Interior of St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church, Wilmington, DE at Christmas
The crisp December air in Wilmington carries the scent of pierogi and the sound of kolędy (Polish carols) as the Polish-American community prepares for Christmas. This celebration, deeply rooted in traditions dating to the 17th century, has found a vibrant home in the heart of the First State.
At the center of Polish Christmas is the Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper. As described in a 1968 article from The Morning News, “On Christmas Eve Polish families clad in their best gather around the dining room table for the unique Polish ceremony —the quintessence of the Polish Christmas — the breaking of the bread.” This ritual involves sharing the oplatek, a thin wafer embossed with religious images. The article continues, “The white, almost transparent communion wafer in the mother’s hand is a symbol of love, friendship, and forgiveness. One does not approach the Christmas Eve table without forgiving and forgetting, without being able to wish everybody well with a whole heart.”
Kolędy, traditional Polish Christmas carols such as ‘Lulajze Jewzuniu,’ ‘W. Zlobie Lezy,’ and ‘Dzisiaj Betlejem’ fill homes and churches alike. These songs, some dating back to the Middle Ages, tell the story of Christ’s birth and reflect the deep faith of the Polish people. In many households and community gatherings, you might find a szopka – an intricate nativity scene, often crafted to resemble famous Polish landmarks.
The choinka, or Christmas tree, stands proudly in Polish American homes, decorated with handmade ornaments, tinsel, and lights. From simple materials readily at hand — toothpick-like pieces of straw, paper thin woodshavings, and burned wooden matchsticks — the farm people of eastern Poland have always crafted delicate and jewel-like ornaments. Unlike in some cultures where gifts are opened on Christmas morning, Polish tradition often sees presents exchanged on Christmas Eve, after the appearance of the “first star” in the sky.
The story of Polish Christmas in Wilmington is inextricably linked to St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church. Established in 1891, the church has historically been a central gathering place for Polish immigrants and their descendants in the area.
From its inception, St. Hedwig’s played a crucial role in preserving Polish Christmas traditions. The church became the center for Wigilia celebrations, Midnight Mass (Pasterka), and the singing of kolędy. Its annual Christmas bazaar, featuring traditional Polish foods and crafts, became a beloved community event, drawing people from all backgrounds to experience Polish culture.
While St. Hedwig’s holds a special place in the hearts of Wilmington’s Polish community, other local churches have also embraced and celebrated Polish Christmas customs. A 1983 article from The Morning News mentions, “Polish Christmas customs will be observed Sunday 3-6 p.m. in the Annual Oplatek and Kolędy sponsored by the Americans of Polish Descent Cultural Society at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and social hall.” This event included “a video presentation of the Wigilia, the Polish Christmas Eve, the sharing of the Oplatek or Christmas wafer; and the performance of the Szopka, the nativity.”
Other churches that have hosted Polish Christmas celebrations include St. Elizabeth’s, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Mary Magdalene, and St. John the Beloved. Each of these churches has, at various times, welcomed the Polish-American community for special Christmas services and events.
The 1920s saw the emergence of efforts to integrate Polish immigrants into American culture while preserving their rich traditions. An article from January 11, 1922, in The Morning News, mentions the “Americanization Classes of Delaware” and their publication, the “Americanization News.” This publication featured stories from students describing Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in their countries of origin.
One such story, written by student John Dobranicki, offers a vivid description of a Polish Christmas tradition: “We celebrate the Christmas in Poland, yes,” he wrote. “All the young gets together and of them is appointed King Herod and then the King makes up an army about thirty or forty young men. One is appointed for an old Jew with beard about twenty inches long. One is appointed as a Devil. One is appointed as a Skeleton with a big mower.” The ancient Polish Christmas pageant featuring King Herod, the old Jew, the Devil, and the Skeleton with the mower is known as “Herody” or “Jasełka Herodowe.” This traditional folk play has deep roots in Polish culture.
The Polish-American community in Wilmington has not only preserved its traditions but has also contributed to the broader American cultural landscape. A prime example is the work of David Kozinski, a Wilmington composer and teacher. As reported in The News Journal on November 20, 1953, “David Kozinski’s arrangements of old Polish Christmas carols with his own English translation of the lyrics are soon to be offered to the public by Theodore Presser and Company, Philadelphia music publishing firm. Elkan-Vogel Company, also of Philadelphia, have another group of Mr. Kozinski’s Polish Christmas carols ready for publication.”
Kozinski’s work in arranging and translating Polish carols helped to make these beautiful traditions accessible to a wider American audience. His efforts demonstrate how Polish-Americans in Wilmington were able to share their cultural heritage while adapting to their new home.
