The traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner of 12 dishes is called Wigilia.
Wigilia is held on December 24, and its name comes from the Latin vigilia, meaning a vigil or watch. The meal traditionally begins after the first star appears, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. Before eating, family members commonly share opłatek, a thin Christmas wafer, and exchange good wishes.
The twelve dishes are associated with the Twelve Apostles. Regional menus vary, but meat is traditionally excluded because the meal follows a day of abstinence. Common foods include beetroot soup with uszka dumplings, mushroom soup, herring, carp, pierogi, sauerkraut, poppy-seed desserts, and dried-fruit compote.
Wigilia is sometimes confused with Pasterka, but Pasterka is the midnight Mass that follows the Christmas Eve celebrations. Kolęda means a Christmas carol or, in another context, a pastoral visit, while jarmark means a fair or market.