[MUSIC] >> (SPEAKING POLISH). WELCOME TO EWTN LIVE! I'M FATHER MITCH PACWA. AND WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU AS WE APPROACH OUR FAMILIAR CELEBRATIONS MUCH CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY. HOWEVER THEY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS TO THE CORONAVIRUS. I'M VERY MUCH AWARE THIS YEAR HAS PRESENTED YOU, ME, OUR EWTN FAMILY, PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD WITH TOUGH CHALLENGES. SOME OF YOU HAVE LOST FAMILY. MOST OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS GET SICK WITH THE VIRGES. MANY OF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH VERY DIFFICULTY CRISES AS YOU LOSE BUSINESSES AND JOBS. AND THIS IS TOUGH. AND SOME OF YOU ARE LOSING THEM RIGHT NOW WITH THE UPTICK, BECAUSE THE VIRUS. BUT WHAT WE STILL KNOW IS THAT WE NEED SOME JOY. WE NEED TO FIND A JOY THAT LASTS. AND THIS IS WHERE WE VERY MUCH WANT TO HAVE A SENSE OF GETTING BACK TO OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS. IN FACT, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STARTING THEIR CHRISTMAS DECORATING RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING, IF NOT BEFORE, BECAUSE THEY NEED THAT SIGN OF SOME HAPPINESS AND JOY. AND THIS IS A GOOD THING. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PRETTY DECORATIONS. ULTIMATELY, IT'S ABOUT OUR FOCUS OPEN JESUS CHRIST AND OUR LOVE FOR HIM. AND WE HAVE THESE WAYS THAT SO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS AND THE COMING CHRIST, THE WORD WHO BECAME FLESH NOR US. THIS IS WHAT WE VERY MUCH CAME TO CELEBRATE AND WHAT THE MEANING OF ALL OF THOSE DECORATIONS IS FOR US. SO WE HERE AT EWTN WOULD LIKE LO SHARE WITH YOU THE EWTN LIVE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL THAT WE BROUGHT YOU LAST CHRISTMAS, WELL BEFORE ANYBODY WORRIED ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING, GATH RICK IN LARGE GROUPS OR ANYTHING. WE GOT A NICE, LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, POLISH AMERICANS FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF ALABAMA. AND IT WASN'T EASY TO FIND THEM EITHER. NOT A LOT OF THEM HERE. BUT THEY GATHERED TOGETHER IN TRADITIONAL POLISH CLOTHING TO DISCUSS TIME-HONORED POLISH HONORED FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AND TO SING VERY WELL-KNOWN POLISH POPULAR CHRISTMAS CAROLS. IN POLISH WE WILL CALL THEM I'M CALINDA. AND IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FOR ME. BECAUSE WE ALSO GIVE YOU A CLUE OF WHAT IT IS TO CELEBRATE ON CHRISTMAS EVE. A VERY SPECIAL MEAL CALLED THE VIGALIA. WE GREW UP CELEBRATING THAT IN MY FAMILY AND AROUND THE WORLD. JUST LIKE ITALIAN FAMILIES CALL IT THE NIGHT OF THE SEVEN FISH AND HAVE DISHES OF SEVEN KINDS OF FISH. IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THESE FAMILY TRADITIONS THAT ARE SO SPECIAL TO THIS DAY THAT WE DON'T REPEAT ANY OTHER TIME. THAT'S WHY FOR ME, IT'S A GREAT% TIME TO MAKE THAT SHOW. