Wigilia Feasts to Sleigh Rides: Embracing the Magic of Christmas in Poland

Poland offers a magical and festive atmosphere during Christmas, filled with traditions, delicious food, and a warm sense of community. Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Christmas in Poland:

Poland offers a magical and festive atmosphere during Christmas, filled with traditions, delicious food, and a warm sense of community. Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Christmas in Poland:

Wigilia Dinner: Experience the traditional Christmas Eve dinner, known as Wigilia. Families come together to share a 12-course meal, featuring dishes like barszcz (beetroot soup), pierogi (dumplings), and kutia (wheat berry pudding).

Wigilia Dinner:


Experience the traditional Christmas Eve dinner, known as Wigilia. Families come together to share a 12-course meal, featuring dishes like barszcz (beetroot soup), pierogi (dumplings), and kutia (wheat berry pudding).

Midnight Mass: Attend the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Many churches, including the historic St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow, host beautiful and solemn services with carol singing and festive decorations.

Midnight Mass:


Attend the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Many churches, including the historic St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow, host beautiful and solemn services with carol singing and festive decorations.

Krakow's Christmas Market: Visit the charming Christmas market in Krakow's Main Square. Admire the festive decorations, shop for handmade crafts and ornaments, and indulge in traditional Polish treats like oscypek (smoked cheese).

Krakow's Christmas Market:


Visit the charming Christmas market in Krakow's Main Square. Admire the festive decorations, shop for handmade crafts and ornaments, and indulge in traditional Polish treats like oscypek (smoked cheese).


Ice Skating in Warsaw:


Embrace the winter spirit by ice skating in Warsaw. The city sets up temporary ice rinks, such as the one in the Old Town, where families and friends can enjoy a fun-filled Christmas activity.

Szopka Competition in Krakow: Witness the unique tradition of szopka building in Krakow. These intricate nativity scenes are created by local artists and compete in an annual contest held in the Market Square.

Szopka Competition in Krakow:


Witness the unique tradition of szopka building in Krakow. These intricate nativity scenes are created by local artists and compete in an annual contest held in the Market Square.


Christmas Choir Concerts:


Attend a Christmas choir concert, where traditional Polish carols are performed in beautiful venues like churches or concert halls. The harmonious voices and festive melodies capture the spirit of the season.


Sleigh Rides in Zakopane:


Head to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains for a picturesque winter experience. Enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride through snowy landscapes, surrounded by the stunning beauty of the mountains.

Candlelit Procession in Gdansk: Join the annual candlelit procession in Gdansk on Christmas Eve. Participants walk through the beautifully illuminated streets, creating a serene and enchanting atmosphere.

Candlelit Procession in Gdansk:


Join the annual candlelit procession in Gdansk on Christmas Eve. Participants walk through the beautifully illuminated streets, creating a serene and enchanting atmosphere.


Traditional Polish Christmas Carols: Engage in singing traditional Polish Christmas carols, known as kolędy. Many communities organize caroling events, and participating in these festive sing-alongs is a heartwarming experience.

Traditional Polish Christmas Carols:


Engage in singing traditional Polish Christmas carols, known as kolędy. Many communities organize caroling events, and participating in these festive sing-alongs is a heartwarming experience.

Christmas Day Nature Walks: Take a leisurely stroll through Poland's scenic countryside on Christmas Day. Enjoy the crisp winter air and the tranquility of nature as you explore parks or forested areas. Whether you're savoring the rich flavors of a Wigilia feast or immersing yourself in the festive markets, celebrating Christmas in Poland is a heartwarming and culturally rich experience.

Christmas Day Nature Walks:


Take a leisurely stroll through Poland's scenic countryside on Christmas Day. Enjoy the crisp winter air and the tranquility of nature as you explore parks or forested areas.

Whether you're savoring the rich flavors of a Wigilia feast or immersing yourself in the festive markets, celebrating Christmas in Poland is a heartwarming and culturally rich experience.


