CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, 
  that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness 
         of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
 Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

   Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, 
            and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

 May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, 
  and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful 
     thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

The Christmas season begins with Advent and lasts until the feast of the Three Kings. Christmas in Polish is known as Boze Narodzenie ("God's birth"). From a religious point of view, Christmas is considered the second most important feast after Easter, but it is definitively the biggest family gathering and reconciliation day of the year.

There are many Polish customs and beliefs that have been passed from generation to generation as part of an oral tradition. A lot of them are still observed today. And despite the passage of time, they keep their freshness and are a part of contemporary Polish culture. Some of them are connected to religious beliefs; others have deep folk roots; and still others combine both religious and folk elements. The Polish customs, especially at Christmas time, are both beautiful and meaningful.

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