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Polish Christmas Traditions Trivia Quiz

I have been learning Polish for four months and it is not easy. However, I did enjoy learning about Polish Christmas traditions, and I hope that you will too.

A multiple-choice quiz by Briseis. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Briseis

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
280,696

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1227

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. At what time on the 24th December do the Polish eat their special festive meal? Hint

The same time as usual: at 7 p.m.

When the first star appears in the sky

When the lady of the house calls them

Noon

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Question 2 of 10

2. How do you wish someone a Happy Christmas in Polish? Hint

Wesolych Swiat

Co Slychac

Poniedzialek

Dziekuje

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Question 3 of 10

3. What do the members of the family do before they begin to eat? Hint

They walk three times counterclockwise around the table

They open the presents under the tree

They share a piece of Christmas wafer

They sing a traditional Christmas song

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which seafood dish is traditionally eaten in Poland on Christmas Eve? Hint

Carp

Salmon

Oysters

Salt Cod

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Question 5 of 10

5. What do Poles drink traditionally with their Christmas Eve meal? Hint

Kompot

Tea

Vodka

Mineral water

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Question 6 of 10

6. What are the main ingredients of Polish Christmas soup? Hint

Cabbage and sausages

Carrot and coriander

Split peas, leeks and bacon

Red beetroot and uszka

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Question 7 of 10

7. What kind of cake is traditionally eaten at Christmas in Poland? Hint

Fruit Cake

Poppyseed Cake

Black Forest Gateau

Cheesecake

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Question 8 of 10

8. The tablecloth for the Wigilia meal is always what color? Hint

blue

red

white

green

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is placed beneath the tablecloth during Wigilia? Hint

hay

a piece of wafer

a coin

a prayer

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Question 10 of 10

10. What do Polish people do after the traditional meal? Hint

They play traditional games

They sing traditional songs

The watch the Polish President's speech on TV

They go to bed

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At what time on the 24th December do the Polish eat their special festive meal?

Answer: When the first star appears in the sky

This special meal is called Wigilia, and traditionally the Polish don't eat very much earlier in the day. Fortunately, night falls early in Poland in the winter, so the first star appears at around 4 p.m. The Poles call this "little star" or "Gwiazdka," in remembrance of the star of Bethlehem.

2. How do you wish someone a Happy Christmas in Polish?

Answer: Wesolych Swiat

"Poniedzialek" is Monday, "Co Slychac" means "How are you?" and "Dziekuje" is "Thank You".

3. What do the members of the family do before they begin to eat?

Answer: They share a piece of Christmas wafer

Different families have different ways of distributing the "oplatek" wafer. In some cases they share the wafer in pairs, in other families the eldest person present hands each person a piece. This is also traditionally the moment to make your peace with someone with whom you have quarreled during the year.

4. Which seafood dish is traditionally eaten in Poland on Christmas Eve?

Answer: Carp

Often the fish is still alive when it is purchased and families store it in the bath before killing and cooking it.

5. What do Poles drink traditionally with their Christmas Eve meal?

Answer: Kompot

This is a warm fruit drink: a Polish friend made some of this for me to taste and it was excellent: just the thing when there's snow on the ground.

6. What are the main ingredients of Polish Christmas soup?

Answer: Red beetroot and uszka

Uszka or "little ears" are smaller versions of the traditional Polish "ravioli" or "Pierogi" which are filled with mushrooms.

7. What kind of cake is traditionally eaten at Christmas in Poland?

Answer: Poppyseed Cake

This is called "Makowiec". Poppy seeds are a common ingredient in Eastern European food: I had some "interesting" poppy seed ice-cream in Budapest.

8. The tablecloth for the Wigilia meal is always what color?

Answer: white

An extra place is always laid at the table for the unexpected guest who may arrive - usually it remains vacant as Wigilia is a time for families to get together.

9. What is placed beneath the tablecloth during Wigilia?

Answer: hay

Hay is always placed under the tablecloth as a reminder that Jesus was born in a stable. In some places, family members pull out a piece of hay from under the cloth in a kind of fortune-telling game: a green piece is a good omen, announcing coming wealth or a marriage. A black piece is just the opposite. The person who draws the longest piece will live the longest.

10. What do Polish people do after the traditional meal?

Answer: They sing traditional songs

After the meal the family sing traditional Christmas songs while they wait for midnight when they attend midnight mass: the "Shepherds' Mass" (Pasterka) really is at midnight. In some parts of Poland after the meal they open presents brought by "Gwiazdor" (the Starman) whilst singing and waiting for midnight mass.

Source: Author Briseis

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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