Wigilia Explained: The 12 Dishes of Polish Christmas Eve and Where to Buy Them in NYC
For many Polish families in New York, Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper, is the most important night of the year, even more than Christmas Day itself. The twelve dishes, the wafer, the empty plate and the first star all mean something, and it helps to know what, especially when kids born in America are at the table. Here is what the traditions mean and which Wigilia dishes you can buy ready-made at the Polish Deli NYC stores.
Wigilia, the Polish Christmas Eve supper, traditionally has 12 meatless dishes, such as red borscht with tiny dumplings, sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi, fish, herring, kutia and poppy seed cake. In the New York area, Beata Deli in Valley Stream sells pierogi, borscht, sauerkraut and makowiec; call +1 (917) 327-1210 about Ranczo Deli in Queens.
In this guide you will learn
- The 12 dishes are usually said to honor the twelve apostles or the twelve months; the supper is traditionally meatless.
- Typical dishes: red borscht with uszka, mushroom soup, sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi, carp, herring, cabbage, kutia, poppy seed cake and dried fruit compote.
- Beata Deli in Valley Stream sells sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi, potato-cheese and sweet cheese pierogi, red borscht, sauerkraut, makowiec and cheesecake.
- Fish, uszka and dried mushrooms are not on the stores' standard list, so call +1 (917) 327-1210 before the holidays.
Why does Wigilia have twelve dishes?
There are two common explanations: twelve dishes for the twelve apostles, or for the twelve months of the year, with each dish bringing good fortune for one of them. That is why guests are encouraged to taste a little of everything on the table. In old Poland the number actually varied by social class, with peasant families serving fewer dishes and the nobility more, and twelve became the symbolic standard over time.
In many New York homes nobody counts dishes exactly. What matters is that the table is generous, meatless and includes the foods people remember from childhood. If you are explaining it to kids or American guests, the simplest version is this: it is a dinner where every dish means something, and sharing the meal matters more than the gifts that come after.
What usually goes on the Wigilia table?
The meal usually opens with soup: barszcz czerwony, a clear red beet borscht served with uszka (tiny mushroom-filled dumplings whose name means little ears), or a mushroom soup. Next come pierogi with sauerkraut and mushrooms, cabbage with peas or mushrooms, fish, most often fried carp or carp in aspic, and herring in oil or cream. Dessert means makowiec (poppy seed roll), gingerbread, kutia and a compote of dried fruit.
The lineup depends on the region and the family. Silesian homes serve moczka and makówki, eastern families make kutia, and others serve łazanki, short noodles with cabbage. One thing is constant: no meat. The meatless supper comes from Advent as a time of waiting, and fish, mushrooms, cabbage and flour were foods every family could afford in winter.
| Dish | What it is | Where in the Polish Deli NYC network |
|---|---|---|
| Barszcz czerwony (red borscht) | Clear beet soup, often served with uszka | Beata Deli, Valley Stream (on the prepared-foods list) |
| Sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi | Meatless dumplings with sauerkraut and mushrooms | Beata Deli, hot or frozen by the dozen |
| Ruskie and sweet cheese pierogi | Potato with farmer cheese; sweetened farmer cheese | Beata Deli, hot or frozen by the dozen |
| Sauerkraut (kapusta kiszona) | The base for cabbage with peas or mushrooms | Beata Deli, on the shelf |
| Makowiec, sernik | Poppy seed roll and Polish cheesecake | Beata Deli, on the shelf |
| Carp, herring, uszka, kutia | Fish, borscht dumplings, wheat and poppy seed dessert | Not on the standard list: call +1 (917) 327-1210 |
What do the wafer, the empty plate and the first star mean?
Supper starts when the first star appears in the sky, a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem. Kids watch for it from the window, which can be a challenge under New York's sky, so in practice families sit down after dark. Before eating, everyone shares opłatek, a thin Christmas wafer: each person breaks off a piece of someone else's and they exchange wishes for the coming year.
