Traveling to spend Christmas in Poland

Hi I am going to travel to Poland this December for a few weeks. I will actually be flying into Germany to visit some friends there, then take a train (if possible) to Poland.This will be my first time out of the U.S. Can anyone give me some tips about Poland please? What is the weather like for Christmas? I will be staying in Kielce, anyone know of the city? I also would like to see Warsaw. How much money should I bring also? How much is a USD worth in Polish money?

Nicole

Hi Nicole,

The weather in Christmas is sort of cold - I guess around 30-40 degrees or less. Especially in Kielce -- it's "the Polish capital of wind and cold" . Kielce is on the East of Poland and is not as well-developed as Warsaw, but it's a nice city. In Warsaw it's a little warmer. It's definately cheaper to stay in Kielce than in Warsaw (especially if you're going to stay in a hotel).

One US dollar is currently worth about 3.10 Zlotych. A regular hamburger and fries in Mc Donald's may cost about 9 Zlotych (3 dollars) - note that the portions are a little smaller than in the US . Actually, most things - especially foods in restaurtants - seem a little smaller compared to what is in the US where they put tons of food on your plate. But the quality matters, not the quantity .

For one person to be comfortable I would assume to have at leat $100 a day.

Thanks Tlum for the useful info. I'm not used to very cold winters because I live in California but it will still be fun to have snow on Christmas
As for the smaller portions of food, that is fine because I don't eat much in U.S and I usually do have to get Kids meals at Mc Donalds I can't wait to try some traditional Polish food.
I've heard stories of theft in Kielce, But there is that also in big cities in the U.S so I am prepared for that.
I'm excited about going to Poland, it will be a lot of fun

Hmm...what can I say about being in Poland during Christmas??? It's very cold!!! I come from Canada so I'm used to the dry-cold we experience here. The kind of cold I experienced in Poland was kind of different...the cold there penetrates your body down to your bones (even in -10 weather). I just know that next time I go to Poland during the Christmas season, never to listen to my Polish boyfriend that it's warm. This is coming from someone who had to buy extra socks from a "stragan" (outdoors market). Btw, it was not the most recent cold winter but the "mild" one before that.

Feb 7, 07 [12:12] - Attached on merging:
christmas in Poland

What is Christmas like in Poland

they are great. Personaly I love them. they are family holidays. we prepere food, which is cooked only at this time, give each other present... I think they are different then in other countries

Do you believe in Santa Claus when you're a child in Poland?

Yes, of coruse. but Santa Claus gives presents on 6 of december. And little Angel (Aniołek, in some part of Poland called Gwiazdor) on Christmas Eve

and do the 3 kings bring gifts on 6 jan?

no, Ive never heard about it. but meybe in other part of Poland. dunno.

spanish kids get their *santa* visit on 6 jan from los reyes magicos - the magic kings... thought it might be a catholic thing...

After 6th December and 25th December I think they are skint. I know I am by 6th Jan.

We celebrate Jan 7th Christmas here in the US, but we are not the same as everyone else. We are combining the Russian and Greek Orthodox "Old Christmas" together when we do that. This is so that my Greek Orthodox husband and his Russian Orthodox- believing mother can have "their" holiday, as they celebrated it when he was a child.

I am still confused by their calendars, because they do not do everything the old way, just Christmas and Easter. They have different holy days and name days than do the Roman Catholics and Moravians (Protestants) in my family, also, so I gave up trying to figure that stuff out years ago.

They jokingly call my Christmas, Dec 25th, Pagan Christmas!

Do kids put up stockings on fireplace mantels, or shoes filled with hay (for Santa's reindeer or horse) in Poland? And is there a devilish elf or imp that goes along with Santa, to put coal in shoes or stockings of bad boys and girls, or is that only in Spain/Italy/elsewhere?

I was in Poland for XMAS this year with my in-laws.

It was enjoyable and I saw a lot of traditions that no longer exist in my home country, such as wren boys

I don't recognise that as something we did when I was a child. Although raised in the UK my parents followed Polish tradition but we did get Polish stockings filled with things but they weren't left on the mantlepiece.

its really cold in Varsovie . but theres such pretty christmas lights all over town

Varsovie ?...hmm...are you French ?...