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Zakopane Christmas and New Year's Eve

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Tis' the season to be jolly…. Christmas is one of the most attractive seasons in Zakopane. Lights are blinking on buildings and all the main streets. In the center of Krupówki - Zakopane's main promenade - a great, tall Christmas Tree is the main attraction. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day there aren't many tourists in town. The inhabitants of Zakopane greet each other with warm Polish cheer, saying Wesołych Świąt (Merry Christmas) instead of Dzień Dobry (Good Morning) or Cześć (Hello).

Christmas in Zakopane

Zakopane Krupowki street

Christmas Eve supper - Wigilia - is the most important meal of the year. We stay mostly at home with our families but there are a few restaurants open where tourists can order special Christmas Eve meal.
This special evening ends with attending Pasterka - a midnight Mass in the Catholic Churches. The most joyful and warmest Mass takes place in the tiny church on Wiktorówki Glade in the Tatra National Park.
On the second day of Christmas many tourists come to Zakopane for New Year Holiday break. The downtown streets, restaurants and inns are full of laughter and good cheer and the mountain slopes are full of happy skiers.

The most popular activity during the last days of the Old Year is a kulig - riding in a horse drawn sleigh - especially in the Chochołowska and Kościeliska Valleys. Evening rides with torches and meals served around bonfires are also very popular.

The best evening of the season is, of course, New Years Eve called Sylwester - as the last day of December is St. Silvester's name's day in the Catholic Church. There are plenty of interesting and enjoyable options for spending the last night of the year:

  1. an elegant ball in one of the luxury hotels
  2. a traditional folk party with a local, highlanders band in a regional restaurant
  3. a sleigh ride with torches including a traditional dinner in a highlander hut or meals served around bonfires
  4. New Year's Eve open air concert
  5. an overnight stay in one of the eight mountain shelters in the Tatra National Park (reservation should be made in advance)

    6. I warn you that between 29th of December and 2nd January there are terrible traffic jams on the access roads to Zakopane. Sreets in Zakopane are also overcrowded. It is best to travel from Krakow to Zakopane and back to Krakow by train (tickets must be purchased in advance!), and in Zakopane, if possible, travel on foot instead of by car or taxi.

    Barbara
    Christmas nativity scene

    Christmas nativity scene

    At the turn of December and January in Bernardine's church in upper Zakopane, you can admire a beautiful, mobile nativity scene (in the photo above). The crib was created in 1953 according to the design of Maria Veltuzen.
    The crib can be seen before and after masses and services from Christmas to the Epiphany / Three Kings' Day (6th of January).
    Masses on weekdays: 7.00, 18.00
    Masses on Sundays and holidays: 7.00, 8.30, 10.00, 11.30, 17.00, 19.00
    The church has two entrances: from 8 Karlowicza street (access by car) and from Bulwary Slowackiego 33.Barbara