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- A uniquely Slavic and beloved custom shared among Poles (Oplatki), Slovaks (Oblatky – Oplatky), and Lithuanians (Oplatkalus – although Lithuanians are not a Slavic people) is the sharing of the Christmas wafer. The word “Oplatki” in all its forms stems from the Latin word “Oblatum,” meaning a sacred offering.
Dec 24, 2012 · Nothing says "I love you," at least in my Polish-American family, quite like the sharing of a thin, flat, tasteless wafer called an oplatek at Christmas. We're not alone.
- Sarah Zielinski
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Christmas wafer ( Polish: opłatek, plural opłatki; Lithuanian: kalėdaitis, plural kalėdaičiai; Slovak: oblátka, plural oblátky) is a Catholic Christmas tradition celebrated in Poland, [ 1] Lithuania, [ 1] Moravia, [ 2] and Slovakia. [ 3] The custom is traditionally observed during Kūčios in Lithuania and Wigilia in Poland on December 24.
The Oplatki tradition is one that is easy, fun, and deeply meaningful to introduce to the family anytime during the long Christmas season. All it requires is a simple wafer paired with love and affection, and the willingness to share it.
Nov 10, 2015 · One wafer is called Oplatek (O-pwah-tek). Sharing of the Oplatki is the most ancient and beloved of all Polish Christmas traditions. The wafer is typically a rectangle about four or five inches long, embossed with a Christmas scene of the Nativity or the Blessed Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus.
Aug 26, 2024 · As Christmas Eve approaches in Poland, families prepare for a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations: the sharing of opłatek, or Christmas wafer. This thin, unleavened wafer, often embossed with religious symbols, plays a central role in the Wigilia, the traditional Christmas Eve dinner.
Dec 3, 2022 · A uniquely Slavic and beloved custom shared among Poles (Oplatki), Slovaks (Oblatky – Oplatky), and Lithuanians (Oplatkalus – although Lithuanians are not a Slavic people) is the sharing of the Christmas wafer.
The Christmas wafer is a symbol of forgiveness and reconciliation, friendship and love. The material it is made of – bread – emphasises the earthly nature of those wishes. The tradition of sharing the Christmas wafer is also present in Lithuania, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Italy.
