It is Christmas Eve afternoon. Not wanting to start any
project because we are going to leave at 4:15 for Christmas Mass at 5:00, I was
just surfing and an article titled, “I’m
Sharing Opłatek With All of You” caught my eye. “Oh my gosh” I said out
loud. The picture was of someone “breaking off” a piece of oplatek. Oplatek is
unleavened bread, similar to what is used for Communion in the Catholic Church.
It is the custom in Poland to have breaking of the bread with your family and
wishing them health, happiness and success while doing so. As I read the
article, memories of Christmas pass came to mind. Babcia (grandma) offering all
of us to take a piece of Oplatek as she wished us a Merry Christmas. In later
years, after Babcia passed, my mother took over for her. Her house became the
family gathering and everyone that entered had to have a piece of Oplatek. It
was family tradition. I have some Oplatek, wrapped in Sarah wrap, in a sealed envelope
from those days. I think it is time for me to start the tradition up
again. I think I will search the
internet for some fresh Oplatek. What family traditions do you remember from
your youth? Do you carry them out with your family now?
You can read more on this Polish custom here.
http://www.polamjournal.com/Library/Holidays/xmasindex/xmas-oplat/xmas-oplat.html
http://www.polamjournal.com/Library/Holidays/xmasindex/xmas-oplat/xmas-oplat.html
Merry Christmas,
Rose
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