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A white Christmas is referred to the presence of snow on Christmas Christmas Eve or Christmas Day depending on local tradition. This phenomenon is most common in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere. At the same time, Shimla always expects snow during the last week of December. Many of the folks reach Shimla to celebrate Christmas. Today Shimla has got snow and it seems that White Christmas is confirmed there. What about other parts of the world and who would witness the white Christmas in 2013?The definition of 'White Christmas' varies in different parts of the world. In most of the countries, it simply means that the ground is covered by snow on Christmas, but some countries have more strict definitions. In United States, people expect think layers of snow everywhere. In fact many of the countries have defined metrics to declare if it's a white Christmas or not. In UK, white Christmas simply means a complete covering of snow on Christmas Day... In the United Kingdom the most likely place to see snowfall on a Christmas Day is in North and North Eastern Scotland.In most parts of Canada it is likely to have a white Christmas every year, except for the coast and southern interior valleys of British Columbia, southern Ontario, southern Alberta, and parts of Atlantic Canada. Most part of Canada is already white and people are excited about white Christmas celebrations.This snow in Christmas not only creates excitement during Celebrations but also adds lot of fun thereafter. New Year celebrations with snow all around is one of the main excitement factors of White Christmas. It overall takes the excitement level high for a week at least, when most of the folks are busy in celebration Christmas & New Year. And everyone has different ways of celebrating Christmas in snow. Above photograph shows a enthusiastic biker riding on snow covered region during last week of December in Himalayan State of India - Himachal Pradesh.Although the term 'White Christmas' is usually referring to snow, if a significant hail accumulation occurs in an area on Christmas Day, which has happened in many of the areas in past including Melbourne. This results into white appearance of the landscape resembling snow cover, this can also be described as a White Christmas.Making Santa Claus of snow is one of the fun filled activity which kids enjoy the most. It's fun to make bigger Snowman and dress him with red colored cap and a jacket to make him look like Santa. Now, caps comes with Santa masks, so it has become easy to make this snowman look like Santa. 10 year back, we had lot of fun celebrating Christmas on Ridge ground in Shimla, in front of Christ Church. A huge group of students made a 3-4 feel Santa Claus with fresh snow and lot of the folks were playing with snow-balls around it. What a celebration mood it was. Everyone around us was very cheerful with red noses due to chill around us :)For many of us, snow is synonymous with Christmas. Christmas cards, songs and movies all portray a 'white Christmas'. During my childhood, I used to think that when hills get snow, it's called as Christmas, because in most of the movies we have seen people celebrating Christmas either on grounds full of snow or parties in glass covered halls through which snowfall could be seen outside. However, for most parts of the United Kingdom, Christmas is right at the beginning of the period when it's likely to snow and at times it doesn't even happen. Looking at climate history, wintry weather is more likely between January and March than December and same applies to hilly regions of India.White Christmases were quite frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries and that where the expectations have set that Christmas almost every-time comes with snowfall. Over the decades, climate change has also brought higher average temperatures over land and sea and this generally reduced the chances of a white Christmas. I keep a closer track of snowfall in Shimla, which is one of the main celebration destination for Indians. Shimla hardly gets snowfall in last week of December, which used to happen many years ago. This year is very lucky that Shimla is alreadt white and folks are excited about the White Christmas in 2013 !!!In different parts of the world, people start tracking weather forecast to understand if white Christmas will happen or not. In fact, many of the local media channels start giving forecasts for different regions.White Christmas also comes with an opportunity for Travel enthusiats to move to the locations having snow and appropriate arrangements for celebrating Christmas or New year Eves. As an example, many of the Indian folks move towards Shimla, Manali or other towns to celebrate Christmas in snow. Today only Shimla has got snow and all hotel owners are excited to welcome more tourists to come to Shimla and enjoy the special festival in snow.Here we wish a White Christmas to everyone who is eagerly waiting for snow to come and add extra excitement to the celebrations. Merry Christmas !!!Lucky are those who can witness a White Christmas || Merry Christmas











































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