In 1962, the Americans of Polish Descent Cultural Society (AMPOL) took an important step in preserving and sharing Polish traditions with the broader Wilmington community. This organization has been instrumental in organizing annual Oplatek and Kolędy celebrations, inviting people of all backgrounds to participate in Polish Christmas customs.
A 1971 article from The News Journal describes one such event: “The annual Oplatek and Kolędy Christmas program will be presented by Americans of Polish Descent Cultural Society (AMPOL) Dec. 5 at the Wilmington Manor Lions Club on South Du Pont Highway from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Highlight of the program will be the traditional Wigilia table on display on the stage and a Polish Catholic mass, celebrated by the Rev. Thomas Gardocki, administrator of St. Hedwigs Catholic Church.”
These events typically featured a display of a traditional Wigilia table, performances of Polish Christmas carols, and the sharing of the oplatek wafer. They served not only as a way for Polish-Americans to maintain their traditions but also as an opportunity to educate and include the wider Wilmington community in these vibrant cultural practices.
The Polish Christmas celebration is rich with symbolism and tradition. As described in a 1967 article from The News Journal, “Christmas in Poland retains much of its storybook fascination. The holiday is preceded by a period of four weeks, during which fast is observed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Strict fast is observed throughout the day before Christmas, and in the evening the Wigilia Supper is served.”
The Wigilia supper is the heart of the Polish Christmas celebration. The same article notes, “When the first star appears in the Eastern skies, the family gathers at the table to commemorate the birth of the God Child.” This waiting for the first star is a tradition that many Polish-American families in Wilmington continue to observe.
The symbolism extends to the table setting itself. “There is always a thin layer of hay under the white tablecloth in memory of the God Child in the manger,” the article explains. This custom serves as a tangible reminder of the nativity story at the heart of the Christmas celebration.
The breaking and sharing of the oplatek wafer is perhaps the most sacred ritual of the Polish Christmas Eve. “In every house in Poland, all members of the household, before sitting down to the table, break the traditional wafer, the oplatek, and exchange good wishes. Wafers are sent by mail to the absent members of the family.”
The number of dishes served at the Wigilia supper is also significant. “Seven, nine or eleven courses are served and in no case must there be an odd number of people at the table; otherwise, some of the feasters would not live to see another Christmas.” This superstition, while not always strictly adhered to in modern times, reflects the deep-seated beliefs and traditions surrounding the Polish Christmas celebration.
One of the most heartwarming traditions is the practice of leaving an extra place setting at the Wigilia table. “A lighted candle in the window symbolizes the hope that the God Child, in the form of a stranger, may come to share the Wigilia Supper, and an extra place is set.” This custom embodies the Polish saying, “Guest in the home is God in the home,” reflecting the spirit of hospitality and generosity that characterizes the Polish Christmas celebration.
Traditional Polish Christmas foods play a crucial role in the celebration. While specific menus may vary, certain dishes are common. Pierogis, filled dumplings, are often served, as are various fish dishes (remembering that the Christmas Eve meal is traditionally meatless). Desserts might include paczki (Polish doughnuts) and makowiec (poppy seed roll).
The Polish Christmas season extends well beyond December 25th. As the 1967 article notes, “From Christmas Eve until Twelfth Night, boys trudge from village to village with an illuminated star, and a ranting King Herod among them, to sing carols. In some districts, they carry puppet shows called Szopki.” While this particular tradition may not be widely practiced in Wilmington, many Polish-American families continue to celebrate through the Epiphany (January 6th) and even up to Candlemas Day on February 2nd.
The Polish Christmas traditions in Wilmington represent a beautiful tapestry of old-world customs and new-world adaptations. From the founding of St. Hedwig’s Church to the annual community celebrations organized by AMPOL, the Polish-American community has worked tirelessly to preserve and share their abundant cultural heritage.
These traditions – the breaking of the oplatek, the singing of kolędy, the Wigilia supper with its extra place setting for an unexpected guest – all serve to connect Polish-Americans in Wilmington to their ancestral roots while also enriching the cultural fabric of their adopted home.
These traditions have not remained static but have evolved and adapted. They’ve opened up to include the wider Wilmington community, inviting all to share in the warmth and joy of a Polish Christmas.
In doing so, the Polish-American community of Wilmington has demonstrated the true spirit of their Christmas tradition – one of openness, generosity, and the belief that a “guest in the home is God in the home.” This spirit continues to shine brightly in Wilmington, as bright as the first star on Christmas Eve.
