Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine have launched a joint bid to add their Christmas Eve traditions to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
Poland’s Ministry of Culture and National Heritage said on Friday that the application focuses on the deep cultural roots of Christmas Eve, which blends ancient and religious influences across all three countries.
“Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24. In Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine, it has retained distinctive features, customs, symbolism and dishes,” the ministry said in a statement.
These traditions reflect a mix of pre-Christian rituals linked to the winter solstice and later Christian customs, including elements from the Catholic, Greek Catholic, Protestant and Byzantine churches.
Many customs and dishes are shared across the three countries. A central part of the celebration is a family dinner served on a table covered with a white cloth, with hay placed underneath to represent the manger where Jesus was born.
In Polish tradition, an empty chair is left at the table for an unexpected guest or in memory of loved ones who have died.
The evening also includes symbolic practices including singing Christmas carols and religious songs, and attending midnight Mass.
Carp, herring, mushrooms, and poppy seed cakes are common on Christmas Eve tables. Meals are traditionally meatless and made with seasonal ingredients.
In January, Poland’s culture minister Hanna Wroblewska added “Christmas Eve traditions in Poland” to the country’s national list of intangible heritage, making it eligible for UNESCO’s global list.
The final decision on whether to include the shared Christmas Eve customs from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine will be made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in a future review cycle.
“Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24. In Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine, it has retained distinctive features, customs, symbolism and dishes,” the ministry said in a statement.
These traditions reflect a mix of pre-Christian rituals linked to the winter solstice and later Christian customs, including elements from the Catholic, Greek Catholic, Protestant and Byzantine churches.
Many customs and dishes are shared across the three countries. A central part of the celebration is a family dinner served on a table covered with a white cloth, with hay placed underneath to represent the manger where Jesus was born.
In Polish tradition, an empty chair is left at the table for an unexpected guest or in memory of loved ones who have died.
The evening also includes symbolic practices including singing Christmas carols and religious songs, and attending midnight Mass.
Carp, herring, mushrooms, and poppy seed cakes are common on Christmas Eve tables. Meals are traditionally meatless and made with seasonal ingredients.
In Poland’s Christmas Eve tradition, folklore holds that animals can speak at midnight, symbolizing the magical night of Jesus’ birth in a stable.In 🇵🇱, Wigilia, or #Christmas Eve meal, begins when the first 🌟 appears in the sky.
— Poland.pl (@Poland) December 19, 2020
Families sit together at the table to enjoy 12 festive dishes, traditionally meatless.
Borscht, carp, pierogi, herring, sauerkraut with peas, dried fruit compote and poppy cake are a must! 🇵🇱🎄 pic.twitter.com/qbBdtfGENG
In January, Poland’s culture minister Hanna Wroblewska added “Christmas Eve traditions in Poland” to the country’s national list of intangible heritage, making it eligible for UNESCO’s global list.
The final decision on whether to include the shared Christmas Eve customs from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine will be made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in a future review cycle.
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