Wigilia

From Polish Wigilia. Doublet of vigil.

Wigilia

1. The traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24.
   • 1945 January 24, Brenda Ueland, quoting the Polish Review, “What Goes on Here”, in Minneapolis Daily Times, volume 78, number 210, Minneapolis, Minn., →OCLC, page 11, column 1:

     Then two days before Wigilia, a German officer came to say that ‘Germans are humanitarians even towards criminals,’ so we could take part in the Christmas eve celebration.

   • 2016 December 8, Martha Saconchik-Pytel, “‘Wigilia’: Polish Heritage Society celebrates”, in Tallahassee Democrat, volume 111, number 343, Tallahassee, Fla., →ISSN, →OCLC, “Chronicle” section, page 2E, column 1:

     The covered dishes brought by those attending show their home region in Poland with certain Wigilia specialties.

   • 2022 December 21, Joanne Kempinger Demski, “Polish tradition: 12 dishes of Christmas all in 1 day for Wigilia dinner”, in Herald Times Reporter, volume 52, number 310, Manitowoc, Wis., →OCLC, page 2B, column 1:

     Most people don’t make their own herring for Wigilia, but they do buy it ready-made for their celebrations, Aleksandra Burzynski said.

• Wigilia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

From wigilia. Compare Italian Vigilia (“Christmas Eve”).

• IPA^(key): /viˈɡi.lja/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ilja
• Syllabification: Wi‧gi‧lia
• Homophone: wigilia

Wigilia f (related adjective wigilijny or wigiliowy)

1. (Christianity) Christmas Eve (evening before Christmas Day)

   Synonym: Gwiazdka

2. (Christianity) Christmas Eve (day before Christmas Day)

   Synonym: Gwiazdka

• Wigilia in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• Wigilia in Polish dictionaries at PWN