What is this all about?

"Polish Christmas interactive guide" project is horizontal scrolling, illustration-driven journey explaining Christmas traditions in Poland.

Our goal was to educate users about traditional Polish Christmas celebrations through a highly interactive and engaging scrolling site full of fun, animated SVG graphics. User explores Polish traditions with scroll triggered CSS animations enriched with custom SFX effects.

Animated Christmas experience ends with a incentive to support Nobody’s Children Foundation that's helping out abused children.

Site credits: design & code - Merixstudio, inspired by Foreigners in Poland, sound effects by SoundsIT.

Twelve dishes, Carp & "Pierogi"!

As you may know, Poland is a very religious country, thus many of our traditions and customs originate from Christianity. In reference to the twelve apostles there should always be twelve dishes on the Christmas table.

The meal traditionally doesn’t consist of any meat except fish, which is Carp. Carp is the most popular fish in Poland to be served during Christmas (and not really eaten any other day of the year!).

Apart from carp, there can be no dumplings (pierogi!) missing on the table. Ideally, there should be red borscht, a traditional Polish soup made from beetroot, with... pierogi. Every dish should be at least tried as it brings good luck for the upcoming new year.

Animals speak human voice

For Poles, Christmas Eve ("Wigilia" in Polish) is a time of family gathering and reconciliation. It's also a night of magic! Animals are said to talk in a human voice and people have the power to tell the future.

Be careful! With the animals having the power of speech they might tell you something you'd rather not know...

Singing "Kolędy"

Carols and Christmas songs fill every Polish room. Carols ("Kolędy" in Polish) and "pastorałki" are two types of Polish Christmas songs with a very long history, the oldest dating to the 15th century. "Kolędy" are religious hymns celebrating the Nativity, while "pastoralki" are the secular shepard's songs that also celebrate the birth of Christ.

Most popular ones are "God is Born" (Bóg się rodzi) and "Merrily to Bethlehem" (Przybiezeli do Betlejem), which is thought to be one of the oldest carols still sung today.

Extra seat for guest

Preparing an extra seat for the unexpected guest is yet another Polish Christmas tradition. In case a homeless person or a traveller from far away comes to your home during Christmas Eve, an extra seat and cutlery is prepared so if such a person comes, they can join the hosts and celebrate the holidays together.

The gifts they won't forget

Polish children traditionally received presents from Nicholas on December 6, but many of us give gifts to each other right after Christmas supper too.

Obviously, for the youngest that is the most exciting part of Christmas! But not only for them, actually all of us like to receive gifts, don't we? :)

Christmas trees and ornaments

In a Polish home the whole family is involved in preparation for Christmas. This is including cooking and decorating Christmas tree, always with the familiy involved!

Traditionally, Christmas trees are decorated with lights, ornaments made of glass and wrapped treats on December 24.

Hay on the table

Nowadays, a "hay on the table" is rather rare tradition, but still many people put hay on the table and cover it under the crisp white tablecloth in memory of Jesus in the manger and a reminder of the modest environment in which Jesus was born in.

It's also believed that hay or straw under tables will bring good crops or fortune.

Sharing "opłatek"

Before sitting down at the table after all traditional foods are ready and brought to the table, everyone anxiously awaits the moment when the first star, known as the "Gwiazdka", appears in the sky.

Sharing Christmas wafer ("opłatek" in Polish) usually takes place before the main supper. During this moment, all family members wish all the best to each other (even if they don't like each other :).

The "opłatek", a thin wafer made of flour and water, is sometimes stampled with Christmas ornaments such as the figures of the Godchild, the blessed Mary, and the holy angels.

Midnight Mass: "Pasterka"

At midnight between the 24th and 25th of December it is time to go to church for Midnight Mass. This is one of the most important Polish traditions.

Poles call this Mass "Pasterka" or Mass of the Shepherds, who were the first to arrive in Bethlehem and pay homage to the Christ Child. Traditionally, the family's "Wigilia" (Christmas Eve) celebration culminates when all go together to Mass. The Midnight Mass is usually preceded by communal singing of the beloved Polish Koledy.