Christmas Eve or ‘Wigilia’

If you’re used to finishing your Christmas shopping on the 24th and then tucking into a huge banquet of roasted beef, potatoes and brussel sprouts on Christmas Day itself, then think again in Zakopane! Here in Poland, Christmas Eve is the most sacred day of the festive season and is marked by a gargantuan feast known as ‘Wigilia’. The celebrations starts as soon as the first star – representing the star of Bethlehem – is seen in the night sky, whereupon Polish families break the traditional wafer, ‘oplatek’, give thanks and then sit down for a whopping twelve course meal. Traditionally no meat, other than fish, is eaten during this feast (animals are sacred on this day!) and typical dishes include mushroom soup, pickled herrings, pierogi, fried carp and assorted pastries nuts and sweets.

The Wigilia meal is an incredibly important tradition in Poland so don’t miss the chance to join in the fun, however you normally celebrate Christmas back home. If you’re not lucky enough to be invited to a Pole’s house for this sacred supper, fear not! Some of Zakopane’s best restaurants will be throwing their own very special celebrations for tourists in town, such as the Gazda Restaurant in the Gromada Hotel (Zaruskiego 2). The Gazda will be serving up tasty editions of all the traditional Wigilia dishes, including smoked trout, salad with salmon, ‘kutia’ and poppyseed cake – as well as flagons of wine of course! The price for the meal is 70PLN for adults, 40PLN for children (not bad for twelve courses!) and you reserve a place in advance on +48 (0) 607100936. The feast begins at 18:00.