Culinary Journey to a Christmas Table

by Maciej Gabrys 

The holiday season is often associated with warmth, joy, and quality family time at the table covered in delightful dishes. In the realm of culinary celebrations, one dish, in particular, stands out as a symbol of Polish tradition and cultural identity—pierogi.

My journey with pierogi began in my early childhood. As a member of a close-knit family with solid Polish roots, pierogi has been a constant presence on our Christmas table. Making dough, smelling delicious fillings in the kitchen, and enjoying the tasty final dish evoke a deep sense of comfort and belonging.

Originating in Eastern Europe, pierogi are dumplings made from flour and filled with various ingredients (Hermann 18-21). Despite their apparent simplicity, these dumplings find variations in cuisines worldwide. Pierogi's global significance lies in its adaptability. They are similar to dumplings such as Japanese gyoza or Italian ravioli, with each culture adapting its unique flavors and nuances.

One of the most popular varieties today is pierogi ruskie, filled with potatoes and quark cheese. The name, which translates as "Russian dumplings," confuses Poles and foreigners (Noizz). This confusion arises because their origin is linked to Lviv, a territory that fell beyond Polish borders after World War II, thus called "Russian."

Additionally, pierogi with meat filling are also famous, featuring options such as pork, beef, chicken, or more sophisticated choices like lamb, duck, or goose meat. The meat is initially cooked and then ground before being added to the center of the dough, which is then closed around the filling. Pierogi can be served either boiled or fried, often with caramelized onions.

The tradition of serving pierogi on Christmas Eve is longstanding. Like other popular holiday traditions like turkey on Thanksgiving, serving pierogi has been a part of my family's holiday celebrations for generations in Poland. According to Christmas tradition, 12 dishes should be served on Christmas Eve, symbolizing the 12 apostles who sat with Jesus at The Last Supper. Pierogi are included in these dishes as part of the Christmas Eve tradition of not eating meat. Christmas pierogi typically come in variations such as pierogi ruskie (filled with potatoes and quark) and pierogi z kapustą i grzybami (with mushrooms and cabbage).

In his academic work, Wiktor Kulinski delves into the profound cultural significance of pierogi. He emphasizes how the process of making them serves the purpose of coming together to preserve traditions and define our identity (Kulinski 13-16). Kulinski's exploration of the culinary journey resonates with my own experiences.

Our family's preparations for Christmas begin approximately a week in advance, with the most engaging activity being the making of hundreds of pierogi. The process is not easy, mainly due to the additional time required for preparing the filling, which is made from dried wild mushrooms, which are boiled, strained, chopped, spiced, and then folded into rounds of dough. Typically, the entire family gathers in the kitchen, watching a movie together, or engaging in conversation. Each person takes turns holding rounds of dough, adding a small portion of potato filling, and then closing the dough around it. Time passes quickly, and before you know it, hundreds of pierogi are ready for the celebration.