In northeastern Poland, the Kurpie region has preserved unique New Year and Christmas traditions for centuries. Beyond family gatherings and festive meals, locals once practiced powerful rituals to ensure prosperity and good fortune. Central to these customs was the baking of ceremonial breads: byśki and nowe latko.
What Are Byśki and New Latka?
Nowe latko – the name literally refers to the “new year”. This ceremonial bread was often shaped as a wide ring, decorated with small dough figurines. A central figure of a shepherd or household head would be surrounded by representations of poultry and other animals. The design symbolized protection and abundance for the home throughout the year.
Byśki – small dough figures representing wild animals (deer, hares, squirrels) and farm animals (cows, bulls, horses, poultry). Some byśki were intended as charms to bring fertility and prosperity to the household.
Nowe latko: Ancient Beliefs and Practices
In the Kurpie region, baking these breads carried strong magical significance. Finished breads were often hung in a prominent place in the home to “guard” the household for the entire year. Historically, the main work of shaping the dough fell to the men of the household, while other family members assisted. These were not ordinary treats but ceremonial creations imbued with symbolic meaning.
Ethnographers suggest that the number of animal figurines on the nowe latko could correspond to the months of the year, making it a folk calendar as well as a protective charm.
How Byśki Were Used
Byśki were often given to children for play and eating, and in some households, they were soaked in water and fed to farm animals to promote fertility and health. Modern research and cultural heritage records confirm that baking byśki and nowe latko is a valued element of local tradition, officially listed on Poland’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. While the magical beliefs are mostly historical, the practice survives as a testament to Kurpie folk culture.