Christmas is just around the corner, most people are slowly starting shopping for Christmas Eve dinner. Borscht, carp, dumplings and many other dishes will appear on the tables. According to tradition, there should be 12 of them, and what exactly are the ingredients supposed to be there?
A lot depends on the region – dishes often differ slightly, e.g. in the south and north of Poland, due to the additives or spices used. For example, a vegetable salad, which does not always look the same. Folk traditions also shed some light on what should be included at this dinner.
The elements that are placed on the table have their own symbolism. Let’s take the most popular one. This fish was supposed to guarantee prosperity, because it is a symbol of life and abundance. In families where children were expected, peas were often included in dishes, as they were believed to be a symbol of fertility and love. It was no different with other ingredients, one of them was supposed to ensure prosperity and happiness.
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They should appear on the Christmas Eve table — preferably forest ones. Interestingly, in some regions, mushrooms were collected at the beginning of December and those found were supposed to appear on the Christmas Eve table. The end of the year is not full of spills, so you can successfully use previously collected and dried or frozen mushrooms. They can be used for dumplings, dumplings, cabbage or other dishes of your choice.
Mushrooms were a symbol of rebirth and abundance, by placing them on the table, it was supposed to ensure a prosperous life for the family. You can use porcini mushrooms, chanterelle mushrooms, oyster mushrooms or others, the type didn’t matter much. Of course, it is better to treat superstitions with a pinch of salt, but if you are a fan of mushrooms, they are worth having on your Christmas Eve table.
