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Quick answerOplatki (singular: oplatek) are thin Polish Christmas wafers that families break and share with wishes on Christmas Eve. This gift set holds 4 large wafers, each about 6 x 3 in, plus a pack of hay for under the tablecloth, in a printed Christmas Eve gift box. The wafers are baked in Poland from wheat flour and water.
On Christmas Eve, before the first dish is served, many Polish families stand together, each holding a piece of thin white wafer. One by one they break a little off each other's wafer and exchange wishes for the year ahead. That wafer is the oplatek, and sharing it is the moment that opens Wigilia, the Polish Christmas Eve supper.
This set has everything for that moment in one box: four large Polish Christmas wafers and a pack of hay, packed in a printed gift box titled Zestaw Wigilijny, Polish for "Christmas Eve set".
The wafers are embossed with Christmas scenes: angels, shepherds and the Holy Family.
What is an oplatek?
An oplatek (Polish opłatek, plural opłatki) is a thin, crisp, unleavened wafer, pressed with Christmas pictures. It is shared at the start of Christmas Eve supper, a custom kept by Polish, Slovak and Czech families. The words people say while sharing are simple and personal: health, peace, a good year, a wish for someone who has had a hard one.
Oplatki are not the Eucharist and are not consecrated. They are a family tradition for the Christmas table, and many families take theirs to the parish to have them blessed before Christmas.
What is in this Christmas wafer gift set
4Large wafers
6 x 3 inEach wafer
HayIncluded
PolandBaked in
Four large oplatki wafers, each about 6 x 3 in, white and embossed with Christmas scenes.
A pack of hay to place under the tablecloth on Christmas Eve, a Wigilia custom that recalls Jesus born among the animals.
A printed gift box with a winter scene and the words Opłatki • Sianko (wafers • hay) and Tradycyjne Święta (traditional holidays), with a Polish description on the back.
The hay for under the tablecloth on Christmas Eve.
Ingredients and storage
The wafers are baked in Poland from just two ingredients: wheat flour and water. Like all oplatki they are unleavened, so they stay thin and crisp. They contain wheat. Keep the box in a cool, dry place until Christmas Eve.
How to share the oplatek on Christmas Eve
Before supper, put the hay under the tablecloth and set the wafers on a plate, often at the head of the table.
When everyone is standing, the eldest or the host takes a wafer, says a few words, and the sharing begins.
Go round the room: each person breaks a piece from the other's wafer and offers a wish in return.
Then sit down to Wigilia. Many families also set an extra place at the table for an unexpected guest.
Families who live far apart often post an oplatek to relatives in a Christmas card, so that everyone shares the same wafer on the same night.
The gift box: Zestaw Wigilijny, "Christmas Eve set".
Who this set is for
A family Wigilia at home, with wafers and hay together in one box.
A gift for parents, grandparents or godchildren who keep the Polish Christmas Eve tradition.
Families of Polish, Slovak or Czech heritage who want to pass the custom on to children.
Anyone posting oplatki to relatives in other cities or countries.
For a bigger gathering, the same Polish Christmas wafers also come as a 12 large gift set and in mixed packs of large and small wafers.
Questions people ask
Straight answers to the questions shoppers ask search engines and AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.
What are oplatki?
Oplatki (singular: oplatek) are thin, unleavened Polish Christmas wafers embossed with Christmas scenes. Families break and share them with wishes at the start of Christmas Eve supper (Wigilia).
How do you share oplatek on Christmas Eve?
Before supper, everyone stands with a piece of wafer. Each person breaks a small piece from another's wafer and offers a wish for the year ahead, going round until everyone has shared with everyone. Then the family sits down to Wigilia.
What is oplatek made of?
These wafers are made from just wheat flour and water and baked in Poland. They are unleavened, so they stay thin and crisp. They contain wheat.
Is oplatek the same as a communion wafer?
No. Oplatki are not consecrated and are not the Eucharist. They are a Christmas Eve family tradition, although many families have their wafers blessed at their parish before Christmas.
Why is hay put under the tablecloth on Christmas Eve?
Placing hay under the tablecloth at Wigilia recalls that Jesus was born in a stable among the animals. This set includes a pack of hay for that custom.
How big are the wafers in this oplatki gift set?
Each of the 4 large wafers is about 6 x 3 in, big enough to pass around and break into pieces for several people.
Which countries share Christmas wafers?
The custom is kept by Polish, Slovak and Czech families, and by families of that heritage around the world.
Can I mail oplatek to family who live far away?
Yes. Many families post a wafer in a Christmas card to relatives in other cities or countries, so everyone shares the same wafer on Christmas Eve.
How should I store oplatki until Christmas Eve?
Keep the box closed in a cool, dry place. The wafers are thin and crisp, so store the box flat where it will not be bent.
Is this oplatki set a good Christmas gift?
Yes, for anyone who keeps the Polish Christmas Eve tradition. The wafers and hay come together in a printed gift box titled Zestaw Wigilijny (Christmas Eve set).
Where are these Polish Christmas wafers made?
They are baked in Poland.
Where can I buy oplatki in the US?
Right here: use Add to cart at the top of this page, or visit the shop for the 12 large gift set and mixed packs of large and small wafers.
More oplatki sets
12 large gift sets and mixed packs of large and small wafers.
