oplatek

plural oplateks · alternative opłatek

1. A traditional Polish unleavened wafer baked from pure wheat flour and water, usually rectangular in shape and very thin, embossed with Christmas-related religious images.

   Before eating, Polish fathers share oplateks, rice wafers blessed by the priest.

   1981, Norma Jost Voth, “Christmas Eve”, in Festive Cakes of Christmas: A Treasury of Old Traditions, Recipes, and Lore of the Christmas Season, Scottdale, Pa.; Waterloo, Ont.: Herald Press, →ISBN, page 12

   5 more examples

   He would invite different groups to spend an evening with him, share an oplatek wafer, take a little wine and then engage in the earnest lively conversation that the Poles love: the subject, whatever happened to engage their lifework or interests directly.

   1979, Michael O’Carroll, “Bishop”, in Poland and John Paul II, Dublin: Veritas Publications, →ISBN, page 43

   In Poland, for example, families share special crackers (Oplateks) embossed with the Nativity scene before Christmas Eve dinner. When the ceremony begins, each family member is given a wafer. Then the father and mother embrace and express their love for each other, and each takes a bite from the other’s Oplatek. This ritual is repeated until each person has shared his Oplatek and a few kind words with every other family member. Sharing of the Oplatek is so important to Poles that they mail crackers to relatives and close friends who are unable to join them at Christmas.

   1982, Jo Robinson, Jean Coppock Staeheli, “Christmas Revival”, in Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Warmth Back into the Season, New York, N.Y.: Quill-William Morrow, →ISBN, page 157

   [As a result of our hunger strike, begun December 22, 1984], Andrzej Pokorski was held in an isolation cell. On December 25, 1984, his medicines, even vitamins and an oplatek [Christmas wafer] were taken away from him.

   1988 June, Herman Schwartz with Mary C. Schwartz, quoting Hutnik, “Appendix II: Reported Beating Incidents and Other Examples of Inhuman Treatment”, in Prison Conditions in Poland (A Helsinki Watch Report), New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.: Human Rights Watch, →ISBN, section “Hunger Strike at Strzelin Prison”, page 72

   Many Polish families follow the Christmas tradition of breaking an oplatek, a thin wafer made of flour and water. […] Describe the Polish Christmas tradition surrounding the oplatek.

   1994, Ron Shaw, The Christmas Theme Pack for Middle and Upper Primary, Nuneaton, Warwickshire: Prim-Ed Publishing, published 1997, →ISBN, pages 11–12

   We picked up our Oplateks. It was time to start our ceremony. We looked at Dziadziu who turned to Babcia, holding out his Oplatek to her. […] “Dziekuje,” Babcia said. She turned to him and held her Oplatek for him to take a piece of hers, all the while looking up at him.

   2006, Bernadetta Swigut Steinschneider, First Star, Weston, Conn., →ISBN