Business in the front…Party in the back!
That’s my daughter, baby!
It’s August. Why would you write a blog about The Christmas Mullet? You may ask.
Well. I figured August was the PERFECT time. After all, there are moments in life when you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want your children to look good. No. Scratch that. Not good-GREAT!
Christmas is definitely one time.
And back to school another.
Both perfect times for memorable photos. You know, the photos that actually make it into the photo album. The moments that you actually cherish…forever!
I figured, since most children were getting ready to go back to school-or just went-it’d be the perfect time for a little seasonal humor.
What you have to remember are three things:
1. We live in Poland
2. They eat a lot of soup in Poland
3. They especially celebrate Christmas Eve
And so it happened. It was the evening before Wigilia. Which means, December 23rd. Poland is a very old country steeped in tradition. And there is hardly a day bigger in Poland than December 24th itself. Wigilia is The Day!
Everything is done for their Wigilia dinner to make it just traditionally perfect! And, oh, it is quite lovely.
So, before we get to Adelyne’s Christmas Mullet, let me introduce you to a few Polish Christmas Eve (Wigilia) traditions.
Traditions include:
Linens on the table—crisp and white, often with hay/straw tucked underneath the tablecloth as a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ in a humble manger.
An empty chair and place setting—a reminder that there was no room at the Inn for Mary and Joseph. If a stranger happens by, they are welcomed in and given the chair.
(I haven’t heard of that happening yet, though, with any of our friends. But the thought is lovely)
The children watch for the first star of the evening (to symbolize when Christ was born), the Gwiazdka. And when the first star is seen, my favorite part of Wigilia takes place-the breaking of the oplatek (the Christmas wafer).
The wafer is then shared with those around you as you exchange beautiful wishes and love. It is as heartwarming as it sounds. Warm fuzzies to be sure. Oooh. And I forgot. As you share the oplatki with those in the room, you get kisses too. What fun!
In the homes we’ve attended for Wigilia, Luke 2:1-21 is read. The head of home stands as he reads the Holy Scriptures. It’s beautifully reverent. After the reading, it’s time to pray and eat!
Oh the eating is soooo good! 12 meatless dishes are very traditional in Poland for Wigilia. And when I say 12 meatless dinners, I should also say that 1 of those dishes is traditionally carp. Want to know the fun behind that? Some people buy the carp alive at the grocery store and keep it in their bathtub until it’s time to prepare said carp for the Wigilia meal.
*Woot-woot! We had fun with that tradition. Robert twas a good carp.*
After the meal, the Gwiazdor comes (Starman) and delivers presents!
And, of course, many koledy are sung (Christmas carols).
Perhaps this helped paint a picture of why I would have HOPED (obviously, flawed thinking to begin) that my daughter might just, for once in her life, TRY to avoid disaster for one day 😉
But, of course, her daddy HAD to serve her soup for lunch.
And what happened when she went in for her first bite of barszcz (borscht)??? Her hair fell into her soup. Heaven forbid! She couldn’t have that. So she hopped right down from the table and went for her school supplies and, low and behold, found a miraculous pair of “fixers” aka scissors. Where was daddy? That’s the question that was heard around the world.
Let’s just say—her paper cutting skills were already bad. Now you are witness to the fact that her hair cutting skills were even worse!
So, here it is, folks. The evening of December 23rd. I have a daughter with a mullet. We have Polish Wigilia the next day. Woe to me. No Christmas card pictures this year!
Dun…dun..da…dun…Mullet time!
Perhaps, however, this mullet is FAR better than your average Christmas card anyway…
Like I quoted at the beginning…Business in the front. Party in the back! Although, from the looks of Adelyne’s mullet, she must have been going for the half business full party mullet.
Well, if that’s what she was going for, she succeeded! Brilliantly.
Wesolych Swiat, my friends! Wesolych Swiat! (Merry Christmas)
Hope your 1st day of school pictures turn out a tad bit better…perhaps even mulletless.
And 2 Makes Crazy 