The Polish carol has an essentially folk song character, which makes it specifically national. The melodies are characteristically Polish typical of the Polish peasant or mountaineer. There is a native unconscious poetry about all of them. The Infant Jesus, poor and homeless, born in a stable surrounded by the familiar domestic animals, appeals to the heart and the imagination of all peoples.
Polish Christmas carols may be divided into three kinds - religious, legendary, and imaginative. The religious, among the most beautiful and profound in feeling of all Polish hymns, owe their origin to monks in cloisters. The legendary, based on the books of the Apocrypha, contain many legends and details for which strict historical truth cannot be assumed. Hence the Church did not accept them, but they appealed to the people who loved to sing of the many wonders, the adoring shepherds and the speaking animals. The third, or imaginative, owe their origin to people of humble birth, who in relating the story of the Nativity used familiar surroundings taken from their own homes. Thus Bethlehem became a Polish village and Jesus was born in Poland. These carols often contain merry dance rhythms like the Krakowiak and the Mazurka and are called "Shepherd's Carols".
In Slovakia there are several types of Christmas celebrated. Ther traditional and the Ruthenian.
Traditional Slovakian Christmas Greeting
"I greet you with the Feast of Christ's Nativity and wish that the Infant Jesus shower upon all of you His choicest blessings. May we all live in health, peace, and happiness and may we all celebrate another Christmas together. A Merry and Blessed Christmas! Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Slovakian Christmas is a festival of peace, love and abundance, rich in tradition, and woven around with mystery. The Slovaks pagan ancestors celebrated the Winter Solstice, since the old sun departed then and a new one was born. Christianity added to this festival deeper meaning expressed by the biblical message of the love of God for all people of good will. Thus in Slovakia Christianity took over many pagan customs and gave them a humane New Testament message.
Christians celebrate Christmas as the day of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. Families prepared for it for weeks in advance. They cleaned the home, baked cakes, made decorations for the tree. The period of preparation for Christmas is called Advent. Beautiful ancient customs were served, especially on the feast of St. Nicholas (December 6th) and St. Lucy (December 13th). Originally, when there was little space in cottages, the Christmas tree was hung from a wooden beam, and they decorated it with little apples, nuts and straw figures. Under the tree was placed the crib (Betlehem in Slovak), the scene of the birth of Jesus, made from corn husks or carved wood, which brought the mystery of the birth of Jesus into the home. On Christmas Eve, the family had dinner after fasting all day. Most dinner tables enjoyed:
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