Polish Coin Wash Traditions & more...

by Ardith Beveridge, Tastemaker in Residence

My great grandparent's traditional Polish custom - each year we wash our faces with coins-money, on December 23rd, to ensure prosperity all year.

The first person allowed in the house on the 23rd, must be a man. If not, the tradition says, someone in the house will have a bad back.

We must wear new underwear on Christmas and New Years Day.

While eating and enjoying Christmas Eve Dinner you may not put your fork down and pick it up. When you put it down you are finished.

Most of these customs do not make any sense; but we do them, just because it is tradition and fun.