Today in Poland it is Trzech Kroli, the feast of the Three Kings. It is the twelfth night (Swiety Wieczory) of Christmas . Kind of the official end of the Christmas season and the beginning of carnival (zapusty) which culminates in Ash Wednesday, I believe–or maybe it’s Candlemas Day, Feb. 2nd. At any rate, today is Trzech Kroli.
On this night Poles take small boxes containing amber, a gold ring, and incense–and a piece of chalk. With the chalk they will write on their doorposts in honor of the three kings, a hope for protection against illness and misfortune in 2012, They will write: 20 K+M+B 12
They may also bake a King Cake with a lucky coin or almond baked into it. The one who receives that will host the next party.
You can read more about the Polish Trzech Kroli customs here: http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/polishchristmastraditions/a/threekings.htm.
