News & guides · 28 October 2026 · 5 min read

Before the Vodka, Pour the Wax: Poland’s Andrzejki Night

The most interesting thing being poured at an Andrzejki gathering may not be vodka. It may be candle wax, passed through the hole of an old key into cold water, then held towards a light so everyone can interpret its shadow. This is one of the characteristic rituals of Poland’s November fortune-telling night, described by [Culture.pl](https://culture.pl/en/article/predicting-your-future-husband-the-polish-tradition-of-andrzejki). For a visiting group, it offers a better starting point than another evening organised around counting drinks. Learn the custom, try a game, share dinner and, if you want, include a vodka tasting. Just keep the distinction clear: the fortune-telling is the tradition; the tasting is your addition.

An old brass key and cooled wax shapes beside Polish snacks and small vodka glasses on a wooden table

When is Andrzejki, and what did people hope to discover?

The traditional evening is 29 November, leading into St Andrew’s Day on 30 November. For a visit this year, that means 29 November 2026. Białystok University of Technology’s Polish-language introduction to Andrzejki dates the first Polish written mention of the fortune-telling evening to 1557. That is a documented reference, not a reliable birthday for the custom.

Historically, the central question was marriage. The Polish History Museum describes gatherings for unmarried women, with married women helping prepare and interpret the predictions. The questions went beyond a future husband’s identity: appearance, character and occupation also mattered. A wax shadow resembling a windmill, for example, could suggest a miller.

That context matters. These were not simply modern party games in old-fashioned clothing. The museum describes predictions taken seriously within a society that placed considerable pressure on people to marry. Enjoying the games now does not require borrowing those expectations.

Why people pour wax through a key

The familiar version uses melted wax, cold water and an old skeleton key with an opening large enough for the wax to pass through. Once the wax has hardened, its shadow becomes the object of discussion. Culture.pl’s account stresses the imaginative part: the shape is a starting point for predictions, not a code with one correct answer.

The shadow is the detail worth remembering. Staring down into a bowl misses part of the ritual. A shapeless lump can become something recognisable when held towards a light. It can also remain a shapeless lump. The future is entitled to be unhelpful.

For a visiting group, I would leave any hot-wax demonstration to a willing, prepared host and agree it with the venue beforehand. Do not arrive at a restaurant expecting permission to melt candles. A simpler adaptation is to bring already cooled wax shapes and use a torch to cast their shadows. You lose the pouring ceremony, but keep the guessing and conversation.

Describe that honestly as an adaptation, rather than an authentic ritual performed exactly as it always was.

Andrzejki games without the hot wax

The shoe procession is another established custom. Participants line up their shoes, then move the last shoe to the front repeatedly until the line reaches the doorway. Traditionally, the owner of the shoe that reached the threshold first was expected to marry first. The Polish History Museum explains the sequence, including older variations in how the result was interpreted.

Apple peel offers another option. Białystok University of Technology describes peeling an apple, throwing the peel behind you and interpreting its shape. It also records a version in which the longest peel predicts good fortune. The same university account notes that modern predictions extend beyond marriage and that participation is no longer restricted by gender or relationship status.

For colleagues, I would replace marriage predictions with imaginary future journeys or hobbies. Explain the original meaning first, then make the change explicit. Keep participation optional, and avoid turning anyone’s relationship status into the entertainment. For a hen or stag group, the wedding prediction may already have rather limited suspense.

Where vodka fits into an Andrzejki evening

Treat a vodka tasting as a separate cultural activity, not a compulsory Andrzejki ritual. The tradition works perfectly well without alcohol: the Archaeological and Historical Museum in Elbląg’s account of its children’s Andrzejki workshops centres on wax, shoes, names and learning about old beliefs.

If your adult group wants to include vodka, give the tasting a useful question: how do two particular spirits differ? For example, Chopin describes its potato vodka as creamy and earthy, with a full-bodied mouthfeel. Its classic collection also includes rye and wheat vodkas. Those are a producer’s descriptions and product distinctions, not proof that everyone will perceive the same flavours.

My suggestion is to compare a potato vodka with a grain-based example, using modest pours. Write down your own impressions before reading the producer’s notes. Focus on texture, aroma and what remains after a small sip, rather than trying to identify an elaborate list of flavours. Our article on what vodka tastes like offers some vocabulary if you need it.

Keep the guessing games separate from drinking. A wrong prediction should never earn anyone another shot.

What to put on the table

For the food, borrow from Polish zakąski culture rather than claiming to recreate a special Andrzejki menu. Zakąski are savoury accompaniments associated with vodka. Culture.pl’s food history includes herring, pickles, cured meats and rye bread with smalec, a lard-based spread.

My suggested table would include herring with onions, sliced bread, pickled cucumbers and a clearly separate meat-free option. Gzik, a seasoned fresh-cheese preparation served with potato, is another example discussed in that account of Polish vodka snacks. Ask about ingredients rather than assuming every spread or potato dish is vegetarian.

The reason for choosing several small dishes is practical: guests can build a plate around what they enjoy instead of sharing one compulsory pairing. Order dinner separately if you want a full meal; do not assume tasting bites will replace it. For more possibilities, see our Polish vodka snacks article.

Planning an Andrzejki evening in Warsaw

Warsaw’s State Ethnographic Museum provides a useful example of how to approach the subject. Its Andrzejki and Katarzynki educational programme distinguishes older beliefs from the games people play today, finishing with wax interpretation. It is a children’s educational offer, not a recommendation for an adult evening booking, but the principle is worth borrowing: explain first, play afterwards.

For your own group, I would plan dinner, a short introduction to the customs and one optional game. Add a tasting only if it interests the group. Ask any organiser to confirm the actual event date, language, food arrangements and whether fortune-telling is included. Do not assume a November vodka booking comes with keys and candles.

Non-drinkers are welcome at our group experiences and can join the food, history and conversation; mention their needs when enquiring, as explained on our group tasting page. The point is culture and company, not getting drunk.

To add a private vodka tasting in Warsaw to your plans, send your preferred date and group details to cheers@vodkatasting.pl. Ask about the tasting itself, and arrange any Andrzejki games separately.