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT BACK THE WARMEST MEMORIES I HAVE WITH CHRISTMAS. CAN I REMEMBER VERY DISTINCTLY, WHEN WE MOVED AS A FAMILY FROM HAVING LIVED IN FLORIDA FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, WHERE CHRISTMAS WAS MUCH MORE AMERICAN, AND TO COME BACK TO CHICAGO, WHERE IT WAS VERY POLISH, AND FILLED WITH TRADITIONS THAT WE REPEATED EVERY YEAR, IT SHOWS BY THE REPETITION OF THESE TRADITIONS THAT CHRISTMAS MEANS SO MUCH TO US AS CHRISTIANS. WE VERY MUCH NEEDED PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE WORLD NEEDED HIM TO COME TO BETHLEHEM. THE WORLD NEEDED HIM TO ENTER INTO THE WOMB OF THE VIRGIN MARY AT NAZARETH AND BECOME FLESH SO THEN WE CAN COME AND CELEBRATE RECEIVING HIS BODY, HIS BLOOD. HE WHO BECAME FLESH FOR US STILL GIVES US HIS BODY AND BLOOD. AND I KNOW IN SOME STATES IT'S STILL GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT CHURCH. WE WANT TO GIVE THIS AGAIN AS A LITTLE FAMILY GIFT. I HAD HOPED MAYBE TO GET ANOTHER NATIONAL TRADITION, BUT WE CAN'T DO THE TRAVEL. WE COULDN'T REPEAT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR FOR ITALIANS OR GERMANS LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO. SOME DAY I HOPE WE WILL SOON. BUT TONIGHT, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THIS POLISH CHRISTMAS SPECIAL AS MUCH AS I DID ENJOY BEING PART OF IT. AND I TRULY HOPE THAT THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS WILL BE VERY REAL TO I AND TO YOUR FAMILY. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SO MANY GIFTS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS CRISES. AND THERE MAY BE TIMES WHICH YOU SAY, WELL, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENDING AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. MAYBE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING FUN TO DO THAT GOES BEYOND THE HOUSE. BUT MAKE SURE THAT AT THIS CHRISTMASTIME, THERE IS A SPSPECIALNESS THAT GOES FAR BEYD THE QUIST GIFTS THAT WE GIVE AND RECEIVE, SOMETHING ABOUT TELLING STORIES FROM THE PAST. >> MAYBE EVEN USE THIS AS A TIME TO SEE HOW OUR LORD WAS WORKING IN OUR LIVES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR OF COVID AND CULTURAL AND POLITICAL TURMOIL AND ALL OF THAT. WHERE DID WE FIND JESUS COMING INTO THE DIFFICULTIES? IF WE DO THAT WE MIGHT EVEN MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DIFFICULTIES THAT OUR LADY AND SAINT JOSEPH HAD IN FINDING A PLACE TO LAY JESUS, THE DIFFICULTIES OF BEING IN A STABLE AND PUTTING A BABE INTO A MANGER, THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE COLD. I HAVE BEEN IN BETHLEHEM MANY A WINTER. AND IT CAN GET COLD AND EVEN SNOW OVER THERE. SO IT CAN BE TOUGH. AND TO USE THIS AS A WAY TO SAY, WELL, MY DIFFICULTIES WERE WHAT THEY WERE, AND NOW I HAVE A BETTER APPRECIATION OF WHAT OUR LORD DID FOR US IN LEAVING HEAVEN TO GO INTO THE STABLE AND BE BORN FOR US, FOR OUR SALVATION. THIS IS A GREAT REFLECTION FOR US TO BENEFIT FROM THESE TIMES. SO I ASK YOU TO JOIN US ONCE AGAIN AS WE RECALL THIS POLISH CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. AND WE WILL HAVE A SHORT LITTLE BREAK AND THEN LET YOU ENJOY THE WONDERFUL MUSIC, THE FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD GIVE YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND WELCOME BACK. I'M HERE WITH SUCH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO BE FROM POLAND AND SOME OF THEM ARE POLISH DESCENT, AMERICAN BORN. AND THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE WITH US SOME WONDERFUL POLISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS WHICH ARE CALLED KOLENDA. