So it's kind of apt that I did prompt 9 today... well actually just finished it off now...
Since my tradition in this prompt is all about celebrating a Polish Christmas Eve... and boy was there a lot of journaling, so much so it's in a teeny font inside too!
And the journaling - prepare for a long one!
The nice thing about mixing two cultures in one household is that you can essentially pick and choose how you want to celebrate and what traditions you are going to observe. We celebrate things that are both traditionally Polish and traditionally English, and some that are both!
What is traditionally Polish is that everything is geared up to Christmas Eve - Wigilia.
In the run-up we go out and search for traditional Polish foods, especially rye bread (yum!), various herring dishes (not for me!), Polish pickles, pierniczki (failing that other honey-spiced treats like German Pfeffernusse), makowiec (poppy seed cake) and the odd random item. A Polish Christmas Eve traditionally runs to 12 fish or vegetable-based dishes - but this is a bit too much for us to handle, plus it'd require about a week in the kitchen! So we limit ourselves to just a few dishes with something sweet to end on. There is no meat or alcohol to be consumed on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is whole other matter entirely!
While everything is being prepared on Christmas Eve, the children of the family watch from the window to spot the first star in the sky, as that's when dinner can begin. Also the table is laid with one extra place setting to remember those who cannot be present and also for a wandering guest who should not be turned away. The CD of Polish carols is switched on, and then we share the Opłatek, a wafer that has been blessed in Poland and sent over by our relatives, wishing each other certain things for the coming year.
We start the meal with barscz, beetroot soup, accompanied by kapuśniaczki (little pastry morsels filled with wild mushrooms and sauerkraut that are just very moorish!). Then a fish dish follows, herrings for the parents, while my brother and I usually enjoy a big round of pickles and bread. After that there are ruskie pierogi minus the bacon (dumplings filled with cheese, potato and onion), and another fish dish, this time hot. If anyone still has room hours later then we enjoy something sweet like pierniczki, baked cheesecake or makowiec to end with.
Unlike in Poland we don't open presents on Christmas Eve.
A traditional Christmas Day in our house starts with presents being opened, then a traditional Christmas Day Polish breakfast kicks off the celebrations, complete with lots of cooked meats, bread and other delicious food plus the ever traditional Polish vodka toast and top ups! The rest of Christmas Day is filled with typically English fayre…
Here are the close-ups:
This page has been brought to you in association with the fab products of KI, KI and KI... Oh and Paper Salon, Making Memories, and American Crafts, plus a bit of Pebbles Inc for good measure. :oD
Mmmm the pierniczki in detail - afraid we don't create anything quite as beautiful as this, nope ours come from a packet! hehe
The only ovals I love in the world are those KI ovals from their mod blox and tag sheets, etc. I am strange that way, but they are so delish!
The journaling inside...
I love that frosty tree paper!
Well who knows whether Christmas Day will bring another entry... after Polish breakfast and vodka in the morning... then mulled wine around lunchtime I think my journaling may be a bit impaired! But we shall see... lol
Fascinating glimpse into the Polish christmas traditions, and a great page. Enjoy yourselves.
Posted by: flapsi hapsi | Sunday, 24 December 2006 at 11:54 PM
You really know how to create some beautiful pages. This one is no exception. I like how you are using a calendar and marking off the days....cute idea.
Posted by: Georgia | Monday, 25 December 2006 at 03:56 AM
What a wonderful page and how wonderful that this journal project helped facilitate your capturing these fabulous traditions! Great job!
Posted by: Michelle | Monday, 25 December 2006 at 06:21 AM
Wow, that was all so interesting to read. I love to hear about different Christmas traditions.
Merry Christmas
Jennie
x
Posted by: Jennie | Tuesday, 26 December 2006 at 12:19 AM
another fab page, great journalling - enjoyed reading that :D now don't be shy about those ovals - you know you love them to bits :P
Posted by: Tree | Tuesday, 26 December 2006 at 10:25 AM
this is stunning thanks for sharing
Posted by: Chiara | Tuesday, 26 December 2006 at 01:13 PM
Very cute pages~!
Posted by: Julie Ann Shahin | Tuesday, 26 December 2006 at 11:15 PM
What LOVELY pages ... so colourful and well-coordinated ... so many details and such emotion ... inspiring! Keep on going!!!
Posted by: Eleni Gratsia | Thursday, 28 December 2006 at 07:22 AM
Just gorgeous! Love all the details & colors. Don't know how I missed this one last year!
Posted by: Latharia | Sunday, 09 December 2007 at 02:29 PM
that is awesome...i love it! makes us Americans sound boring! lol
Posted by: cyndi | Wednesday, 10 December 2008 at 05:09 PM