It all starts a few weeks before actual Christmas with the time of Advent. The point of that time is to attend special Mass called „Roraty” at least once a week and await Jesus with the Holy Virgin. The church is properly decorated and the youngest children come with lanterns, which make the atmosphere even more special and memorable.
The time passes and as we are getting closer to the end of Advent, it is time for the next step, that is getting a Christmas tree. It is not always possible to have a real one, but every class prefers it. Then, usually at art classes, we decorate it with baubles, cones, lights and shiny chains. During the last two weeks our school is filled with an amazing mood; you can hear children practicing for the Nativity play and the school choir has rehearsals almost every day. During some classes we learn about the Christmas customs from other countries like Germany or Britain.
Still the most important events take place on the last day before Christmas break. This year it was the 22nd of December. On that day everyone comes to school smartly dressed. It all starts at 8 am with the Holy Mass. Then we head out to our classrooms to prepare Christmas dinner, meanwhile listening to traditional Polish carols. We have some of the traditional dishes too, for instance beetroot soup with tiny dumplings in it, and many other treats we like. Some of the students decide to bake something by themselves, which is always appreciated. When everything is ready it is time to gather in the gym where we can see the Nativity play. I have to say that this year’s was amazing. Students from Year 7 (13-year-olds) chose to do something original and in my opinion they did really well.
Then students go back to their classrooms to have symbolical Christmas Eve dinner. It is very similar to what we all celebrate later on at our homes in the evening of the 24th of December, that is at Christmas Eve. We begin with reading a fragment form the Bible. Then everyone shares the Christmas wafers and exchanges wishes with each other. After that we can help ourselves to food and visit our school mates in other classrooms.
Finishing, I want to say that personally I enjoy this time a lot and I am really thankful to all the teaching staff for organising it all for us in such a way every year. Unfortunately, it was my last one as a student of this school, but I will try to come back as a graduate one day, as students who are graduates of our school can also attend a special Christmas Eve dinner on the same day in the evening.
Krzysztof, 16