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF REALLY WONDERFUL GREAT POLISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS, THE KIND THAT I GREW UP WITH VERY MUCH. AND FIRST OF ALL, I LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO JOSEPH DZIOK, WHO IS AN ENGINEER HERE AT EWTN. JOE, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE ONSTAGE. USUALLY, YOU ARE MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WORKS! NOW, YOU ARE HERE BEING WORKED. THAT'S A GOOD THING. NOW, WOULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GROUP OF FOLKS. >> WELL, THIS IS A GROUP OF POLISH AMERICANS FROM BOTH BIRMINGHAM AND HUNTSVILLE, SO, WE HAVE QUITE A LARGE GROUP HERE TODAY. THESE GROUPS GET TOGETHER PRETTY REGULARLY. AND WE KIND OF PUT THIS TOGETHER TO DO SOME CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR YOU. >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS JUST WONDERFUL. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A NUMBER OF VERY TRADITIONAL POLISH CHRISTMAS SONGS. A LOT OF THESE GO BACK TO THE 15TH, 16TH, AND 17TH AND FEW IN THE 18TH CENTURIES. WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE HYMNS IN THE LIFE OF POLISH PEOPLE? >> WELL, IN AMERICA, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND MOST OF THEM ARE VERY SECULAR. >> Fr. Pacwa: NOW THEY ARE, YES. >> RUDOLPH OR SANTA CLAUS. BUT IN POLAND, THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS ARE ALL ABOUT JESUS, THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. AND THEY WERE SONGS THAT PEOPLE WENT FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE SINGING. AND THESE DATE BACK, SOME OF THEM DATE BACK TO THE 14 HUNDREDS. SOME OF THEM VERY OLD AND SOME MORE RECENT. BUT THESE ARE VERY FAMILIAR SONGS TO MANY POLISH PEOPLE. SO, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE. >> Fr. Pacwa: THOUGH MY GRANDPARENTS CAME A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, I GREW UP WITH THESE CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH PART OF OUR FAMILY LIFE. OUR FIRST ONE IS, ONE OF MY FAVORITE -- WELL, ALL OF THEM ARE MY FAVORITE! I LISTEN TO THEM REGULARLY STILL. FIRST ONE, THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IS DZISIAJ W BETLEJEM, TODAY IN BETHLEHEM WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS ONE? >> I BELIEVE THIS DATES BACK TO THE 18 HUNDREDS. AND A LOT OF THE KOLENDA APPEAR IN A BOOK OF POLISH HYMNS, WRITTEN BY A PRIEST ACTUALLY. AND THIS BOOK DATES BACK TO THIS TIME. AND THAT'S WHY THE AUTHOR OF THE SONG IS ANONYMOUS. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO WROTE IT. BUT IT'S BEEN SUNG FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR. >> Fr. Pacwa: ABSOLUTELY. SO, PLEASE, START US OFF! >> ALL RIGHT. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY BEAUTIFUL SONG. THE NEXT ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IS ONE OF THE MOST GENTLE AND LOVELY OF THE POLISH KOLENDA. THIS ONE IS CALLED GDY SLICZNA PANNA, WHEN THE LOVELY VIRGIN MARY THE LOVELY OR EXQUISITE VIRGIN MARY WAS WITH OUR LORD. AND WE'LL HAVE A SOLO FROM ALEXANDRA HOFFMANN AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE JOINING IN AS WELL. WHILE SO MANY OF THE KOLENDA HAVE THIS STRONG SENSE OF A CELEBRATION, THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY GENTDLE AND SWEET ONES -- GENTLE AND SWEET ONES AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS AS WELL. [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF EVERY ETHNIC COMMUNITY ARE TRADITIONS THAT SHOW UP IN CELEBRATING THE VARIOUS HOLIDAYS HOLIDAYS. ONE OF THE TRADITIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE POLISH COMMUNITY IS KNOWN AS THE VIG -- WIGILIA. THIS IS A MEAL CELEBRATED ON DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY EVE -- ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THIS IS VERY SPECIAL AND WE HAVE ITEMS TOGETHER ONLY ON THAT DAY. AND SOMETIMES ONLY THINGS WE ATE AT THAT TIME. HELLO, BARBARA, BARBARA ZIEBA. >> HELLO. >> BARBARA ZIEBA. