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These days, Christmas trees in Krakow homes
look much the same as in the rest of Poland. Basically, they aren’t very
different from the time-honored standard known worldwide, except the
local specimens usually boast finer decorations. And the growing number
of visitors take advantage of their
trip to Krakow to take back home
with them a box or two of handmade Christmas baubles since few places
can match the selection of Christmas decorations in
Krakow shops and
markets. The Christmassy goods are ubiquitous in the city from late
November through January but downtown gift shops often sell Christmas
baubles year-round and a couple of stores in the
Old Town historic
district trade in nothing else.
Polish
Christmas decorations.
Poland is a major exporter of
high-quality Christmas decorations yet exports are nothing
compared to what can be found on sale in Krakow in the weeks
preceding Yuletide. Most locals replenish their household
collections of Christmas adornments every year and numerous
producers – from manufacturing companies to handicraft workshops
to atelier artists – cater to their desire for novelty,
nostalgia, and the fashion of the day.
Christmas baubles – called bombka
or banka in Polish – constitute ninety percent of
Yuletide adornments available in Krakow shops and markets. Even
the cheap ones are made of paper-thin glass and, being very
fragile, they require handling with extreme care. They come in
many shapes and varied dimensions. Polish most traditional
Christmas baubles are either sphere-shaped or spherical with a
deep reflective hollow, the size of an apple, painted glossy red
or blue or gold and covered with hand-painted regular
geometrical patterns, some ornamentation glitter-trimmed. At the
same time also figurative designs have been popular for decades,
be it Nativity scenes or winter motifs or Noel emblems such as
Santa Claus or angels. The local variety decorated with
depictions of Krakow historical monuments may be looked upon as
tourist souvenirs but also some natives appreciate them.
Of course there is no lack of
Christmas baubles in fancy shapes: bells, pine cones, Santas,
cottages, cherubs, icicles, mushrooms, you name it.
Giant Christmas baubles are meant
rather for your mantelpiece or desk top rather than a Christmas
tree.
Krakow Christmas guide
Buying
Christmas decorations in Krakow.
With festive season approaching, even
Krakow supermarkets sell quality glass baubles, though
mass-produced ones. Hand-made Christmas ornaments are available
at souvenir shops. Yet, obviously, the
Krakow Christmas market
in Rynek Glowny central square, which lasts from late November
to December 25th, has the staggering selection of them. Also
other markets in the city offer a wide choice of Christmas
baubles.
Christmas market in Krakow starts in Rynek Glowny central square
in late November,
Prices of Christmas decorations in
Krakow vary from an equivalent of euro 0.5 a piece for a
mass-produced glass bauble to about 15 euro for a hand-made,
hand-painted basketball-size marvel. On overage high-quality
Christmas baubles cost an equivalent of 1.5 euro to 5 euro,
depending on size and design.
Polish
traditional Christmas tree.
Today’s Polish choinka or
Christmas tree is adorned with baubles (more or less fancy),
lights, and little else. Yet in the past they were just
additions to copious goodies, tempting edibles in the first
place, such as various candies in their gaudy wrappers,
gingerbread cookies, walnuts, and apples one could help oneself
to throughout Christmastide. Other decorations besides glass
baubles, frequently were made of colorful paper. And a
traditional Polish Christmas tree required a paper chain
spirally draped over it top to bottom and hand-crafted by the
family members. Also, no Christmas tree is complete in a
traditional Polish home without “szpic” i.e. a decorative
glass spire that crowns the fir.
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Christmas in Krakow
Christmas markets in Krakow
Krakow's szopka
Nativity scenes
Krakow
Festivals
Hardly a month passes in Krakow without some
time-honored occasion for common festivities or
colorful celebration
Easter
in Krakow
The paramount Christian feast has a
special meaning and a distinct quality in
springtime Krakow with its rich Catholic
traditions and abundance of beautiful churches.
Krakow
Folk Traditions
Krakow region has always been rich in colorful
folk traditions, handed down from generation to
generation.
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