CHRISTMAS IN ROMANIA

Christmas in Romania is one of the most important religious festivals and it’s preceded by different old customs generally practiced on the country side. One of these original customs is 'Ignatius', the sacrifice of a pig in honor of Saint Ignatius, five days before Christmas, on 20th of December. All family friends and neighbors are invited to the feast and part of the meat is shared with them, along with plum brandy.

In Romanian families all the women cook, for three days leading up to Christmas Day, traditional food including: pork sausages, along with plum brandy and home made pickles, cabbage rolls, roasted pork with red wine. The wine is consumed to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Romanian Christmas cake is one of the items that just has to be on the table on Christmas Day. Before Christmas, there forty days of  fasting. And you can imagine that there is nothing more comforting than the smell of Christmas cake invading the house. And honestly, I have never smelled anything as delicious as Romanian Christmas Cake.

On the first Christmas day, children living out in the countryside go from house to house holding in their hands a star made of board and paper with biblical scenes painted in water colors or an icon showing Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, sing the carol called “The Star”. Other carols are “The Three Shepherds”, “Good Morning Christmas eve” or „Oh what wonderful tidings”.

Carols in Romania hold strong religious character, those related to Jesus' Birth, also part of the Romanian folklore. When the children go house to house they wear beautiful traditional Romanian clothes. This tradition has been carried on by children for hundreds of years. These clothes are also worn on Sundays, by those attending church, living in the countryside.

Wishing health, happiness and fortune to the householders, the carols are meant to bring healing, luck, prosperity and happiness to the ones they are addressed. In return, as a reward, the families offer carolers apples, nuts, and traditional cakes.
One of the most important moments of the 24th December evening is to decorate the Christmas tree when all the members of the family are around. In Romania Santa Clause comes in the evening of Christmas Eve, contrary to the American way of opening gifts on Christmas morning.

While children living in the city receive expensive gifts, those in the villages have to settle with sweets, fruit, nuts, and pastries as Christmas gifts.

During the night, Father Christmas will slide through the chimney and leave gifts for everybody in stockings or under the tree.

Though Romanian Christmas differs from a traditional American Christmas, it's easy to see the similarities as well: it's a magical time filled with celebrations, family and generosity. It is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, a time of joy, peace and quietness of the soul, bringing light and hope to people’s hearts.
Click this link to watch the video: ROMANIA (WINTER AT THE COUNTRYSIDE)
Click this link to watch the video: OLD ROMANIAN CHRISTMAS CAROL