In Polish tradition, Christmas Eve in the main celebration, with Christmas Day and Dec 26 (the Second Day of Christmas) being "carbo coma" days.

The process is that most places of business close around 2pm. Women rush home to complete the dinner preparations, which have been underway for days.

And what a meal it is! Ten to 12 courses are eaten - fish, soups, pierogi, plus sweets. During the feast, some adult slips out of the room to let Santa Claus (Święty Mikołaj) into the living room.

After dinner everyone retires to the living room to see what Mikołaj left. Most families do this meal twice on Christmas Eve night!! (Gotta please the out-laws!)

Then there's midnight mass. At midnight.

We sprung for a "traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner" of six courses, and even in my gluttony I remembered to take photos of most of them. It was fabulous!

Salmon served with dill and wholemeal toast in hay aroma

Herring served with trout caviar with Polish crayfish cream

Ruby beetroot soup with mushrooms and cabbage pierogi

Entree: Breaded carp served with cabbage and split peas (Barb chose Sirloin beefsteak with baked split peas in prune sauce)

Poppy seeds strudel served with caramelized walnut (and a little dollop of ice cream!)