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Local writer shares Polish holiday traditions
(by Sali McSherry - December 08, 2010)
Local writer shares Polish holiday traditions
By SALI McSHERRY
A Polish holiday tradition is exchanging Christmas wafers with family and friends and wishing them health and happiness.
It is just one of the happy memories and continuing traditions Pauline Eadie, of Bentleyville, tells in her children's book, "Wigilia," a tale about a Polish-American family on Christmas Eve. She authored the book under her pen name Paulina Karwowska.
Born in Poland, Mrs. Eadie immigrated to the United State at the age of 5. Raised in America in a Polish family, she said she learned to balance two cultures and is passionate about preserving her traditions for her three children and future Polish-American children.
Mikolaj, or Santa, is at the heart of the book -- "Mikolaj is here! Mikolaj is here! -- the children chimed in together as they ran to the front door. Karolina pulled the door open, letting the brisk winter air rush in. Standing before them stood Mikolaj with a heavy load of gifts on his back."
Mrs. Eadie has fond memories of when she was a child. Her father dressed up as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and she and her sister used to sing, dance and recite poetry to show their family how much they learned throughout the year.
She is sharing those customs with her husband, Jeffrey, and their three children, a second-grader, first-grader and preschooler, who will be reciting poetry and singing, she said.
Another Polish and family tradition is "Wigilia," the Christmas Eve vigil supper where 12 dishes are served, including meatless pirogies, red borscht, carp, and poppy-seed salad.
Mrs. Eadie is a former English teacher at Mayfield High School and writes a blog about her world now as a stay-at-home mother. She said a Polish-American woman from North Royalton, whose family doesn't know much about the holiday traditions from her heritage, will read the book out loud during the season as a new family tradition.
She's heard from people who say the book reminds them of their childhood and they are buying it for their grandparents, parents and children.
Through social media, namely her blog, she asked artists to submit a sample. She received hundreds of e-mails from those interested in illustrating the book, from a Norway art student, to a 12-year daughter of a Colorado professor, Mrs. Eadie said. She happened to love the work of an artist, Jillian Dister, who turned out to be from Medina and illustrated the book, she said. She also will be at the book signing and the two will meet face to face for the first time.
Web designer Mark G. Davis, of Shaker Heights, also worked to make her dream of publishing the book come true, she said.
Mrs. Eadie said, "I wanted to preserve my heritage and honored traditions for generations to come."
The book signing will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 11 at Fireside Book Shop, 29 N. Franklin St. in Chagrin Falls.
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