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The head of the family, typically the oldest person present however often father of the family, then takes a wafer and offers it to a family member wishing them a Happy
Christmas. "God grant that we are all together again next year", they respond and break off a piece of wafer. The family member then
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After them, all the diners exchange greetings and morsels of wafer. Care is taken not to skip anyone for that means terrible misfortune or even death the following year. In breaking a piece of wafer, each tries to get a piece larger than that remaining in the other's hand for it means his year will
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meal, the family gathers around the table. The eldest member holds a large wafer and breaks off a piece to begin the ritual. The remaining wafer is passed on to another member while a prayer for loved ones is said. This continues until everyone at the table has a piece of the wafer. Finally, each
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wafer symbolizes the unity of the family, which many consider to be the main pillar of society. According to beliefs, the bond of unity should exist between family members. The father is seen as the link in the unbroken chain of One Body, One Bread, One Christ, and One Church, while other family
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When everyone has exchanged wafers, the family members take their pile of wafers before the head of the house. He then looks at the wafers in the family members' hands and reads a fortune from how they are assembled. After this has been completed, people return to their seats and the wafers are
401:), unleavened bread consecrated into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. As a Christmas custom the "opłatek" originated in Poland and was spread widely as far back as the 17th century. It was the part of the
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The breaking of the
Christmas wafer is a custom that began in Poland in the 10th century and is practiced by people of Polish ancestry around the world. It is considered the most ancient and beloved of Polish traditions.
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a family is from. A plate with as many wafers as there are persons participating in the meal is placed in the center of the table. Each member of the family is given a piece of unleavened wafer.
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family member gives wishes to every other family member, consuming a piece of wafer broken off of the wafer piece of the person to whom they were giving their wishes.
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offers the head of the family a piece of their wafer in return. The head of the family then offers their wafer to every family member or guest at the table.
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Oborski, Mike. BBC. "Early
Presents, Very Special Christmas Wafers, A Twelve Course Meal Ending with Figs and Meet with Saint Sylvester."
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be better. The person holding the wafer tries to prevent a large piece being taken for this will "break his luck".
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Zielenski, Sarah. National Public Radio. "Polish
Christmas Wafer: A Christmas Tradition That's Oh So Sweet."
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members join him in this eternal procession. The wafer also symbolizes forgiveness and reconciliation.
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NWI.com. "For Holly and Fred: Traditions Help Family Cope with Loss at
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Opłatki Wafers: Preserving Polish
Christmas Eve Tradition
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Polish
American Journal. "The Breaking of the Oplatek."
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709:Oplatki information for non-Poles in Poland
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318:Learn how and when to remove this message
207:. The Opłatki wafers are embossed with
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1438:List of tortilla-based dishes
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454:Flying saucer (confectionery)
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252:In Poland and some parts of
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1547:Christmas in Poland
1476:Category:Flatbreads
688:. Visited 1/3/2005.
651:Christmas in Poland
439:Christmas in Poland
431:Christianity portal
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1101:Sanchuisanda
1002:Aloo paratha
937:Jolada rotti
877:Bindae-tteok
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294:Please help
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1311:Shotis puri
1216:Flammkuchen
1089:Rumali roti
330:Before the
217:Virgin Mary
185:wheat flour
124:kalėdaičiai
85:Wheat flour
1542:Flatbreads
1506:Categories
1241:Khachapuri
1206:Crispbread
1161:Thalipeeth
1084:Roti prata
1079:Roti canai
1044:Puran poli
838:Flatbreads
460:References
344:paplotėlis
336:kalėdaitis
219:with baby
181:unleavened
119:kalėdaitis
115:Lithuanian
1291:Podpłomyk
1126:Saj bread
786:Prosphora
766:Croissant
536:15 August
492:15 August
387:Antidoron
268:Lithuania
261:Christmas
223:, to the
209:Christmas
193:Eucharist
154:Lithuania
135:, plural
121:, plural
107:, plural
51:Flatbread
1423:Tortilla
1418:Frybread
1391:Americas
1382:Sabaayad
1331:Tunnbröd
1231:Focaccia
1226:Flatkaka
1221:Flatbrød
1136:Sheermal
1131:Shaobing
872:Bhatoora
712:Archived
695:Archived
654:Archived
635:Archived
604:Archived
585:Archived
566:Archived
530:Archived
486:Archived
417:See also
403:szlachta
340:plotkelė
162:Slovakia
143:Catholic
1408:Bannock
1306:Scaccia
1276:Piadina
1266:Pancake
1261:Opłatek
1256:Mekitsa
1201:Crescia
1196:Bazlama
1191:Bannock
1141:Shelpek
1054:Qistibi
1039:Pletzel
1014:Pathiri
1009:Parotta
997:Paratha
992:Papadam
987:Nan/non
977:Mulawah
967:Markook
962:Malooga
947:Laobing
932:Gözleme
912:Kattama
897:Danbing
892:Chapati
796:Pretzel
771:Opłatek
393:of the
377:Origins
373:eaten.
355:pyragai
203:in the
199:during
195:at the
173:Wigilia
158:Moravia
141:) is a
138:oblátky
133:oblátka
110:opłatki
105:opłatek
18:Oplatki
1413:Casabe
1377:Msemen
1357:Injera
1340:Africa
1296:Rieska
1246:Lángos
1236:Hoggan
1184:Europe
1151:Taftan
1119:Pajeon
1106:Sangak
1019:Phitti
952:Lavash
927:Kulcha
922:Kiping
907:Kabkab
887:Bolani
867:Bhakri
852:Aparon
482:vle.lt
444:Aparon
332:Kūčios
167:Kūčios
160:, and
150:Poland
129:Slovak
101:Polish
61:Poland
1403:Bammy
1398:Arepa
1372:Ngome
1367:Lahoh
1362:Khubz
1347:Bataw
1316:Somun
1286:Pizza
1251:Lefse
1059:Qutab
1029:Pihta
1024:Piaya
972:Matzo
957:Luchi
942:Lahoh
917:Khubz
761:Artos
449:Oblea
385:(see
353:Dievo
221:Jesus
189:water
89:water
1321:Talo
1281:Pita
1211:Farl
1069:Roti
1049:Puri
1034:Pita
982:Naan
902:Kaak
882:Bing
845:Asia
538:2021
494:2021
399:Host
259:The
201:Mass
187:and
179:The
47:Type
350:or
298:by
1508::
1096:Sa
484:.
480:.
468:^
346:,
342:,
227:.
156:,
152:,
131::
127:;
117::
113:;
103::
87:,
73:,
830:e
823:t
816:v
744:e
737:t
730:v
540:.
510:.
496:.
397:(
321:)
315:(
310:)
306:(
292:.
99:(
20:)
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