A poll has revealed that the Christmas present that Poles hate the most is a pair of socks. This was closely followed by abstract ornaments of the kind that might grace a bookshelf or mantelpiece.
Cracow Life has to come clean here and declare that we love socks. On the one hand, we share the Polish love of cake, candlelight, coffee and tea, but on socks we have to differ. Call us square as a golfer but one of the highlights of our Christmas is the moment when we catch a glimpse of a sock beneath a scrap of wrapping paper. Like Charlie Bucket when he spies the golden ticket to Mr Wonka's Chocolate Factory, we're ecstatic at the sight of those trusty socks.
The tragic thing about socks is that you have all these marvellously warm woolen creations (essential for the Polish Winter) and yet by the end of the year they've all started to fall apart. But no cause for alarm! Father Christmas is well aware of this grave problem and he always comes good and replenishes you with the things that count. Long live the sock present! Long live Father Christmas!
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