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From the Pastor: The Oplatki Are Here!
Many years I write something about an ancient Polish Christmas Eve Tradition. Some sources claim it goes back to the 9th century, while others insist on the 17th century as the origin of this tradition. That simply goes to show that you cannot trust everything on the internet! Yet I am going to reproduce below an internet-sourced story about Oplatki instead of simply reprinting what I have written in the past. I would like to give credit to the author, but, as I said, you cannot trust everything on the internet and I found this exact same story on two different websites, attributed to two different authors. Aletia, a Catholic news site, attributes it to Philip Kosloski, while the site CatholicSay attributes it to Raphael Benedict. Both sites use the same photos, too, although I will not reproduce them here. Whoever wrote it, thank you! The beautiful Polish tradition of breaking bread on Christmas Eve —by Philip Kosloski or Raphael Benedict or Someone Else but not by Me The oplatki tradition is one rich in spiritual symbolism, and can even help heal family division. In many Polish homes throughout the world, a most beloved family tradition is the breaking of the oplatek on Christmas Eve. The oplatek (oplatki is the plural form) is a thin wafer similar in consistency to a communion host that is often stamped with an elaborate Christmas scene. Historically these would be distributed by religious to parishioners' homes during the Advent season. Blessed Bread It is related to an Eastern tradition of giving out "blessed bread" after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. This bread is not consecrated, but blessed by the priest as a way to extend the fruits of the Mass into the home. The oplatek is meant to remind families of the Eucharistic bread at Mass and makes a further connection between Christmas and the gift of the Eucharist, the presence of God among us. On Christmas Eve, the family eagerly awaits the first star in the night sky, recalling the star of Bethlehem that signaled the birth of the Savior. Once the star has been spotted, the Christmas Eve meal begins. The table is traditionally covered with straw and a white cloth. In some homes this is reduced to a single plate, upon which rests the oplatek, as a symbol of Christ in the manger. Reconciliation The father (or eldest member of the family) begins the ceremony by taking the oplatek and breaking a piece off of it, giving it to his wife. When he does so, he may say what he is thankful for, wish her good health, or ask for forgiveness. According to author Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, "My father used to say, 'OK, I'm not the best, but I'll try harder'... My mother would always say, 'You work so hard and I appreciate you for that' ... The sharing of this unleavened bread with another person is sharing all that is good with life ... It's a time to tell each other, 'I love you, I care about you.' And you do it in an open area, where everyone else can see you." After this initial sharing, the oplatek is then shared with each member of the family in a similar manner, starting with the oldest down to the youngest. It is a touching ceremony, one that can help heal hurts from the past year. After the breaking of the bread is completed, a small meal is served that eagerly anticipates the Midnight Mass, which many Polish families would attend on Christmas Eve. The tradition has survived the test of time and is still celebrated in many parts of the world by various families, including many who come from a Slavic ancestry. It is a beautiful tradition, one that keeps the true "spirit of Christmas," and unites a family to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. End of Story and back to Father’s words This year there are plenty of Oplatki available in the back of the church and in the social hall for you to take home and share with your family members as you gather for the big meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas or whenever you are able to get together. The ritual of sharing the blessed wafer is not a Liturgical Rite, so there is no exact ritual that must be followed. Feel free to use the above example or something similar that fits your family’s needs. Generations from now your relatives may still be passing around the Oplatek and offering love and mercy to each other all because you picked up a simple piece of blessed bread and a church bulletin this week. With prayers for your holiness, Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka These are the two links to the original stories I found online. Click on them to go to the sites for this and many other Catholic articles. https://aleteia.org/2018/12/19/the-beautiful-polish-tradition-of-breaking-bread-on-christmas-eve https://catholicsay.com/th-beautiful-polish-tradition-of-breaking-bread-on-christmas-eve/ Comments are closed.
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