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND YOU GREW UP IN POLAND IN A CUSTOM WE STILL PRACTICED THAT WAS VERY MUCH PART OF, ALMOST EVERY POLISH FALLLY KNOWN AS OPLATEK. NOW, WHAT IS THAT? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LIKE IT'S SET UP HERE, TYPICALLY, YOU HAVE, MAYBE ON THE TABLE, SITTING ON THE PLATE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HAY AND THAT KIND OF SYMBOLIZES JESUS IN THE MANGER. LIKE YOU SAID, WE START THIS WITH IT OBVIOUSLY WITH A PRAYER BEFORE WE SIT DOWN. TYPICALLY, THE FATHER, THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY THAT WOULD SHARE THE OPLATEK WITH EVERY FAMILY MEMBER. AND IT'S A CUSTOM THAT YOU GO AND EXCHANGE WISHES BETWEEN ONE ANOTHER, WHAT YOU WISH THAT PERSON FOR THE NEXT YEAR. AND ALSO, IT SIGNIFIES THE UNITY OF THE FAMILY AND ALSO, A TIME WHERE YOU WANT TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR THE PAST YEAR. AGAIN, IT'S A UNITY. >> Fr. Pacwa: SURE. AND WHAT'S TYPICALLY DONE IS THIS IS A FORM OF BREAD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE BREAD WE USE AT MASS. IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME KIND OF UNLEAVENED WAFER THAT IS EATEN, AND IT'S BREAD. THIS IS VERY MUCH PART OF WHAT WE DO. IN MY FAMILY, WE HAD A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TRADITION THAN MOST OF THE FAMILIES I KNOW. WE WOULD TAKE TWO OF THEM, PUT HONEY ON IT AND MAKE AN OPLATEK SANDWICH AND BREAK IT OFF WITH THE HONEY ON IT. AND WHEN WE BREAK IT OFF -- OH, AND I ALMOST FORGET TOO. THE IDEA OF PLACING IT ON THE PLATE OR RIGHT ON THE HAY IS THAT JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. AND THIS BREAD, VERY MUCH LIKE THE EUCHARISTIC BREAD EXCEPT THAT IT'S NOT ROUND IS PLACED ON THE MANGER HAY, LIKE JESUS WAS. AND THAT'S PART OF THE SYMBOLISM OF IT. SO, SHOW US WHAT WOULD BE DONE. IF I HOLD THIS OPLATEK -- >> YOU BREAK IT. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND A PIECE BREAKS OFF. YOU TAKE THE PIECE AND. >> I WISH YOU HEALTH, I WISH YOU ALL OF THE LUCK. IF ME GROWING UP AS A CHILD, YOU ALSO WISH, AND THE FATHER WOULD SAY, I WISH YOU GOOD GRADES, ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND IF IT'S MOTHER, GOOD BEHAVIOR. >> RIGHT. AND EACH ONE BREAKS IT OFF AND TAKES A PIECE OF THE OPLATEK. >> AND THE PIECE THAT YOU BREAK OFF, YOU GO AND TAKE IT TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND WE WOULD GO TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, BREAKING OFF A PIECE OF THE OPLATEK, GETTING A SMALL PIECE, EAT IT. AND THEN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, WISHING A BLESSING TO EVERYBODY. IN THAT WAY, OUR CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION BEGAN WITH THE WISHES OF PEACE AND GOODNESS. ALSO, I HAVE ONE OTHER THING. IN MY FAMILY, WE ALSO ATE RAW GARLIC AND THAT MADE IT SURE WE DIY WITH US AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION.WITH US AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION. >> Fr. Pacwa: THANK YOU AND WELCOME BACK. WE'RE HERE WITH MUSICIANS AND THE CHOIR OF FOLKS WHO ARE SINGING THESE GREAT POLISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS CALLED KOLENDA. AND THE NEXT ONE IS ONE OF MY OWN FAVORITES. AGAIN, LIKE THEM ALL. BUT THIS ONE, LIKE MYSELF IS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ROWDY. AND IT IS CALLED TRYUMFY KRÓLA NIEBIESKIEGO, TRIUMPHS OF THE HEAVENLY LORD TRIUMPHS OF THE HEAVENLY KING. AND THE TRIUMPHS THAT IT IS SPEAKING OF ARE ABOUT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND THAT THIS IS A GREAT VICTORY AND CELEBRATION. