SZOPKA KRAKOWSKA - The Krakow Christmas Creche; gc, pst(11"x17")
In Poland, the szopka is a portable Christmas crib or manger scene carried by young boys around their village or neighborhood. In exchange for the caroling and entertainment they provide, the boys receive a few coins or, even better, some tasty holiday treats from their hosts. After going from house to house in their own neighborhood, they sometimes parade into other sections of town or even different villages.
By far the most elaborate szopkas are those from the city of Krakow. Modeled after the great Mariacki (St. Mary's) basilica in Krakow's main square, this form of szopka is decorated with brightly colored foils. However humble or intricate, the portable crib always portrays the mysteries of the birth of the Infant Jesus.

LOWICZANKA; gc
A plentiful crop for the coming New Year is the hope of many farm folk as they place beribboned sheaves of wheat in the corners of the rooms in their cottages on Christmas Eve.

OPLATEK; gc
The design on this card is "blind" embossed into the paper to look just like the oplatek Christmas wafers familiar to all Poles.
As the first star appears on Christmas Eve, Polish people around the world gather for the traditional Wigilia (vigil) dinner. Under the tablecloth is placed straw or hay in memory of the holy manger at Bethlehem. There is always set an extra place at the table either as a symbolic remembrance of absent friends or relatives, or in the event that some unfortunate stranger happens by who has no one with whom to share Wigilia.
Before dinner, all those present share the ceremonial white oplatek wafer of unleavened bread which is embossed with a beautiful Nativity design. As each person breaks his oplatek with the others, they wish blessings of peace, love, health and happiness for the coming year. The oplatek serves as a Christmas symbol of spiritual unity among Poles throughout the world.

GÓRAL MUSICIANS; nc, gc
These góral (mountaineer) musicians serenade us with haunting melodies from the Podhale region of Southern Poland.

BABY JESUS ON THE HAY; gc
The Polish word 'Wigilia' comes from the Latin word, vigil, meaning watchful or awake. In Poland, Wigilia always refers to Christmas Eve. Throughout the centuries, a rich folk tradition has grown around the Polish Wigilia.
In preparation for the traditional Wigilia meal, some hay is placed underneath the crisp, heavily starched white linen tablecloth. Also, in villages and on farms, sheaves of grain and straw are placed in the corners of rooms as symbols of the birth of the Christ Child in a stable.

Following is a traditional poem describing this custom, with the English translation:

Stary zwyczaj w tem maja chrzescijanskie domy,
Na Boze Narodzenia po izbie slac slomy,
Ze w stajni Swieta Panna lezala pologiem.

There is an old custom in Christian homes,
To scatter straw around the house on Christmas,
Because Our Lady lay in a stable giving birth to her Son.

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