Wilia / Wigilia

[gardenmoma]

Two different words; two different pronunciations...both essentially meaning the same thing...from the Latin vigilare, to watch; the day before Jesus' birth, Christmas.

But why...two different words and pronunciations? I was told a few months back that this was due to Polish regional differences. However, I can not verify this.

Any suggestions? Comments? References?

Thanks

I posted the above message at the beginning of December on the General Boards...received one reply from Frank (see next posting)...

So, am wondering if anyone that frequents this board might know the answer

[gardenmoma]

franek80 said:

GM;
Good question. I can relate to this.. My family refered to both words.. I never asked why.

[franek80]

MOMA;
I am going to confuse you a little more... KOLEDY>>>> KOLENDI Same thing.. Where are you in Western Mass?

[Jaga]

We were always using the word "Wigilia" in Poland , I am not sure how "wilia" originates. Maybe this is just an abbreviation from "wigilare"? In Polish "Wilia" and "Wigilia" are pronounced similarly.

Do Americans use the word "Wilia" or "wigilia" ever? (except if they are of Polish origin) - therefore your question about pronunciation

[kaima]

Along the same line of similar words (for those of us un-initiated into the language) was the Czech/Slovak work "chudak" for "poor"... I can only hear "hudak" (musician) when it is spoken, (chudák with the accent over the a).

It is only very recently someone pointed out my confusion! I am happy to finally have that cleared up.

[Jaga]

Kai,

thsi word for music "hudba" in Czech always amazed me. It is so different than in every other Slavic language!!!

but "chudziak" or "chudy" means the same "thin person" in Polish ( or poor). It is hard for me to believe that both words have the same origin.

On the other hand Poles have a very strange word for a woman "kobieta" - this word is not used in any other slavic language. Some people joke that "kobieta" came from "kobyla" meaning "female cow" but I do not believe so...

[gardenmoma]

admin said:

We were always using the word "Wigilia" in Poland , I am not sure how "wilia" originates. Maybe this is just an abbreviation from "wigilare"? In Polish "Wilia" and "Wigilia" are pronounced similarly.

Do Americans use the word "Wilia" or "wigilia" ever? (except if they are of Polish origin) - therefore your question about pronunciation

No, Americans do not use the terms Wilia or Wigilia. Most Americans, unless they have some family customs - usually ethnic - do not celebrate Christmas Eve. And more and more young families - who have the monetary means - are celebrating Christmas itself at resorts or skiing. I have some cousins who grew up as I did who travel or ski during the Christmas break. Also, some magazines / other type publications are popularizing this sort of Christmas as an opportunity to get away from cooking, household preparations, etc.

As a child and older, we used the word Wilia and pronounced it Vee lee a. When I came to live in this part of MA, I was surprised to find the spelling Wigilia, pronounced Why gee lee a.

[nancy]

As a child and older, we used the word Wilia and pronounced it Vee lee a. When I came to live in this part of MA, I was surprised to find the spelling Wigilia, pronounced Why gee lee a.

I grew up in western MA (where you are now). My family spelled it Wigilia but pronounced it Vee lee oh ... sort of a mix of your spellings and pronounciations.

[gardenmoma]

Nancy,

Very interesting Perhaps there are two spellings of the same word? And the pronunciation Why gee lee a is a "American bastardization" of the way it should be pronounced...

Anyone else have any ideas?

[Yanc]

As far as I know, Wilia was used mostly in eastern regions of Poland, dated back to middle ages. It was probably of Lithuanian origin. Wigilia was used in western part of Poland. Western and eastern to which I am referring do not match these of present times.

Jaga - "Koby³a" is female HORSE not COW. ;D

[piwo]

gardenmoma said:

Nancy,

Very interesting Perhaps there are two spellings of the same word? And the pronunciation Why gee lee a is a "American bastardization" of the way it should be pronounced...

Anyone else have any ideas?

Well, it certainly is a bastardization of the pronunciation: W in Polish makes the V sound (occasionally F) so if it doesn't sound like V to start with, it's someone pronouncing what they see using English rules, not Polish rules. A link I posted yesterday used to have good pronunciation links attached, but they don't seem to be working when I tried them. I'll try to find a better resource.

[Bob S]

;D I always remember "Wigilia" my sister in Michigan still uses the term and this seemed like a magical time and even a better evening than Christmas Day itself. Great expectations were prevalent and this was the time to eat, drink and be merry with friends, family and even complete strangers. Ahh! good memories of days in the past. ;D

[gardenmoma]

14 June 2007

So good to see this topic at the top of the "new list." I have an article which I wrote many years ago about Wilia which I will get out and dust off and get it onto the Polish site before Christmas. I am hoping that you all might enjoy it :0

GM

[scatts]

Excellent GM! The more we can get in here about Poland, the better! Thanks.

I've really enjoyed digging out these old Polish threads and I hope to find a lot more when I start going through food & drink and books.

[Pawian]

I googled for this difference. It isn`t quite right what Yanc said that Wilia was used in the East of Poland. Poles who lived in today`s Lithuania, for example, used both terms: Wilia and Wigilia.

These two words are synonyms but:

Wilia has a meaning of religious festival only: Christmas Eve.


Wigilia may mean both a religious festival or also on the eve of, e.g., w wigilię przyjazdu papieża do Polski ( on the eve of the Pope`s arrival to Poland).