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS KOLENDA? >> WELL, THIS PARTICULAR ONE DATES BACK TO THE MID 17 HUNDREDS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY TRIUMPHANT HYMN AS THE NAME SUGGESTS. THIS IS A HYMN TYPICALLY SUNG AT MIDNIGHT MASS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND PARTLY BECAUSE IT'S JOINED WITH THE ANGELS IN THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE SHEPHERDS. THAT'S THE GREAT TRIUMPH, SO, THE HEAVENLY HOST, WHICH IS GOD'S ARMY IS SHOUTING OUT TRIUMPH AND SO ARE WE! SO, JOE, PLEASE. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: ANOTHER DISTINCTIVE ELEMENT OF POLISH CHRISTMAS, LIKE ANY OTHER NATION IS DECK RATION RACIALS. CHRISTMAS IS -- DECORATIONS AND CHRISTMAS IS A FESTIVE TIME AND WHEN YOU THINK OF HOW GRAY THE SKIES CAN BE, THE LEAVES ARE GONE, NO FLOWERS, PEOPLE DECORATE INSIDE THE HOUSE. THERE'S SOME VERY, VERY SPECIAL DECORATIONS. AND BARBARA ZIEBA IS GOING TO EXPLAIN TO US SOME OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DECORATIONS, THESE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. DID YOU BUY THESE AT WAL-MART? >> NO, I DID NOT. I BELIEVE THEY WERE BROUGHT FROM POLAND. AND YOU CAN SEE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, YOU COULD NOT GO TO WAL-MART AND PURCHASE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. >> YOU COULDN'T GO THERE 40 YEARS AGO! >> AND YOU HAD TO BE CREATIVE. AND I'M ASSUMING, LONG, LONG WINTER EVENINGS AND WOMEN WOULD HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS SO THE MAJORITY OF DECORATIONS YOU SEE HERE, THEY ARE MADE OUT OF STRAW AND YOU CAN USE DYE TO DYE THEM. AND IF YOU NOTICE HERE, SORRY. WE HAVE SOME CROCHET DECORATIONS AND SOME MADE OUT OF WOOD. IT'S ALL VERY NATURAL. AND SOME OF THEM, WE DON'T HAVE IT HERE BUT YOU CAN USE FRUIT, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WALNUTS. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE PUTTING IN COLORFUL FOIL AND PAPERS AND LOOKING LIKE A DECORATION. >> ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE STRAW IS THAT THE, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU PULL IT TOGETHER. IT HAS A CERTAIN SHININESS TO IT. IT'S CLEAN STRAW. AND THEY HAD THAT. AND YOU GET DIFFERENT NUANCES OF LIGHT COMING OFF OF IT AS WELL. AND IF NOTHING ELSE, THERE'S PLENTY OF STRAW IN POLAND AND LIKE OTHER RURAL AGRARIAN SOCIETIES, THEY LEARN TO DECORATE WITH THAT. SO, WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE HERE. >> ORIGINALLY, I'M FROM KRAKOW AND DURING THE CHRISTMAS TIME, THERE'S A TRADITION OF COMPETITIONS. THOSE ARE ON DISPLAY AND WE HAVE SMALLER EXAMPLES OF THE NATIVITY SCENES HERE ON THE TABLE. THEY VERY DETAILED, COLORFUL AND SOME OF THEM, THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE DISPLAY IN MY HOMETOWN, THEY ARE AS TALL AS WE ARE AND THEY TAKE YEARS TO BUILD. THERE ARE THINGS THERE THAT ARE PUT IN MOTION AND TYPICALLY, OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALWAYS HAVE MARY, JOSEPH, AND BABY JESUS. BUT PEOPLE ARE VERY CREATIVE BUILDING THOSE. THERE'S ACTUALLY A MUSEUM IN KRAKOW WHERE YOU CAN GO AND SEE ALL OF THOSE THAT WERE