Carp in Bathtubs: Poland’s Christmas Tradition

During communism in Poland, families would buy live carp days before Christmas and keep

them swimming in their bathtubs. The fish became temporary pets as children named them

and watched them glide through the water. When Christmas Eve arrived,

the carp would be prepared for the traditional dinner table. This bizarre practice

happened because refrigeration was scarce and stores had limited stock, so keeping the fish

alive guaranteed freshness. Some families grew so attached they secretly released

their carp into nearby rivers instead of eating them. The tradition still continues in some

Polish households today, turning bathrooms into temporary aquariums every December.