Document text
P."1801
,26.....A.T0B 17 Pn9
Julia Sample aqpiegt; Living Lore
Chapter 6
HERE wE CAI 3s GLAD
The best Christmas that &atherine and her family over had was in
1927. By then they were in a roomy tenement, they had garden space on
Pine Island and Jan not only had fall time work but likatate was good.
Charlotte was k"- years old, Frances g and Henry a baby.
About a month before Christmas c4Ltherin had taken Frances with
her to a spot she knew on Pine Island. There they had gathen.d wild
cherry branches. Charlotte had been good about staying with the baby,
so they let her put the branches in water. They all took good care
de these branches, saw that i)ey had sunoplenty of water and were in
a warm place. This care brought what they wished, blossoms. A few
days before Christaas the first ones appeared. So this Christmas
they would have cherry blossomsl
During the summer and fall Jan had gathered mushrooms, These
'Arms
were strung and dried. As there wors-a goodly lot they would have
plenty of mushrooms for the Christmas berates or soup.
In the corner of the main room was a shock of grain. The tree
was up and hung with edibles, nuts, apples, pears,t,.colored paper and
decorated egg -shells.
The wafers,oplatki, had been obtained from Lhe priest. These
had been blessed by him and would be eaten before the supper. Ob-
long in shape, very thing they carried a distinct impression of the
nativity.
A bundle of straw was in the kitchen, waiting to be used.
iow it is the day before ahrist.aas. Altho Katherine has been
preparing for this day for the past two weeks, still there is plenty
to do.
They fast all day, except Katherine and the baby she nurses.
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Even she eats very little.
Ever since the tree was Set up presents have been placed beneath
it. Until now the accumulation is quite impressive.
141751Whelp to set the table. Straw is first spread on the
table then covered with the cloth. A soup plate, a large spoon* a
fork and knife are placed for each person. All these articles are
arranged bottom side up. What's this? Someone seems to have mis-
counted for there is an extra place. No, it is no mistake. That is
the Christ -child's chair. If a stranger poor in spirit or body
should come to them this day, they would be invited to share the
supper and that is where they would sit.
Katherine cooks one main dish to follow the soup. Cabbageoreally
Bauer kraut, sweetened with fresh cabbage, thickened with dried peas
and mushrooms added. This with pierogi,filled with cheese and potato,
and plenty of black rye bread and rye mush will be the main course.
No meat is eaten at this dAXXXIMAYIUMMIXIKAA Christmas Eve supper.
A very large bowl is ready for the cabbage and Katherine will place
it in the middle of the table.
Everything is about ready, but it is still early. Charlotte
keeps running to the window. She is watching for the first star, for
until it appears they may not eat. Katherine speaks to her, "Too soon,
Charlotte, see sky too bright. Baby asleep. You and Frances come
here, me tell you Christmas story."
They sit down by the window and Katherine tells them the story
she often heard her mother tell. About the lost little boy who stum-
bled into a charcoal worker's cottage maw Christmas Eve. He was
so cold and hungry and so badly frightened he could not speak. These
kind people gave him a home. Altho he did not speak for many months
he would sing He sang so beautifully they called him Nightingale.
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He never remembered anything about himself. The children became ex-
cited when Katherine began telling how one Christmas Eve the charcoal
worker had to deliver a special order of charcoal to the palace. He
took the children alongieven though it was a long triMor they had
never seen the palace. They were disappointed because everything
looked dark and gloomy This was because the Queen was very sad.
She had lost her little boy,the Prince. one Christmas Eve. Night-
ingale sings in the coubt-yard. The Queen hears him and demands
his pr4sence. Katherine'KXKILIUMMLUDOIKKEEKEZI had told the chil-
dren this story before but the end never failed to.delight them. The
end where the little boy proved to be the lost Prince.
Just as Katherine finished the story they looked out the window
and theyewas the star, shin, g brightly overhead.
They gathered about the table and with great ceromony Klan gives
each one a wafer. They bow their heads while Jan says a prayer.
Breaking the wafers they wish eac+ther good luck and good health.
While the wafer is eaten Katherine speaks to each child, commending
them for their past goodness and suggesting improvements in character
for next year's goal.
This ceromony over they eat with gusto. The barszcz tastes de-
licious after their fast. The girls remove the plates while Katherine
brings in the steaming great bowl of cabbage and great platter of
pierogi. Such appetites! Katherine is glad to see the food disappear-
ing so rapidly."Good? YOu like?" They answer as one, "Thanks. Very good!"
Having appeased their hunger they linger over the last course.
This is fruit,pastries and a pudding made of noodles, honey and poppy
seeds. Finally they can eat no more. Each now reaches under the table-
cloth and pulls out a straw. At the same time they make a wish. If
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the straw is long ivamemsgisacr has grain on it, the wish will come true!
After supper the presents are opened and they throw nuts at each
other. This is greatly enjoyed, although few nuts find a mark.
At midnight a mass is held in church. The church is elaborately
decorated, the service truly beautiful. The priest4talk to them
emphasizes tolerance and love towards all with tile thought of the
brotherhood of man throughout.
As Katherine says, "Me like Christmas. Funtlots of fun. Every-
body Implig glad. Nice,love everybody. Good time!"
ciefry
The next tne household sleeps late. It is a'day of rest. The
The left-overs are eaten. Everybody takes it easy.
But the next day, the day after Christmas, gayety begins and is
kept u4or two weeks. The young people skate and dance, plan sleigh
rides, visit, Bands visit from home to home. The bands usually con--
sist of accordions and bass viols.
During the Christmas season a play is given at the church, gen-
erally the Sunday following Christmas. This play takes the place of
the traditional puppet show as given Christmas Eve in Poland. These
plays centre aroun4Herod and the slaying of the Innocents. Herod
meaning to them the oppression of Russia.