Kolęda - annual visit by the Priest

Driving home from school today, I heard an ominous clattering from beneath my car, and called in at the neighbouring workshop. They said they could do nothing today, as Kolęda starts at 3 p.m. and they were closing early. Kolęda usually goes on until about 8 or 9 o'clock. I had forgotten all about it.

Kolęda (Colenda) means Christmas carol in Polish, but it also refers to the annual visit to all Catholic homes (here 100%) in every parish in Poland by the Priest, in cassock and biretta, and two servers, the blessing of the house, and the saying of prayers. It lasts from 5 to 10 minutes, but depending on the weather and the garrulity of the Priest or the parishoners, it could arrive at your house at any time.

So I had to clean and tidy my house (Poles are very house-proud), have a table covered with a white cloth ready in my living-room. On the table there must be two candles, lit, a Crucifix, and a bowl of Holy Water with asperger (a brush). The whole thing will be very formal, even though the Priest teaches at my school, and the servers are my pupils.

The front door is left unlocked. When there is a sound of singing outside, the candles are lit. The Priest and servers will burst in KGB-style, singing a carol, and will greet you formally. The priest will say "Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus" (in English "May Jesus Christ be glorified"). 

The reply is, "Na wieki wieków, Amen.", in English "Forever and ever, Amen."

We go into the living room, kneel, and pray, and then the Priest blesses the house. I give an offering in an envelope, and they leave.

I must then write in chalk over my front door, "K+M+B+ to signify that the Three Kings have visited me. I do not clean the message off until the next Kolęda.

Beautiful. Kocham cię Polsko (I love you, Poland).

I hope the house is tidy enough.