The Breaking Of Bread

Christmas at my house always starts with the sharing of Oplatek on Christmas Eve. The square wafer sits in peices on a glass plate as we are all called for dinner. The four of us gather around and each take a piece. Then someone says OK and each person offers another his or her wafer. The offeree breaks a piece off the wafer of the offeror and vice versa with hugs and kisses and wishes of Merry Christmas. Then we sit down to a simple fish dinner. It's a quiet celebration, a time to enjoy each others company before the chaos of Christmas Day. No presents, no fighting over presents, no relatives calling, no Christmas carols. For us Christmas starts with a gesture of sharing and it may be the moment I enjoy most all year.