WINNERS. >> WHAT DO WE CALL THESE DECORATIONS. >> SZOPKA. >> YEAH, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY LOOK LIKE A LOT LIKE CHURCHES, THE ONION DOME CHURCHES ARE FAIRLY COMMON IN EASTERN EUROPE. AND THEY HAVE SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS AS WELL AS THE ELEMENTS OF GOTHIC ARKTURE -- ARCHITECTURE MIXED TOGETHER IN KRAKOW AND OTHER POLISH CITIES. >> AND WE HAVE TWO EXAMPLES WHERE THE NATIVITY SCENES ARE MADE OUT OF WOOD, ONE IS CARVED AND OTHER ONE IS JUST PIECES OF THE TREE. THOSE WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT FROM POLAND. >> Fr. Pacwa: WHAT'S NICE, YOU SEE THIS IS MADE FROM A BIRCH TREE, A TREE THAT'S PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS USING THE THINGS AROUND THEM. OF COURSE, IT'S NOT SO MUCH SANTA CLAUS BUT IT IS ST. NICHOLAS. >> YEAH, ST. NICHOLAS. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND HE WAS THE BISHOP WHO WAS VERY GENEROUS TO THE POOR. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND IT'S NOT SOME GUY THAT YOU ARE GOING STE IN A COMMERCIAL. IT'S THE CATHOLIC SAINT IN THAT VERY CATHOLIC COUNTRY. NOW, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE DECORATIONS BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO EAT! SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE POLISH CELEBRATIONS OF FOOD. THE KIND OF FOOD THAT'S TYPICAL FOR THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS EVE, THE WIGILIA MEAL. AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH THAT IN JUST A SECOND! [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> Fr. Pacwa: WE ARE SEATED AT A TABLE AND A FEW OF THE GUYS ARE STANDING BEHIND US. THIS CONTAINS A LOT OF THE TYPICAL FOOD THAT WE ATE ON THE CHRISTMAS EVE WIGILIA. THE TRADITIONAL MEAL THAT POLISH PEOPLE HAVE ON CHRISTMAS EVE. THIS HAS A FEW VARIATIONS BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I DO REMEMBER EXACTLY THE SAME KIND OF FOOD BEING SERVED ONLY ON THE WIGILIA. SO, LET'S START OFF AGAIN WITH BARBARA. WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? >> AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEAT PRODUCTS. THAT'S BEEN OF THE TRADITIONS THAT IS STILL CONTINUED, A LOT OF PEOPLE CONTINUE, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MEAT PRODUCTS ON THE WIGILIA TABLE. >> Fr. Pacwa: THAT WAS PART OF THE DAY OF ABSTINENCE. CHRISTMAS EVE WAS A DAY OF ABSTINENCE IN FORMER TIMES. AND THE CHURCH DIDN'T ALLOW ANY KIND OF MEAT. BUT YOU COULD HAVE FISH. >> AND TYPICALLY, YOU BEGIN WITH SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE WHERE THE FIRST STAR APPEARS. AND THAT'S USUALLY, THE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, THAT'S THEIR JOB TO GO OUTSIDE AND SPOT THE FIRST STAR. IT BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN WE HAVE THE OVERCAST SKIES BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. >> Fr. Pacwa: BUT YOU CAN KEEP THE KIDS OUT OF YOUR WAY BY HAVING THEM OUT LOOKING. >> AND TYPICALLY, THE WIGILIA CONTAINS 12 DISHES AND DIFFERENT THEORIES REALLY WHY THERE'S 12. AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE 12 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. PERSONALLY, I ONLY HAVE WIGILIA AND HAD 12 DISHES ONCE AND COULDN'T MOVE AFTER THAT! SO IT'S HARD TO GET TO THAT AMOUNT! >> Fr. Pacwa: WE ALWAYS HAD SEVEN DISHES. AND EVERYTHING THAT MY GRANDMOTHER MADE WAS WHITE. ALL OF THE FOOD WAS WHITE. SO, THAT WAS ONE DISTINCTIVE