Christmas time in Poland

Christmas-time in Poland.

In one sense, there are two parts to Christmas in Poland. The first part is the Christmas season leading upto the 24th December. From late November onwards Poland is much the same as other countries at this time of the year. Christmas decorations go up in shops, public buildings etc. The streets become busier with traffic and shops fill with customers as Christmas shopping begins in earnest.

As we head towards the final week before Christmas then things begin to change.

Shoppers (Polish shoppers) start to focus on certain food and ingredients for the upcoming Christmas meal, called “Wigilia”.

Don’t be surprised to see people carrying fish in plastic bags or beetroots (carp is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve).

In Poland, Christmas Eve is the most important time of the Christmas calendar as it is when the family gathers around the table and celebrates Wigilia – Christmas carols are sung and presents are opened on this day.

So what does this mean for you ? Well, maybe not a lot if you are visiting Gdansk only for the seasonal Xmas market. The market closes on the 23rd December so you may have flown home before Christmas Eve anyway.

If you happen to be in Gdansk on Christmas Eve then please be aware that some restaurants and other places may have reduced opening hours or may be closed completely so it could be a good idea to prepare where you are going to go on this date and check if those venues are open.