POLISH OPLATKI WAFERS OFFERED BY OLPH SOCIETY

November 05, 2002 - 12:00 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

WYANDOTTE, MI - Christmas Eve has always occupied a special place for those of Polish heritage. The sacred symbols, beautiful customs and festive fods, some of them served only once a year, set this season apart from all others. And, over the centuries, these timeless traditions have continued to strengthen the sense of religious and national identity. Probably more than any other set of customs, the tradition of the Oplatki Wafers have helped to keep the family together. The Oplatki custom which originated in Poland, was also adopted by the people of Lithuania and Czechoslovakia, and has made its way into countless other households which find its rich symbolism an adoptable annual custom of profound meaning.

In a very real sense, the Wigilia (Christmas Eve Vigil) is what being Polish is all about. Rather than just another festive occasion, it is more of a mood, a feeling, a frame of mind that gives one, a sense of belonging and deeper meaning, the conviction that all is right with the world, at least this one night a year. To Poles and those who preserve the tradition, Christmas Eve is not simply the day before Christmas, it is even more than the main event of the holiday season. Many feel it is the single most important day of the year. Not only does everything that is important about Christmas take place on that day, Christmas Eve could indeed be described as everything held dear - God, country and family - are all wrapped into one. No other event contains such rich symbolism, so many time-honored customs and so much lore and legend.

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The Oplatki wafers are thin unleavened wafers similar to communion wafers. The Oplatki wafers are large rectangular wafers which are embossed with figures of the Christ Child, or other Nativity scenes. The Oplatki wafers are specially baked and are imported from Poland so that they may be made available to those wishing to preserve or to adopt this centuries-old tradition.

The ancient Christmas Eve tradition centers on the anticipation of the first star appearing in the eastern skies. In memory of the Star of Bethlehem, the festive Christmas Eve supper is not supposed to begin until the evening's first star appears in the sky. The family now gathers at the table to take part in the oplatek-sharing ritual. The great moment has now arrived. Members of the immediate family, dressed in their holiday best, now gather around the festively set table. As a rule, only the nearest of kin - grandparents, parents and children - take part in the Vigil supper. A candle is lit on the table to herald the imminent arrival of Christ, the Light of the World. In the more devout families, St. Luke's Gospel account of the Nativity is read, usually by the eldest person present, and grace is said. The eldest member then takes the oplatek wafer, breaks it and shares it with the next in line. Each then shares pieces of the oplatek with everyone else in the gathering. The sharing ritual is accompanied by copious kisses, embraces and the exchange of best wishes. Typical wishes might go: "I wish you much health, happiness and the Lord's bountiful blessings as well as the fulfillment of all your plans and everything you wish for yourself." Children are often wished that they get good grades in school, be well-behaved and grow up to be their parents' pride and joy.

Needless to say, this is a tender and touching moment of love and forgiveness when past grudges are forgotten, a fleeting magival moment that has a spiritual dimension all its own. Except for the youngsters still unable to grasp the solemnity of the occasion, many are often moved to tears. They may feel so as they think back to the Christmas Eves of their childhood and the smiling faces of those who have long since passed away. Perhaps they also nostalgically recall their own younger days, when they enjoyed god health, things were simpler and life in general seemed more beautiful.

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The table at which the family gathers typically has some straw strewn beneath a fine white tablecloth to commemorate the birth of the Christ Child in the manger. In more modern adaptations, straw or sprigs of evergreen are placed on a serving platter and covered with a fine white napkin on which the oplatki wafers rest.

The Christmas Eve or Vigil supper now follows. This annual repast is anything but another fancy dinner party, and the symbolism that has marked the preliminaries carries on throughout the meal. The supper not only consists of certain types of fod but even a specific number of dishes. Although the origins are unclear, to this day it is customary to serve an odd number. In the olden days, the number was determined by the affluence of a given household, with aristocratic families serving eleven different dishes, the nobility - nine and the peasantry - seven.