ELEMENT. BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE WITH EVERYTHING BEING WHITE. BUT IN OUR CASE, IT WAS. >> SO, DEPENDING WHICH PART OF POLAND THAT YOU GREW UP, THERE MAY BE VARIATION. TYPICALLY, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE RED BARSZCZ WITH USZKA, RED SOUP W/ DUMPLINGS THAT'S BEATS TOO. AND THIS IS WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM. THEY ARE STUFFED WITH MUSHROOMS AND SAWYER CAUT. NO MEAT PRODUCTS. >> AND WE HAVE A SAUER WHITE BARSZCS. WE HAD THAT ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEVER HAD IT ANY OTHER DAY. AND THE SAD THING, MY MOTHER NEVER LEARNED THE RECIPE. >> AND HERE, WE HAVE A MUSHROOM SOUP, ANOTHER VARIATION OF THE SOUP THAT YOU CAN FIND ON THE WIGILIA TABLE. AND THERE'S TWO DISHES MADE WITH POPPY SEEDS. AND POPPY SEED CAKE WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR CHRISTMASTIME IN POLAND. WE HAVE FISH AND WE HAVE PIEROGIES, AND THERE'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF STUFFING THAT YOU CAN FIND. YOU WILL FIND PLUMS, PRUNES, SAWYER CAUT, CHEESE, POTATOES AS WELL. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND A BASICALLY, PIEROGI ARE POLISH RAVIOLI BUT NO RED SAUCE. THEY ARE FRIED OR SAUTEED, BETTER YET, IN BUTTER AND IF YOU HAVE SWEET ONES, YOU CAN PUT SUGAR ON THEM FOR DESSERT. >> AND ANOTHER TRADITIONAL DISH IS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS KUTIA, BARLEY OR NOODLES COOKED WITH POPPY SEEDS AND SPICES AND THIS IS WITH NUTS, RAISINS, CRAISINS, AND WHICH PART OF POLAND THAT YOU COME FROM, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT RECIPES HOW TO PREPARE THOSE. >> Fr. Pacwa: SURE. >> AND HERE, WE HAVE STUFFED CABBAGE, CABBAGE ROLLS, GOLABKI DUE TO NO MEAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VEGETARIAN VERSION, PROBABLY WITH MUSHROOMS, BARLEY OR RICE STUFFING. >> Fr. Pacwa: SO, THESE WOULD BE SOME OF THE STANDARD THINGS IN ADDITION TO THE DISHES AND THEN THE SOUP COMES OUT. AND IT'S TYPICAL FOR POLISH FAMILIES TO START OFF WITH SOUP. THAT'S NORMAL, AND QUITE DELICIOUS. THEN, YOU GO THROUGH ALL OF THE OTHER DISHES AS PART OF THE MEAL. THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ANTICIPATION BECAUSE LATER ON, WE'RE GOING TO CHRISTMAS EVE MASS, MIDNIGHT EVE MASS. AND SOMETIMES WE OPENED PRESENTS BEFORE, AND SOMETIMES NOT. THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE ANTICIPATION. >> YEAH. AND THERE'S ANOTHER, WELL, I WOULDN'T CALL IT A TRADITION BUT SOMETHING THAT I GREW UP HEARING AROUND IN POLAND, PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT IF YOU HAVE A PET OR IF YOU LIVED ON A FARM, THAT AT MIDNIGHT ON CHRISTMAS EVE, YOUR ANIMALS CAN TALK TO YOU, OR TALK TO YOUR PETS OR FARM ANIMALS. I PERSONALLY TRIED. WE HAD A DOG WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, AND HE NEVER WANTED TO TALK TO ME. SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THAT IS! >> Fr. Pacwa: WELL, IF YOU KEPT ALL OF THE FOOD FROM THE DOG, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TOO HAPPY. NOW, ONE OTHER THING, A DESSERT THAT'S HARD FOR NON POLISH PEOPLE TO SAY. WHAT'S THE FRIED DOUG? >> OH, IT'S CALLED, CHRUSCIKI, FRIED DOUGH WITH POWDERED SUGAR, LIKE BEIGNETS. THAT'S THE AMERICAN VERSION, THE BEIGNET. AND WE HAVE APPLE PIE HERE TOO, THE SZARLOTKA, POLISH APPLE PIE AND THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT'S CALLED CHRUSCIKI, FRIED DOUGH WITH POWDERED SUGAR, LIKE BEIGNETS. >> Fr. Pacwa: WE ALWAYS HAD A