I always love coming over to a friend’s house for a traditional get together of coffee and cake. Usually, without a word but a knowing smile, they put out their beloved Polish pottery teapots and ceramic pottery mugs and arrange cookies or homemade cakes on their Polish pottery stoneware to serve alongside the coffee. Some also put out sugar cubes, instead of regular table sugar, in special boleslawiec pottery.

By setting out the refreshments in a particular way, it is clear to guests that you are saying "You are welcome in my house". Or, as we Poles say, “Gosc w dom, Bog w dom” which translates to “A guest in the home is God in the home” and really shows how we feel about having company over to our home. This typically involves coffee or tea and various tortes, cookies, fruits, and other delicious treats on their best stoneware pottery. It also shows off the host’s cooking.

Nowhere is that more clear than when company comes over and on Christmas Eve night, when the best plates are put out and an extra one is put out for an unexpected guest.

Making a guest feel at ease in your home with polish stoneware also has another wonderful effect; it’s a great way to start a conversation with them about more touching and sincere conversations about family, shared traditions and memories. Perhaps, the conversation steers toward a favorite family recipe, or a song that has been kept in the heart which reminds thefm of family and Poland. Perhaps you will talk with them about their dear Babcia, who always had a fondness of poppies.

You can buy Polish pottery in Chicago at Dom itp, a family owned business who’s pottery from Poland comes specifically from Manufaktura, Zaklady Boleswiiec, and Cer-raf. They will also begin carrying new designs of Boleslawiec Polish pottery starting June 30th.

Some interesting facts about Boleslawiec pottery, also known as Polish Pottery or Polish Stoneware, are that they come from a region of Poland which has been making them since over a thousand years and that the clay which has been historically used is still excavated for that purpose today. In fact, Boleslawiec is also known as Miasto Ceramiki (or the City of Ceramics).

An added bonus with Boleslawiec pottery is that it is lead free. As more and more information comes out about how products are made and how they can impact our health, it’s reassuring to know that it’s safe to serve food to our loved ones in our pottery from Poland.
For Christmas and throughout the year, consider gifting loved ones (or yourself) with Polish Pottery http://domitp.com/dining-1 from Dom itp, such as ceramic pottery mugs and Polish pottery teapots http://domitp.com/dining-1 . They will truly know that you feel that their presence means “guest in the home, God in the home” to you.