How one Bay of Plenty family blends Polish and Kiwi Christmas traditions

The Frears keep Polish traditions alive in a Kiwi summer. From left: Emma, Agnieszka, Sofia, Matt, and Anya. Photo / Bijou Johnson

Christmas looks different for the half-Polish, half-Kiwi Frears family after moving from Europe to New Zealand eight years ago.

With Polish dumplings on Christmas Eve and a Kiwi barbecue on Christmas Day, Agnieszka Frear balances the Christmas traditions on both sides of her family.

Originally from Poland, Agnieszka met her Kiwi husband Matt more than 10 years ago in London.

The couple started raising their family there, then bid farewell to a white Christmas with their daughters when they moved back to Matt’s home in the Bay of Plenty.

Eldest daughter Sofia, 10, was born in Poland, while middle child Emma, 7, was born in London, and 4-year-old Anya was born in Tauranga.

Although Sofia could not remember celebrating a white Christmas, Agnieszka had shared stories with her children about her experiences.

One Christmas, Agnieszka’s family was snowed in, and they could not leave the house for a day.

While Agnieszka could not bring snow to the Bay of Plenty, she kept Polish traditions alive through food.

Agnieszka and Matt Frear's daughters. From left: Sofia, Anya and Emma. Photo / Bijou Johnson

“My family start baking two days before Christmas.”

Think poppy seed cakes, scrolls, cheesecakes, chocolate cakes and biscuits.

Stomach grumbling yet?

The food did not stop there.

On Christmas Eve, her family usually has 12 dishes at the table – all vegetarian or fish.

It was tradition not to eat meat on December 24.

Dishes included stews, sauerkraut soup, beetroot soup, potatoes, fish, rice, dumplings, fruit compote and croquettes.

“We waited until we could see the first star in the night sky,” Agnieszka said, then the family followed a series of Catholic traditions before eating.

They put a white cloth on the table, lit a candle, shared a wafer and said a prayer.

“Then we had to try every single dish, even if you’re not a big fan.”

Sometimes her family would go to church at midnight.

Agnieszka said Christmas Day in Poland was more relaxed, with plenty of food – including meat.

But her family did one thing Kiwis could not: activities in the snow.

“Some years were full of snow, so we made big igloos.”

Agnieszka said they also made snowmen or went sledding.

Although it never snows in the Bay of Plenty on Christmas, Agnieszka has kept Polish traditions alive for her young family.

She represents the Bay of Plenty for the Polish Community Trust.

On December 7, about 70 people from the local Polish community came together for a Christmas lunch.

The Frears making Polish Christmas cookies with chocolate and cinnamon. Photo / Bijou Johnson

Everybody brought a Polish dish and sang traditional Polish songs.

This year, Agnieszka’s sister Anya had joined them for Christmas.

Together, they planned to prepare Polish dishes on Christmas Eve.

“Pierogi, which are Polish dumplings, a beetroot or sauerkraut soup, a few cakes and some compote,” Agnieszka said, listing the menu.

Her daughters are not big fans of the sauerkraut or mushroom filling in the dumplings, so Agnieszka will make a meat-filled version.

Christmas Day would be spent Kiwi-style at Matt’s sister’s house.

“We’re going to have a barbecue and then go to the beach for a swim.

“It’s completely different. Different food and different experiences.”

The kids would also play cricket and volleyball.

She said her kids loved pavlova, and last year they made one and decorated it with strawberries and berries.

“Keeping the balance and the tradition is very important to me.”

Agnieszka said her kids were proud to be half-Polish and half-Kiwi.

They performed at a multicultural festival each year in March, where they wore national clothes, ate traditional Polish cakes and danced.

She said it was hard when they first moved to New Zealand, being so far away from her family.

“It’s this lovely warmth from family when you do everything together, and you share stories. I have to start all this from scratch.

“But every year the kids are older, and we build our own traditions, which are now a blend of Polish and Kiwi.”

Agnieszka said one day, her family would return to Poland for Christmas.

Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.