Wigilia is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24. The term is often applied to the whole of Christmas Eve, extending further to Pasterka—midnight Mass, held in Roman Catholic churches all over Poland and in Polish communities worldwide at or before midnight. The custom is sometimes referred to as "wieczerza" or "wieczerza wigilijna", in Old Polish meaning evening repast, linked to the late church service, Vespers from the Latin.
The traditional Wigilia dinner table
Christmas tree in a Polish home
The bread used throughout Wigilia has been borrowed from Shabbat, especially the challah (Polish: chałka)
Christmas wafer opłatek symbolizing bread
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society.
Christmas Eve, an 1878 painting by J. Hoover & Son
Midnight Mass is held in many churches toward the end of Christmas Eve, often with dim lighting and traditional decorative accents such as greenery.
Advent wreath, lighting the candle
Typical Neapolitan nativity scene, or presepe or presepio, in Rome.
