Carp, the traditional centerpiece of the Polish Christmas dinner, is in short supply this winter.
It’s not to everyone’s taste, is the carp – not even to some Poles. But most just love to tuck into one of the slimy beasts on Christmas Eve, when the main meal is eaten here.
So it was with alarm that many read an article in the Fakt tabloid last week pointing out that the low temperatures Poland experienced last Spring hit Mr. and Mrs. Carp’s ability to produce lots of little, nipper carp.
Only half the usual amount survived the cold months of April and May. And what fish there is this Christmas will be significantly higher in price than usual.
This raises the grave possibility that Poles living in the UK will be not just be sending home money this Xmas.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Carp shortage shock!
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8 comments:
This is probably the one Polish tradition I just can't get to grips with. In every other Christian country, the main festive meal is a sumptuous affair with lots of rich foods, sweet and savoury; and lots of meat.
Yet Poland seems to approach it almost puritanically: no meat is allowed, and the dishes that are served mostly consist of a collection of standard Polish dishes (sans carne). I never find the carp and jellied vegetables terribly appetising, and find the whole affair anti-festive.
I'd love for someone to point out the error of my ways here, because I embrace most other Polish traditions, but wigilia seems a complete let-down.
Carp is orrible. I want MEAT! And lots of alcohol.
Don't worry. There will still be a shortage of carp coming out of GB. I read somewhere that the national team's starting goalie's new job is carp catcher.
Wigilia is certainly an assault on culinary common sense. Thank goodness for all the vodka once common sense is properly anaesthetised then you can pick at food.
How many families are having a proper meal on Christmas day?
well blogger's got an other bee up it's ass about recognizing me and ate my comment.
abbreviated:
Hint to non-Polish people. Don't think of Wigilia as Christmas dinner, it's not (it's the end of advent but still advent so no meat). Think of it as a different, new holiday, that helps (it helped me at least). There's time enough for meat on Christmas.
I can't say I like carp (keeping it in the bathtub was/is supposed to wash out some of the muddy flavor), but I've never had reason to complain about a lack of good things to eat on Wigilia and never left the Wigilia table less than completely stuffed.
It is wonderfully Catholic how Poles turn what should be a celebration into a chore.
Personally I like to combine the Polish day of celebrating with the Polish way of celebrating: I go back to the UK and celebrate Christmas eve by getting absolutely arseholed with my mates before considering the idea of midnight mass and rejecting it after last time (mate throwing up in the bowl full of holy water by the door). I then spend Christmas day attempting to keep well away from my sister's house apes and their noise-making toys before feeding them a kilo of sweets 15 minutes before they go home.
will eat anything?
interestingly in many parts of europe carp is not considered suitable for eating
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