It is one of two presentations, prepared by the pupils of Leżajsk Primary School No. 2, Poland, referring to the Polish culinary traditions connected with Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Easter. Each institution (there are eight of them: from France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey) participating in one of the Comenius projects made a multimedia presentation on what people eat on some special days typical of its own country. Afterwards the works were sent to all the other partner schools to be used during classes.

1. CHRISTMAS EVE
NEW YEAR’S EVE
EASTER
SOME TRADITIONAL DISHES
THE POLES EAT ON SPECIAL DAYS

2. An old tradition puts it that there should be at least twelve dishes served
at Christmas Eve supper in Poland. Among the most common ones are:
 borsch (barszcz in Polish) – a beet soup served with tiny mushroom-
filled dumplings, so-called uszka

3. ruskie pierogi (Ruthenian dumplings) – half-moon shaped dumplings filled
with cottage cheese, fried onions and mashed potatoes, seasoned with salt and
pepper; they are usually served steaming hot boiled

4. fried carp

5. kutia – a sweet pudding made of wheat kernels, poppy
seeds, honey, walnuts and raisins

6. dried fruit compote (dried pieces of apples, pears and plums are chiefly used)

7. Poland seems to have no traditional New Year’s Eve dishes but bigos is often
served on that day of celebration. It is a kind of stew containing
cabbage, sauerkraut, mushrooms, pork, sausage, bacon as well as a variety of
seasonings.

8. As regards something sweet, cheesecake is one of the Poles’ favourite choices on
New Year’s Eve.

9. Poland’s traditional Easter fare include (among many others):
 żurek – a soured rye flour soup with potatoes, sausage and eggs, sometimes
served in an edible bowl made of a bread loaf

10. boiled or smoked ham

11. ćwikła – a salad made of grated red beets (boiled and then cooled)
and grated horseradish (raw), seasoned mainly with sugar, salt and lemon juice

12. makowiec – a sponge cake with poppy seed filling

13. mazurek – a cake which is generally decorated with chocolate icing, fruit
and nuts

14.  The booklet was made by the students of
Leżajsk Primary School No. 2, Poland.