Kulig

Origins and noble gatherings

The custom began among Poland's noble class as an exciting pursuit for younger people during the sixteenth century. It took place throughout Carnival, filling the quiet stretch of winter between Christmas celebrations and the start of Ash Wednesday. To call the participants together, organisers passed around a curved wooden stick known as a kulą, which signified that preparations were underway. Upon receiving this token, riders mounted their horses or climbed into wooden sleighs to meet at an appointed rendezvous before embarking on their journey.

Journey and feasting

A single excursion could turn into a grand expedition lasting up to twelve continuous days. Horse-drawn sleighs glided over the snow from one country manor to another. At every estate, hosts welcomed the convoy with abundant tables of food and drinks. Guests enjoyed regional specialities including sweet babka cakes, crisp chrusty pastries and savoury sausages. After the feast concluded, the company held spirited dance parties late into the night before boarding their sleighs to seek out the next warm manor.

Present day sleigh rides

While the traditional aristocrat-led estate tours faded over time, the spirit of the sleigh ride remains a popular winter recreation in Poland. Today, the practice pairs historic outdoor custom with modern holiday entertainment. It thrives especially in scenic southern highland regions such as the Tatra Mountains around the town of Zakopane. Visitors and locals bundle under blankets in horse-pulled sleds across snow-covered trails, keeping the centuries-old festive ride alive.

How Kulig is kept

A kulig traditionally began when a curved stick called a kulą was handed out to invitees. In response, guests assembled on horses or in horse-drawn sleighs at an agreed location. The train of sleighs travelled through the winter landscape from one manor house to the next. At each stop, the party was treated to a feast of sausages, babka and chrusty, followed by music and dancing, continuing for up to a dozen days.

When and where

Kulig takes place during the winter Carnival period, which spans the weeks between Christmas and Ash Wednesday. Because the timing is tied to the Christian liturgical calendar, the specific dates shift each year according to the arrival of Lent.

Originating across historical estates in Poland, the practice is now especially popular in mountainous southern areas, notably within the Polish Tatra Mountains and around the highland town of Zakopane.

Days Kulig is marked

Questions people ask about Kulig

See also

Christmas treeA decorated evergreen or artificial tree placed indoors to mark the Christmas season.KoliadaA traditional winter caroling and solstice festival kept across Slavic EuropeKoledariA Slavic winter caroling custom of visiting homes with songs, masks and blessingsPodłaźniczkaA decorated evergreen branch hung over the Christmas Eve table in Poland and Slovakia

Good reading and sources

• Kulig on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.