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The
richest in traditional observances is the Christmas season. It begins
with Advent and ends with the feast of the Three Kings. The Advent
starts four Sundays before Christmas. This is a time for the
spiritual preparation for the birth of Christ. For that reason, the
early morning Mass, the Roraty, is celebrated. The
name roraty comes from the first words that begin the
service, Rorate coeli, meaning "heaven, dew drop" in
Latin.
In no other country is this Mass celebrated as solemnly as in
Poland.
The
Mass begins in the church in almost complete darkness just before
sunrise (usually 6:00 -7:00 am) to show readiness, vigilance and
alertness for Christ's coming. People who participate in the service
also bring torches with them, which are lit during a certain part of the
Mass. This celebration has a special atmosphere since it starts in almost
complete darkness; gradually, the candles are lit on the altar and
by the participants, giving more light. Finally,
when the service is approaching the end, sunrise increases the amount
of light even more. So, this ceremony revolves around the earth's
natural clock. During the service, seven candles are lit at the altar to
represent a menorah, a Jewish seven-branched candelabrum that stands in front
of the sanctuary in Jewish temples. Roraty has been celebrated since
the 13th century. According to historical records during that time, a representative of
each social status lit one branch
of the menorah. King Boleslaw (the husband of St. Kinga) lit the
first and highest candle. He was followed by a cardinal-primate who
illuminated the next candle. The third candle was lit by a senator, the
fourth by a noblemen, the fifth by a knight, the sixth by a townsmen and finally
the seventh by a peasant. Everybody, including the king, said, "I
am ready for the last judgment day". In
addition, as a reminder that Christmas is approaching, a special candle
or Swieca Roratnia is lit on the altar. The lighting of
this candle is a very
old custom, begun during the reign of Boleslaw Wstydliwy
(1226-1279). Today in Poland, many people still attend the Roraty Mass,
especially in villages. There, the attachment to tradition is much
greater than in towns and cities. According to Church law, Advent is a period
of fasting and mourning. Exceptions are made, however, for a few feasts:
Andrzejki, Baborka,
and Mikolaj.
Andrzejki
is observed on the eve of St. Andrew's Day (November
29). It is also a name
of balls and private parties. An old folk custom of fortune telling also
happens on this occasion. One of the predictions is attained through the
shifting of the shoes. Girls take off their left shoes and arrange them
in a straight line from a
wall to a door. The girl whose shoe first crosses a doorsill will marry
soon. Meanwhile, the boys throw needle into a pot full of water. The way
in which the needle points foretells the direction to look for
a girl. If the needle sinks, the dream will not come true. The most
popular folklore, however, is forecasting from the melted wax. In a small bowl, a
small piece of wax is melted, and then poured through the hole of an old
door key into a bowl filled with cold water. The wax is
transformed into a shape, which is a flat on one side and very
irregular on the other. Then, it is placed between a candle's flame and
a wall. The picture created by the shadow shows all kinds of images,
and one can interpret what may happen soon. A coach foretells a wedding; a
car implies travel, flowers infer a visit from a guest, etc. Shortly
after Andrejki, on December 4, Babórka
is celebrated. Babórka means "Barbara" in the Silesian dialect.
By the 14th century St.
Barbara was the patron saint of
miners, raftsmen, and artillerymen, and was a protectress against lightning
and sudden death. The most famous Polish Barbaras were two queens -
Barbara Zapolska (1495-1515), the first wife of Zygmund I, and
Barbara Radziwillówna (1520-1551), the second wife of Zygmund August.
Today, St. Barbara is especially remembered by miners. They pray to her
every time they step down deep beneath the earth's surface. On St. Barbara's Day,
Babórka balls are organized all over Poland and are especially
important occasions in
the Silesia region. There, miners in their festive uniforms take
part in celebrating and dancing. Two
days after Babórka, on December 6, is Mikolaj, or
the feast of St.
Nicholas. A long time ago it was a pastoral feast; St. Nicholas
was also implored for protection against wild animals, especially wolves. In
Poland, St.
After
the St. Nicholas feast, the remaining days of the Advent are devoted to preparations for the holidays.
The organist comes to the house
with the wafer (oplatek), for which he is given a small amount of money.
Farmers marinate hams and smoke kielbasa while their wives clean the
houses from the attics to the basements, and children make the Christmas
ornaments. Everyone awaits the Christmas holidays which are solemnly celebrated in Poland.
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