An extra place is set for an unexpected guest or a lost traveler, and in many homes it also honors loved ones who have passed away or stayed behind in Poland. A little hay goes under the tablecloth as a nod to the manger. After supper come carols and presents, and some families head to Pasterka, the midnight Mass. For Polish New Yorkers, these small gestures are often the strongest tie to home.
Which Wigilia dishes can you buy ready-made in New York?
Within the Polish Deli NYC network, the widest Christmas Eve selection is at Beata Deli, 234 Rockaway Avenue in Valley Stream, right where Queens meets Long Island. You'll find pierogi with sauerkraut and mushrooms, ruskie (potato and farmer cheese), sweet cheese and fruit pierogi, hot or frozen by the dozen, plus red borscht. The store also stocks sauerkraut for cabbage with peas, pickles, sourdough bread, makowiec, sernik (Polish cheesecake), chruściki and E.Wedel chocolates for gifts.
Ranczo Polish Deli at 93-04 101st Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens, has fresh prepared foods every Friday, but its holiday selection isn't published ahead of time. The same goes for carp, herring, uszka, dried mushrooms and kutia: they aren't on either store's standard list, so before you plan the menu, call +1 (917) 327-1210 and ask what will be available before Christmas.
How do you order Christmas Eve food in time?
Beata Deli takes phone orders for pickup at +1 (917) 327-1210. The days before Christmas are the busiest, so order early and give exact quantities, such as how many dozen sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi you need. Plan your pickup during store hours: Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 4 PM. There is free parking in front of the store.
Frozen pierogi can be bought weeks ahead and kept in the freezer, then boiled straight from frozen in salted water on December 24. Borscht and hot dishes are better picked up closer to the day. Holiday hours may differ from the regular schedule, so call to confirm before you make the trip.
For more practical details, see our related guides on guide to Polish delis in New York, as well as Polish food glossary with pronunciation, as well as traditional homemade Polish soups like borscht and żurek, as well as ordering Christmas Eve pierogi and borscht at Beata Deli.
How to Plan a Stress-Free Wigilia in New York
- Write your list of twelve dishesNote what your family can't do without and decide what you'll cook yourself and what you'll buy ready-made.
- Check what the store carriesCall +1 (917) 327-1210 and ask about pierogi, borscht, sauerkraut and baked goods, plus anything off the regular list such as fish.
- Order ahead for pickupBeata Deli takes phone orders for pickup; place yours early, because the days before Christmas are the busiest.
- Stock the freezerBuy frozen pierogi by the dozen in advance and boil them straight from the freezer on December 24.
Key terms in this guide
- Opłatek
- A thin unleavened wafer of flour and water embossed with Christmas scenes. Families break and share it at the start of Wigilia while exchanging wishes for the year ahead.
- Uszka
- Literally little ears: tiny dumplings, usually filled with mushrooms, folded into an ear shape and served floating in clear red borscht.
- Kutia
- A sweet dish of cooked wheat berries, poppy seeds, honey and dried fruit and nuts, typical of eastern Poland and often served alongside or instead of poppy seed cake.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there 12 dishes at Wigilia?
The number is usually linked to the twelve apostles or the twelve months, with each dish bringing luck for one month of the coming year. In many homes the custom of tasting every dish matters more than an exact count.
Is meat allowed on Polish Christmas Eve?
Traditionally the Wigilia supper is meatless, built on fish, mushrooms, cabbage and dough dishes. Some Polish American families relax the rule, but the classic table stays meat-free.
Where can I buy pierogi for Wigilia in New York?
Beata Deli at 234 Rockaway Avenue in Valley Stream sells sauerkraut and mushroom pierogi hot or frozen by the dozen, along with red borscht. Call +1 (917) 327-1210 to order for pickup.
Does Ranczo Deli in Queens sell Christmas Eve food?
Ranczo Polish Deli in Ozone Park has fresh prepared foods every Friday, but its holiday selection isn't published in advance. Call +1 (917) 327-1210 to ask what will be available before Christmas.
Visit Ranczo Deli in Queens or Beata Deli on Long Island
Both stores share one phone number: +1 (917) 327-1210. We speak Polish and English.
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