THE FAITHFUL OF THE Diocese of Orange can trace their roots to every corner of the world, bringing with them rich customs and diverse traditions. Together, they infuse the diocese with a vibrancy that shines brightly – especially during the Christmas season.
Several diocesan parishioners spoke to OC Catholic about their familial traditions and the special meaning behind them.
POLAND
Ann Wojtyna Machon from the Saint John Paul II Polish Center in Yorba Linda is from Krakow, Poland, the very same region as St. John Paul himself. “The Wigilia, or Christmas Eve dinner is definitely a big family event,” she said. “Supper begins when that first star appears in the sky.”
She continued, “The table is covered with a white cloth with hay spread beneath it as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger.”
Prior to dinner, is the sharing of the oplatek or Christmas wafer, and everybody in the family shares Christmas wishes and blessings for good health to one another. Twelve vegetarian dishes are served, in keeping with the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat the day before a feast day.
The dishes represent the Twelve Apostles as well as the 12 months of the year, and include pierogies (Polish dumplings), Gołąbki (stuffed cabbage rolls), red borscht soup and fish, as well as poppyseed and gingerbread cakes.
RED BORSCHT SOUP IS BEETROOT-BASED SOUP POPULAR IN POLISH CULTURE AT CHRISTMASTIME. PHOTO BY THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“We have family and friends present,” she added. “Polish tradition for this day is to put an empty plate and a chair at the table for an unexpected guest to come and join the celebration, as nobody should be left alone on this night.”
She added, “For some, this empty chair at the table is also a symbol of a loved one who has passed away.”
Wesolych swiat!
ITALY
Angie Ripullo and her family are parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Laguna Beach. She previously taught honors English Literature at both Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana and JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano. Her family comes from Basilicata, Grassano, in the Province of Matera, and San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria, the so-called “Boot” of Italy from which they bring the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
“We always eat fish on Christmas Eve, never meat,” Ripullo said. “We always make the fish stew and try to find the dried, salted cod.
She added, “Most years, when there are lots of family and friends, we make seven separate fish dishes, especially the dried cod (because it symbolizes our specific region), and the cioppino, the Italian-American seafood stew that has fish filets such as halibut and salmon, and a mix of shrimp, crab, clams and mussels in a herbed tomato broth.”
And don’t forget the pasta.
“We also enjoy making a pasta dish prepared with large amounts of garlic, extra virgin olive oil, anchovies, sardines and fresh parsley — a simple but savory dish that is always a pleaser and my son Frankie’s favorite. Our daughter, Rosalia, makes the grilled octopus appetizer.”
Buon natale!
IRELAND
The more popular Irish Christmas traditions include placing a lit candle in the front window to symbolize welcoming travelers in need of shelter, specifically the Holy Family. There is also the tradition of families leaving a pint of Guinness and mince pies for Santa Claus when he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.
For Rebecca Freeman, the diocese’s pastoral care ministry coordinator in the Office of Family Life, it varies slightly.
“With ancestors coming from Canada, Scotland and Ireland, there are certainly echoes of these Celtic roots that connect to our traditions today,” Freeman said.
For the Gaelic word craic (pronounced “crack”), meaning good times, conversation, entertainment and libations shared during the season still stem from these roots.
Music is also a big part of the festivities.
REBECCA FREEMAN (PICTURED AS A CHILD) DECORATES THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE WITH HER FATHER DAVID. PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA FREEMAN
“One of my favorites growing up was Wren in the Furze by The Chieftains, which describes the tradition of a community hunt for a clay bird on St. Stephen’s Day (Dec. 26) hidden in a tree in the neighborhood.”
Freeman added, “In addition to enjoying a nip of Baileys while we trim the tree, Irish coffees are often shared in our house, made the traditional way (strong coffee, whiskey, cream and a sugar cube).”
She said she also tries her hand at traditional recipes.
“In recent years I’ve been making Scottish shortbread,” Freeman said with a smile. “I even have a special stoneware pan featuring an imprint of the national flower of Scotland, the thistle.”
Nollaig shona!
MEXICO
Elizabeth Sandoval is the vocations coordinator for the Diocese of Orange. For Elizabeth, her Christmas traditions were passed down from her mother, Gloria Hernández, who is originally from San Luis Potosí, in central Mexico. As her mother explained, the Christmas celebration actually involves three separate dates.
It begins with Las Posadas, a nine-day-long event from Dec. 16 to 24.
TAMALES ARE A TRADITIONAL MEXICAN FOOD MADE IN ELIZABETH SANDOVAL’S HOME AT CHRISTMASTIME. PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH SANDOVAL.
“This reenacts Mary and Joseph looking for lodging in preparation for the birth of the Baby Niño Jesus,” Hernández explained. “This leads up to Christmas Eve and the birth of Jesus.”
Then, on Jan. 6, is the Epiphany, which is the day the Three Wise Men came to visit and honor the baby Jesus. In honor of this day, Rosca de Reyes (King Cake) is made.
A Baby Jesus figure usually made of plastic or porcelain is hidden in an oval-shaped cake representing a crown. Whoever finds the Baby Jesus in their slice of cake is considered blessed and is supposed to host a party or provide the food — usually tamales — as the celebration concludes 40 days after Christmas on Feb. 2, which is Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas).
Families dress the Baby Jesus doll in nice clothes and pray and sing songs celebrating His birth.
The specific foods for this day are tamales and atole, a traditional, hot, thick Mexican beverage made from corn flour, water or milk and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, and sweetened with piloncillo (unrefined sugar) or brown sugar.
“In Mexico, people go and visit the houses of family and friends as part of the celebration,” shared Hernández. “I learned all these traditions from my mother,” she added. “And now I pass it on to my children for them to one day pass on to their children”
¡Feliz Navidad!
So, regardless of where these and a multitude of other Christmas traditions originated, they all focus on gathering with loved ones and focusing on our faith and God’s love as we celebrate the arrival of Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior.
Merry Christmas!