Poles abroad celebrate festive season

Expatriate Poles around the world were getting together to sing carols and share the traditional Christmas wafer, a symbol of unity and friendship, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

“Poles living abroad want to maintain contact with their native country in terms of both culture and language, but also religion,” said Dariusz Bonisławski, head of the Polish Community, a Poland-based non-governmental organisation that aims to strengthen ties with compatriots abroad.

“Spending time together during the holidays is a great way to develop the bond with all things Polish,” he added.

Around 20 million Poles live abroad, including 4 million in Western Europe, 1.5 million in Eastern Europe and 12.5 million in the Americas, the IAR news agency reported, citing foreign ministry data.

Top officials have offered season’s greetings as millions of Poles celebrated the Christmas holidays with family gatherings, caroling and church services.

President Andrzej Duda has extended Christmas wishes “to all members of our Polish community at home and abroad.”

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Source: IAR