Many of the dishes are served only this once a year, and most feel they are well worth waiting for. The more so that many families abstain from all food on Christmas Eve prior to the Vigil supper.

The complete meatlessness of the meal (even meat drippings or stock are not used) symbolizes the cleansing effect of abstinence in preparation for the great event at midnight. But judging from the variety and abundance of what is served, this supper is anything but penitential. The fish which dominate the table have long been a symbol of Christianity. The head of the pike, when dismembered, contains bones in the shape of a cross, ladder and nails: the tools of Christ's crucifixion. Horseradish is said by some to be a reminder of life's bitterness, while honey represents its sweetness and poppyseeds symbolize tranquility. Some families serve a compote (stewed fruit dessert or drink), made of 12 different fruits supposedly in honor of the twelve Apostles.

Unlike the typical meal, at which cold appetizers such as herring would be served first, the first course is traditionally soup. The most common is clear beet broth with tiny mushrrom-filled dumplings floating within or cleat mushrom soup served over egg noodles. Next comes the herring, usually marinated, in oil or in sour cream. This is followed by the fish dishes, the favorite being carp in various forms: fried, baked, in raisin sauce or in aspic. Pike has traditionally come in a close second, often served hot in horseradish sauce or cold, stuffed in its own skin and served as is or in aspic. Other common fish dishes include perch or walleye with hard-boiled egg topping, tench baked in red cabbage or crucean stewed in sour cream.

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Other dishes include sauerkraut stewed with mushroms and/or peas, pierogi with various meatless fillings - both savory and sweet, buckwheat groats and mushrom gravy, golabki (cabbage rolls) filled with rice or barley and mushrooms.

Rounding out the meal are such sweet dishes as almond soup, cranberry jelly, stewed prunes and dried fruit, noodles and poppyseed, wheat and honey pudding, rice and apple casserole plus nuts, raisins, dates and figs to nibble on. Traditional cakes include poppyseed rolls, fruit cakes, and honey-spice cake. Although drinking is rather subdued, often a hot honey-spice cordial known as krupnik is served.

Singing koledy (Christmas carols) in the family circle has long been the crowning touch of the Christmas Eve Vigil supper. The feasters would move to the room in which the Christmas tree was standing, light its tapers and joyously sing these age-old hymns in honor of Christ's birth. As the night grew late, then as now people's thoughts began turning to the Pasterka (the Shephard's Midnight Mass), a fitting culmination to this unique evening of nostalgic customs, good fod and good-natured merriment in the family's innermost circle.

The Christmas Eve Oplatki Wafers, often difficult to locate or obtain, are available by contacing: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Society, P.O. Box 785, Wyandotte, MI 48192-0785. Envelopes containg three large rectangular wafers imported from Poland are available for a donation of $6.25 per envelope to cover costs and mailing. Requests for the Oplatki Wafers will be honored until December 10, 2002. The proceeds received from the Oplatki wafers will be used by the OLPH Society to assist a community of Sisters in eastern Europe whose Convent was completely destroyed by an electrical fire. All donations are tax-exempt.

The OLPH Society is a group of retired Sisters from several different communities, who, together with Sisters from the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches, gathered together to provide help to churches and chapels in eastern Europe that had been previously obliterated by the communist regime. Together with volunteers from the laity, the OLPH Society provides charitable and humanitarian works with all funding coming from their personal resources and charitable contributions. The OLPH Society also operates an on-line web store where church goods can be purchased by parishes, clergy, religious and the laity. It is located at: www.saintmarysguild.com and proceeds from this labor are likewise utilized for the support of the charitable works being accomplished among fellow Catholics.

Contact

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SOCIETY
http://www.saintmarysguild.com (operated by OLPH Society)
MI, US
GLEN REYNOLDS - COMMUNICATIONS, 734 281-3082

Keywords

OPLATKI WAFERS

Category

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