Skiing in Polish Mountains

I love winter! Like most of my friends, who live in Poland, we appreciate the most when it's snowy and white. And this is how it was this time during Christmas and just after it.

You don't need to ask us twice - Mario and I were born ready to skiing ;)

Together with our fantastic friends, we spent a lovely day at Laworta in Ustrzyki Dolne (Bieszczady mountains) in the South of Poland.

Here are some snapshots from this great trip.

M&M in a snowy land

four flat mates from Manchester: Łukasz, Mario, Marta, Aga

Men's team

Freaky Misiek showing off on his snowboard :)

stretching in groups

me with Mario's Dad

Also M&M: Mario and Makum

artistic skiing in pairs

like from some kind of fairly tale...

relaxing in the bar

It was a special day tanks to: Mario, his Dad, Łukasz, Aga, Makum, Misiek and Ewa
:*

Dreaming of a White Christmas in Poland...

For lots of us this time of year is special...not surprisingly, one may say: there is plenty of free time you can spend visiting your family, on fantastic sales in shops or just at home watching TV.

Yes, we all love Christmas, or should I say, Xmas time...

But here, in Poland this time of year means a true waiting for the baby Jesus to come to this world. Christmas gives us hope and joy and is a time of coming together...

Unique traditions and lots of symbolism are also here for people make this time even more special. Show me any other country like Poland that has more colorful traditions connected with Christmas.

Boże Narodzenie in Polish means literally 'a Birthday of the God' and this name of the festive time managed to stay unchanged for years. Just imagine how special and important this name is - here you don't celebrate some commercialized and enigmatic 'Xmas', rather you are happy because the God has come to our poor world to make it better place...Beautiful and joyous, isn't it?

bulbs - a must-be item on every Christmas tree

Here are some pictures from this year's celebration we had in Karaś Family in Poland. As most of Poles, we try to keep as much of the traditions as possible. And, you need to know, there are millions o them. Just imagine over 500 kept and regularly singing Christmas Carols or 12 traditional dishes served during Christmas Eve (24th December)...

a scene from Bethlehem
this one is hand-made version made by our friend

special night needs special setting - our Christmas table ready for 12 dishes

some hay and the wafer - Opłatek - traditions you'll find only in Poland

By sharing and breaking the wafer, we wish each other all the best and luck and we express hope that all the dreams for the New Year will come true. Everyone who comes to Poland during Christmas finds this tradition the most amazing and worth-copying in their home countries. For me it is a small gesture that means a world to my family!

Polish Christmas Tree - gold symbolizes wealth and red - love and joy

one of the twelve dishes we serve are Uszka - dumplings with mashrooms
always home-made on the Christmas Eve day

new tradition in my family - Mom is reading her own rhymed wishes
she prepared for the whole family

eating those 12 dishes takes time...

Santa (Święty Mikołaj) has also visited our house

happy like kids from their presents: Marta and Krzysiek

Mom with her present