Merry Christmas in Polish: 20+ Wishes, Happy New Year and Christmas Market Phrases

Every December, Wrocław’s Market Square turns into one big Christmas market: wooden stalls, lights over the old townhouses, the smell of mulled wine and gingerbread – and a lot of foreigners pointing at things because they don’t know how to ask. I grew up here, and every year I hear the same questions from my students: how do I say Merry Christmas to my Polish family? What do I write in a card? And how do I order grzaniec without switching to English?

So here is everything in one place. First, watch me order mulled wine at a real Polish Christmas market – then the greetings, Christmas small talk, Happy New Year and 20+ wishes for every person in your life. Every video is under a minute, so you can hear exactly how it sounds.

At a Polish Christmas market: how to order mulled wine and more

Almost every big Polish city has a Christmas market – jarmark bożonarodzeniowy or jarmark świąteczny – from about the end of November and through December. In Wrocław it fills the Market Square; Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań and Warsaw have big ones too. Here is a real order at a mulled-wine stall, exactly as in my video.

Teacher’s tip: the mug deposit (kaucja) surprises everyone. You pay extra for the mug, and you get it back when you return it – or you keep the mug as a souvenir, which plenty of people do. In Wrocław the mug is shaped like a little boot – the one I’m holding in the photo at the top. And notice grzańca, not grzaniec: in spoken Polish, many masculine words for food and drink take this ending after poproszę – just like Poproszę loda (an ice cream, please).

More phrases for the Christmas market

What to eat and drink at a Polish Christmas market

For ordering food anywhere – the bakery, a café, Żabka – see my Polish phrases for everyday situations, also with short videos.

How do you say Merry Christmas in Polish?

The one phrase you need is Wesołych Świąt! – literally “merry holidays”. It works with everyone: your partner’s grandmother, your boss and the lady at the bakery. Capitals in the pronunciation mark the stressed syllable.

Teacher’s tip: why wesołych and not wesołe? Every Polish wish hides the verb życzę – “I wish (you)” – which needs the genitive case. That is why almost all the wishes below end in -ych or -ego. The full story of Polish Christmas Eve – the first star, opłatek and the twelve dishes – is in my guide to Polish Christmas traditions and Wigilia.

Christmas small talk: the tree, shopping and presents

In December every Polish conversation turns to Christmas. This little dialogue from my video is what you will hear at work, in a shop or at a friend’s place.

Teacher’s tip: look at bombki → nie kupiłam bombek and łańcuchy → nie mam łańcuchów. After nie, the object goes into the genitive case – one of the first big rules of Polish. Speaking to a man, say Udekorowałeś instead of Udekorowałaś.

Five more questions you will hear all December:

How to say Happy New Year in Polish

Teacher’s tip: capital letters matter. Nowy Rok with capitals is the holiday – 1 January. nowy rok in small letters is the whole new year ahead. In wishes, most Poles write it with capitals.

Polish Christmas wishes for family, your partner, friends and colleagues

Poles love wishes – at Christmas everyone wishes everyone something, usually health first. Pick the line that fits the person.

A ready-made card: Kochani! Zdrowych, spokojnych Świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku! Dużo miłości i spełnienia marzeń życzy Tom. – “My dears! Healthy, peaceful holidays and a happy New Year! Lots of love and may your dreams come true, wishes Tom.” Yes, Poles sign with życzy + name – “wishes Tom”. Writing to your partner? You might like my post on how to say I love you in Polish.

Your first Polish Christmas? Start with five words

You don’t need fluent Polish to make your Polish family smile this Christmas. Wesołych Świąt, Nawzajem, Smacznego (enjoy your meal), Dziękuję and Wszystko było pyszne will carry you through the whole evening. The rest of the table phrases are in my guide to Wigilia.

And if this is the year you want to understand what everyone is actually saying, start now – by next Christmas you can be the one making the toast. Learning for your partner? There is an A1 course for people with a Polish partner. Polish roots in the family? Try the A1 course for people with Polish roots. Not sure where to begin? My 6-step plan to learn Polish from zero shows the way. Wesołych Świąt!