December 24, 2001

The Polish Christmas Eve dinner — Wigilia, which is Polish for “vigil” — was always the highlight of the year for me when I lived in Poland. An evening of quiet reflection, good food, and joyful conversation with family or for me, before I was engaged — then married — to a Polish woman, friends. A long, leisurely dinner (often up to five or six courses) winds through the evening, followed by countless desserts, coffee, and more conversation as everyone gathers around the Christmas tree to open presents. (Yes, in my hybrid Polish-American family, we open our presents Christmas Eve as well.)