Following age old tradition, many Polish families will begin their Christmas Eve celebration by waiting for the appearance of the first star in the early evening sky. The Christmas Eve meal begins with the eldest member of the family taking an oplatek wafer, breaking it and sharing it the family members next to him. Each then shares pieces of the oplatek wafer with everyone else present at the table. This sharing ritual is accompanied by embracing and the exchange of good wishes. The symbolism of sharing the wafer to each person, and then back and forth, symbolizes the giving and the sharing in our lives. It is a custom worth keeping.

Zyczmy Wam dlugiego zycia w dobrym zdrowiu, obfitych plonow z pracy Waszych rak i pomyslnosci w Nowym Roku. Radujcie sie swietami pelnymi ciepla i szczescia.		We wish for you a long life, good health, a bountiful harvest, and a prosperous new year. Please enjoy a warm and joyful Merry Christmas