polish tradition that when Jesus the Lord was born in Bethlehem, those animals present, were the “first eye witnesses” of His birth and that they spoke that night, glorifying God.
The Meal: It has been the custom that 13 dishes are served, each dish remembering Jesus and His twelve Apostles. At this meal no meat is served, only fish. The meal can include soup (barley mushroom, or red beet borscht), fish, scallops, shrimp, etc. along with pickled herring, known as “sledze.” There is an assortment of vegetable dishes and there is pierogi described as “stuffed” dumplings” Fillings include the traditional cheese (farmer’s cheese), potato and cheese and cabbage,
I have also had at “Wigilia” pierogi with apples, blueberries and even prune. Finally, an assortment of Polish pastries are served, including rolled poppy seed and walnut breads,
Following the meal, Christmas carols (Koledy) are sung. The evening for many culminates with attending Christmas Eve services at their local churches. In our denomination, we celebrate Holy Mass of the Eucharist, which is known as “Pasterka” or Holy Mass of the Shepherds.
It can be said that “traditions are the roots of who we are as individuals and family and it is through our traditions, that we pass on to others and future generations our cultural values.”
May those traditions that we all hold dear to us at this most special time of the year, help bring the spirit of Christmas closer with the message: “Peace on earth and goodwill towards all men.”
SOUTH DEERFIELD — We are a family-oriented church established in 1929 by a community of parishioners whose legacy of spiritual freedom is still with us after 80 years. Sunday Mass is at 9 a.m. Follow us on Facebook.
Our Sunday Masses are videotaped for broadcast on the Frontier Cable Access Television station. On a one-week delay, they can be watched on Channel 12 in Conway, Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately. They air on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and intermittently other times during the week. They may also be seen anywhere at any time by visiting www.fcat.tv. Hit the “Our Shows” drop-down box, select Holy Name of Jesus to see a choice of archived Masses.