The Child was so gloriously born to us
was born,
wondrously of the Virgin.
God comforted us poor people".
(Text of a medieval carol quoted by J. Klapper in "Schlesische Volkskunde", Breslau 1925, translated from German)
Christmas in medieval Silesia was steeped in popular faith, while Christian belief intertwined with witchcraft, magic and superstitions. The day of the miraculous birth was associated with mystery and magic. Christmas Eve and Christmas, through their Christian wonder and significance, were a perfect time for practising various kinds of magic and spells. The Zielona Góra canon Bernard Fabri reported this in his 1433 codex, writing: "...they hold long gatherings that last until late. Some, laying greenery in the morning, invoke evil spirits, while others dine after sunset..."
During such suppers, people played dice and other games of chance, convinced that on such a holy night they were bound to have good luck in gambling.
From medieval chronicles we learn of another custom that is surprising to us: processions and masquerades.
Let us quote Bernard Fabri here as well: "...For in some towns—as I have seen—they run about in masks, or, putting on animal skins or women's garments, buy beer and then behave foolishly in various ways..."
However, every such mention of a Christmas masquerade ended with strong condemnation and the assurance that such celebrations were unbecoming to any true Christian. Therefore, under the influence of ecclesiastical criticism, this Christmas Eve procession was discontinued and gradually faded into oblivion.
Were there, however, other elements of the holidays that are familiar to us today?
We know that in the 13th century there was a custom, condemned by Rudolf of the Rudy Abbey, of setting a table for the Queen of Heaven, called Lady HOLDA, on Christmas Eve. We also do not know whether this custom died out or whether it was the beginning of the Christmas Eve table tradition.
The tradition of the manger certainly dates back to the 13th century; it appeared in Franciscan churches, having been brought from Italy. It was then that the custom of setting up a stable and creating its literary setting—the nativity play—also developed.
From 15th-century sermons we learn that NEW YEAR was celebrated in such a way that the faithful gave one another gifts, while from the pulpits priests recalled divine gifts represented by: a ROOSTER—for preachers, so that it would awaken their vigilance in the fight against sin; a WREATH—for virgins; a MIRROR—for widows, as a symbol of divine consolation; a RING—for married couples; a PROUD EAGLE—for princes, a symbol of courage and power; and an OWL—for drunkards, heretics and those who did not believe in Christ, who was awaiting the Passion alone.
The custom of gift-giving itself looked like this, according to the chronicles: a group of children went around among the people offering good wishes, and in return received various gifts. The children sang songs, different ones before and after receiving the present.
Thus, on the basis of modest documents, we can reconstruct Christmas and New Year customs in the towns of medieval Silesia. Little of these rites has survived to this day.
based on the book by Jan Drabina "Everyday Life in Silesian Towns in the 14th and 15th Centuries", Opole 1991