Traditional Highland Christmas at Górska Osada | 2013

It’s a frosty morning. The snow sparkles in the morning light as if someone scattered diamonds. Everywhere is silent, except for the creaking of wooden logs (as if the house is breathing calmly). If a neighbor wanted to drop by today, no one would chase her away with a broom as was the custom in the highlands decades ago to avoid bad luck. At most, there would be some friendly banter over coffee and jokes about old Christmas Eve traditions. Although somewhat outdated, no one raises their voice, quarrels, or does anything foolish today. As the Christmas Eve goes, so does the whole year!

Highland Christmas Tree

Long ago, young highland girls decorated the tree from early Christmas Eve morning – a small fir tree hung upside down. On it, they placed decorations made of colorful tissue paper and straw, paper chains, cookies, and apples. And, of course, “światy” – wafer decorations. Today, a beautiful, dense fir tree stands in the central place, adorned with beautiful “banie” – ornaments painted with winter scenes and decorated with glitter in colorful highland patterns.

Preparing for the Holidays

For Ula and Kuba, Christmas starts much earlier and is usually very busy. They prepare the holidays for guests. “Winter is best seen in the mountains. And it’s best enjoyed here, on skis, sleigh rides, or horseback,” say Ula and Kuba. The beautiful setting includes wooden cottages warmed by live fire blazing in the fireplace, advent calendars filled with sweets, bonfires in the snow with apples, oscypek cheese, bacon, homemade bread, and highland tea with juice and spirits.

Festive Decorations

The cozy, festive atmosphere begins in the morning with warm, light wood and gray linen, woolen pillows with highland patterns, and lots of atmospheric lights.

Christmas Traditions

One way to keep the Christmas tree intriguing is to have new decorations every year. Colorful ribbons tied on branches, ceramic trees, apples, and stars by Agata Wisińska. Ornaments decorated with hemp string found at the online store I Love Nature.

Highland Holiday Feasts

In Górska Osada, there’s a special mailbox for letters to Santa Claus. The recipient always replies. This modern Santa differs from the stingy old highland saint who gave children only marshmallow candies and much more readily birch rods. This contemporary Santa brings “good child” certificates, stamped with Rudolph’s hoofprint..

Christmas Eve Dinner

After a whole day of skiing, everyone waits for the first star. The wafer is dipped in honey – for happiness and prosperity! Then come delicious mushrooms and mushroom soup, beet soup with dumplings, cabbage with peas, pierogi, fried trout in lin oil, noodles with poppy seeds and honey. You can listen to carols and sing “Shepherds Came to Bethlehem,” although highlanders believe Jesus was born in a shepherd’s hut under Giewont. Then it’s time to head for the Midnight Mass. If you’re heading to Wiktorówki, prepare well: 2.5 hours in deep snow through a dark forest. At the top, in front of the wooden chapel, people sing carols.

A Unique Experience

“This is a unique experience,” says Ula. But some highlanders go to churches in Murzasichle or Małe Ciche because it’s closer and warmer. Besides, the Midnight Mass and Christmas are great opportunities to show off a new highland outfit. Here, regional fashion is as vibrant as on the world’s runways.

Post-Christmas Relaxation

In the morning, you can lounge to your heart’s content, feast on holiday treats, and ski endlessly.