 | |
| Type | Flatbread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Poland |
| Region or state | Central Europe, Baltic States |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, water |
Christmas wafer (Polish: opłatek [ɔˈpwatɛk] , plural opłatki; Lithuanian: kalėdaitis [kɐlʲeːˈdɐjtʲɪs], plural kalėdaičiai; Slovak: oblátka, plural oblátky) is a Catholic Christmas tradition celebrated in Poland,[1] Lithuania,[1] Moravia,[2] and Slovakia.[3] The custom is traditionally observed during Kūčios in Lithuania and Wigilia in Poland on December 24.
The unleavened wafers are baked from pure wheat flour and water, are usually rectangular in shape[4] and very thin; they are identical in composition to the altar bread that becomes the Eucharist at the consecration during Mass in the Roman Catholic Church. The Opłatki wafers are embossed with Christmas-related religious images, varying from the nativity scene, especially Virgin Mary with baby Jesus, to the Star of Bethlehem.
- ^ a b Kajackas, Algimantas Vincas. "Kalėdaitis". vle.lt. Archived from the original on 2021-08-15. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Česká televize".
- ^ "Sviatky na Slovensku" [Holidays in Slovakia]. slovakiasite.com (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 2008-03-23. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ NWI.com. "For Holly and Fred: Traditions Help Family Cope with Loss at Christmas." Retrieved 24 November 2013