YOUNGSTERS from a village school got a taste of Christmas festivities as celebrated by their Polish counterparts.

Pupils from Escomb Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, were surprised to learn how festive traditions in Poland differ from their own.

Polish trainee teacher Marta Michalik, who is on an eight-month placement at the school, told children how Christmas is marked in her native country and taught them Polish carols. The pupils also found out that the main day of the celebrations in Poland is Christmas Eve - when a 12-course feast is served at supper time, once the first star appears in the night sky, and gifts are opened.

Each dish represents a month of the past year, no meat is eaten and straw is placed under the tablecloth to remind diners of the stable.

If there is heavy snow, every child from a village will hit the hillside and tie their sledges together for a horse-drawn 'kulig' ride.

Many people dress in folk costumes, walk door to door singing carols to earn pocket money and go to church for midnight mass.

Miss Michalik said: "They were really surprised by some of our Polish traditions.

"I think learning about different cultures helps us appreciate our differences but ultimately realise we are all the same."