With memberships declining and the recent sale of its building on Pulaski Street in Auburn, the Polish Falcons, Nest 74, has held on to its long-standing tradition of the annual Oplatek.

“The Oplatek is the traditional breaking of the bread,” said Jerry Prego during the annual Oplatek dinner held at the Falcon Lanes Saturday evening. “It is the night that we have our installation of officers.”

Prego, who is also the president of the Polish Falcons, Nest 74, said that although they have sold the building, the organization continues to hold its meetings and special events there.

“Our building and organization have been enjoyed by many in the past 101 years,” Prego added.

Prego's wife, Jean, whom members affectionately referred to as “the first lady,” said that the Oplatek is an event that members look forward to each year.

“It is a nice night filled with dinner and dancing,” she said. “Most importantly it is the breaking of the bread.”

The breaking of the bread is an important holiday tradition that dates back thousands of years. The Oplatek is a thin wafer, made of flour and water.

In this old Polish custom, the Polish family breaks the Oplatek (pronounced Oh-pwah-tek) on Christmas Eve (Wigilia) as their ancestors before them have done. The sacred white wafers, much like those used for Holy Communion, are shared with each person present. During the exchange, good wishes are expressed. The observance that takes place on Christmas Eve becomes a sign of unity and solidarity with all members of the family, neighbors and friends. Some even go so far as to include absent members of the family by sending an Oplatek by mail as a sign of their communion with their loved ones at home.

According to the Polish American Journal, the father or eldest member of the family reaches for the wafer, breaks it in half and gives one half to the mother.

Then each of them breaks a small part of each other's piece and, after a warm kiss, they wish each other long life, good health, joy and happiness, not only for the holiday season, but for the coming year and for many years to come.

Now the same ceremony is repeated between father and their children, as well as among the children, then, with the relatives and even strangers, if they happen to be present.

The ceremony over, they all sit down to a tasteful, though meatless supper, after which they sing kolendy (Christmas carols and pastorals) until the time for Midnight Mass.

This event is the most emotional time of the holiday for the Polish family.

Those who are no longer alive are particularly remembered at this moment. For Americans, the Oplatek represents a reverent tie to the customs of the old country.

Yet, tradition seems to be waning locally.

According to Polish Falcons' member Martin Luczak the organization has seen a steady decline in its members with the younger generations not joining the centuries old fraternal organization.

“Right now we have about 200 members,” he said. “It is the older generations that keep us going.”

Members referred to the decline in membership as an unwanted downsizing.

“We are always open and welcome to new members,” Jean Prego said. “We would love to get the younger generations involved.”

Luczak said that the Polish Falcons is a fraternal organization much like that of the Elks Lodge and others.

“We are involved in the community,” he said. “We donate to a lot of charities.”

Jean said that there is a common misconception that a member must be of Polish decent in order to join the organization.

“We would welcome anyone with an interest to join,” she said.

Joining the Polish Falcons is as simple as contacting an officer of the organization or stopping into the Falcon Lanes, she said.