Editing Christmas in Poland (section)

==Advent==
Among the special tasks carried out in private homes during [[Advent]] (a time of waiting for the celebration of the [[Nativity of Jesus]]) is the baking of the Christmas [[Pierniki|piernik]] (gingerbread), and the making of Christmas decorations. Pierniks are made in a variety of shapes, including hearts, animals, and [[St. Nicholas]] figures. St. Nicholas does not play a major role on Christmas Day, but is celebrated on his Saint feast day of December 6. He visits good children in secret and leaves presents for them.<ref name="pmkamsterdam" />

Traditionally, the Christmas trees are decorated with glass [[Christmas ornament|baubles]], garlands and many homemade [[Decorative arts|ornaments]] including painted eggshells, shiny red apples, walnuts, wrapped chocolate shapes, candles, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree - Our Ancestors |url=https://www.ourancestors.eu/blog/the-tradition-of-decorating-the-christmas-tree/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |language= |archive-date=2022-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217004615/https://www.ourancestors.eu/blog/the-tradition-of-decorating-the-christmas-tree/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are lit on Christmas Eve before [[Wigilia]]. At the top of each tree there is a star or a glittering [[tree topper]]. In many homes, [[sparkler]]s are hung on the branches of the trees for wintery ambiance. Sometimes the trees are left standing until February 2, the [[feast day]] of St. Mary of the Candle of Lighting.<ref name="pmkamsterdam"/>

During Advent and all the way until [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]], or the [[baptism of Jesus]] (day of January 6), the "gwiazdory", or the star carriers walk through the villages. Some of them sing [[carols]]; others recite verses or put on "szopki", or "herody" ([[nativity scene]]s). The last two customs are inspired by the traditional [[manger]] scenes or "Jasełka" ([[Nativity scene|crib]]). One tradition unique to Poland is the sharing of the "[[opłatek]]", a thin wafer into which a holy picture is pressed. In the old days, people carried these wafers from house to house wishing their neighbors a Merry Christmas. Nowadays, opłatek is mostly shared with members of the family and immediate neighbors before the Christmas Eve supper ([[Wigilia]] in the [[Polish language]]). As each person shares pieces of the wafer with another, they are supposed to forgive each other any hurts that have occurred over the past year and wish them happiness in the coming year.<ref name="pmkamsterdam" />