In the midst of everyday life worries and responsibilities, it is quite difficult for many of us to take a break and reconnect with our family and relatives. Too often, we carry some resentment towards some of our friends or family members. The sharing of the opłatek on Christmas Eve is the perfect occasion for a reconciliation.

What Poles call “opłatek” or “blessed bread” can be described as a thin wafer similar in consistency to a communion host generally stamped with an elaborate Christmas scene. Historically these would be distributed by religion to parishioners’ homes during the Advent period. Opłatki (plural form) are not consecrated, but generally blessed by a priest.

The sharing of the opłatek takes place in the beginning of the Christmas Eve which is known in Poland as “Wigilia”. The concept is relatively simple. Every person around the table has an opłatek which he or she will share with every other person around that same table.

During the sharing, both people break their opłatek in order to take a piece and give one in return. During the sharing, both people exchange their wishes for the upcoming year(s). The wishes do not need to be particularly complex. The main goal is that each person can connect to every single person in the room one by one.

For example, a husband can thank his wife for the support she is giving him in his professional development while asking for forgiveness for his occasional outbursts of anger. In the meantime, the wife can encourage him in his new undertakings while wishing her husband good health and forgiving him.

The tradition of the opłatek is loaded with symbolic meaning. In today’s world, families often live in different countries and it is not rare that Christmas is one of the only times in the year during which siblings, parents, kids and grandparents can reunite. The element of mutual forgiveness which is associated with the opłatek sharing is of key importance in such a context.

Poles are known for the importance they give to their family and to Christian traditions. The tradition of opłatek sharing which has been practiced for centuries is the perfect illustration of this.

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen

Photo: Pixabay