BIG PLATE OF THAT TOO. AND LIKE ITALIANS, THEY HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT FISH THAT THEY EAT ON THEIR CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL. AND A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE THEIR OWN CELEBRATIONS OF FOODS FROM THEIR AREA THAT ARE CELEBRATED FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE FOOD BUT IT'S HAVING THE GROUNDING, THIS BASIS IN A TRADITIONAL WAY OF COOKING AND EATING. THIS SETS A HOLIDAY APART. AND SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE NEVER HAD THE, SOME OF THE DISHES ANY OTHER DAY BECAUSE IT MADE THE MEAL SPECIAL, YOU KNOW. AND THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CELEBRATING, NOT JUST EATING FOOD WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT, OH, I HAVE A TASTE FOR THIS. BUT CELEBRATING THESE HOLY DAYS WITH FOOD. AND OFTEN, I'VE THOUGHT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVANGELIZED BY THEIR MOTHERS. THEY HAVE BEEN CATECHIZED, MAYBE BETTER YET. THE CATECHESIS, THAT A LOT OF WOMEN GIVE IS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY ARE MAKING FOOD TOGETHER AND TALKING AND EXPLAINING WHY WE DO SPECIFIC THINGS. WHY WOULD A KID LOOK FOR A STAR ON CHRISTMAS. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF WOMEN CATECHIZING THEIR CHILDREN SO THAT THE FAITH IS WOVEN INTO THE RHYTHMS OF LIFE. ALSO, WITH THESE WONDERFUL FOODS TO MAKE IT EXTRA SPECIAL. DID YOU HAVE MUCH OF THAT GOING ON? DID YOU GROW UP WITH YOUR MOTHER EXPLAINING THESE THINGS TO YOU? >> YEAH, AND TRADITIONALLY, MY MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS MAKE THE RED BARSZCZ. AND MY FATHER MADE THE USZKA. AND EVERY CHRISTMAS, I JUST REMEMBER THAT GROWING UP IN POLAND, PREPARING THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER AND PREPARING THE USZKA. I MEAN, I CAN MAKE IT EVERYDAY BUT IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO TASTE THE SAME. >> Fr. Pacwa: AS CHRISTMAS HAS GOTTEN MORE AND MORE SECULARIZED, A LOT OF THE SONGS THAT WE HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE DEPARTMENT STORES ARE NOT CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT ALL. THEY ARE SOMETIMES SILLY SONGS ABOUT SANTA HAVING AN ACCIDENT WITH GRANDMOTHER IN HIS SLEIGH, SOCKS OF -- SONGS OF EMOTION, LIKE I WANT TO BE HOME WITH THE FAMILY AND I WANT CHRISTMAS WHITE. MOST OF THOSE WERE NOT EVEN WRITTEN BY CHRISTIAN PEOPLE. I MEAN, THEY ARE NICE SONGS BUT THERE'S NO MENTION OF JESUS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF POLISH PEOPLE KNOWING THEIR KOLENDA SO WELL. SHOWING THEIR KIG KNIT AND USING THE MELODIES THAT ACTUALLY CAME FROM THE POLISH ROYAL COURT. AND WE SING THEM FOR GOD'S ROYAL COURT IN THE MANGER AND THAT GOD SO HUMBLED HIMSELF THAT HE LET'S US, MY PEOPLE IN POLAND WERE ALL PEASANTS AND LIVED AS SIMPLE PEOPLE AND HAD WOODEN BARNS AND SUCH. AND YOU KNOW, SINGING ABOUT GOING TO THE MANGER AND THE STABLE WAS PART OF LIFE. AND THIS IS WHERE THEY INCORPORATED THEIR FAITH INTO THE RHYTHMS OF THE FOOD, THE RHYTHMS OF THEIR SONG AND MUSIC AND THEIR CELEBRATION OF JESUS CHRIST. AND IT WAS IN A LIFE THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS SO EASY. WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US. AND MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH ONE MORE SONG, KOLENDA, FROM A POLISH CHOIR SINGING, PRZYBIEZELI DO BETLEJEM, SHEPHERDS CAME TO BETHLEHEM [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC]
