Wigilia

Wigilia (Polish pronunciation: [vʲiˈɡʲilja] ⓘ) is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24.

The term is often applied to the whole of Christmas Eve, extending further to Pasterka—midnight Mass, held in Roman Catholic churches all over Poland and in Polish communities worldwide at or before midnight.

The feast begins with saying grace, breaking the opłatek Christmas wafer to symbolize the gift of daily bread, and wishing each other blessings for the coming year.

The bread served at the meal is often challah, doubtless borrowed from Poland's centuries-long Jewish fellow countrymen.

Polish kutia wigilijna, consisting of barley, poppy seeds, honey, and sweetmeats (łakocie) like figs, raisins, and nuts.

[citation needed] Some families as well as individual worshippers attend the traditional midnight mass/Shepherd's Mass (pasterka), where Christmas carols are also sung.