ChristmasChristmasin Romania in Romania

DecemberDecember

How we prepare our How we prepare our souls?souls?

Christmas is a very important celebration for the Christmas is a very important celebration for the Romanian people. We celebrate the Holly Birth.Romanian people. We celebrate the Holly Birth.

During 40 days before this holiday Christians During 40 days before this holiday Christians respect the Advent when we do not eat meat or respect the Advent when we do not eat meat or dairy products thus preparing for the great dairy products thus preparing for the great celebration, but more important is that we must celebration, but more important is that we must be better, not to upset our parents and our be better, not to upset our parents and our teachers. teachers.

We go to church for confessionWe go to church for confession

How we prepare our How we prepare our houses?houses?

Before Christmas the Romanians Before Christmas the Romanians must have their houses clean, as must have their houses clean, as their souls.their souls.

So, they wash the windows, the So, they wash the windows, the carpets, the curtains, decorate the carpets, the curtains, decorate the house for the celebration.house for the celebration.

Everywhere in the town, on my Everywhere in the town, on my street I can see families cleaning street I can see families cleaning their house.their house.

The Christmas treeThe Christmas tree

Christmas eve brings us inside the Christmas eve brings us inside the houses the Christmas tree. It used to houses the Christmas tree. It used to be natural, but now, year after year be natural, but now, year after year the ecological trees are more used.the ecological trees are more used.

We decorate the tree with Christms We decorate the tree with Christms balls, angels, sweets and chocolates. balls, angels, sweets and chocolates.

The Christmas carols The Christmas carols

On Christmas eve children go On Christmas eve children go caroling.caroling.

They go from house to house and They go from house to house and sing carols about Jesus and Virgin sing carols about Jesus and Virgin Mary, about the holly birth ,the Mary, about the holly birth ,the magicians, the holly star.magicians, the holly star.

Christmas carols Christmas carols The Christmas carol is one of the best-known winter The Christmas carol is one of the best-known winter

traditions. Long time ago, the ones who went carol – traditions. Long time ago, the ones who went carol – singing were the children who, after the midnight of 24th singing were the children who, after the midnight of 24th towards 25th of December, went from house to house, towards 25th of December, went from house to house, wishing health, happiness and fortune to the householders.wishing health, happiness and fortune to the householders.

The Christmas carols are ritual texts which are The Christmas carols are ritual texts which are sung during the Christian holidays and they are dedicated sung during the Christian holidays and they are dedicated to Christmas and to the New Year which is to come. Their to Christmas and to the New Year which is to come. Their origin is to be found in the history of our people. origin is to be found in the history of our people. Throughout the centuries they became more beautiful and Throughout the centuries they became more beautiful and acquired a great variety all over our country. They express acquired a great variety all over our country. They express the atmosphere of celebration and the high spirits with the atmosphere of celebration and the high spirits with which all Romanians welcome the Birth of the Son of God which all Romanians welcome the Birth of the Son of God and the New Year. and the New Year.

O ce veste minunata- O ce veste minunata- What a wonderful news What a wonderful news

O ce veste minunata- What O ce veste minunata- What a wonderful news a wonderful news

O, ce veste minunataO, ce veste minunataLanga Viflaim s-arataLanga Viflaim s-arataCerul straluceaCerul straluceaIngerul veneaIngerul veneaPe-o raza curataPe-o raza curata

Pastorilor din campiePastorilor din campieLe vesteste-o bucurieLe vesteste-o bucurieCa-ntr-un mic locasCa-ntr-un mic locasDin acel orasDin acel orasS-a nascut MesiaS-a nascut Mesia

In cetatea pastoreascaIn cetatea pastoreascaVrut-a Domnul sa se nascaVrut-a Domnul sa se nascaFiul sau cel SfantFiul sau cel SfantNoua pe pamantNoua pe pamantSa ne mantuiascaSa ne mantuiasca

Pastorii cum auziraPastorii cum auziraSpre locasul sfant porniraSpre locasul sfant porniraUnde L-au aflatUnde L-au aflatPruncul luminatPruncul luminatSi Il preamariraSi Il preamarira

E Iisus Pastorul mareE Iisus Pastorul mareTurma ca El nimeni n-areTurma ca El nimeni n-areNoi Il laudamNoi Il laudamSi ne inchinamSi ne inchinamCu credinta tareCu credinta tare

Trei pastori se intalniraTrei pastori se intalniraThree shepards Three shepards

Trei pastori- Three Trei pastori- Three shepardsshepards

Trei pastori se intalniraTrei pastori se intalniraSi asa se sfatuiraSi asa se sfatuiraTaza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Si asa se sfatuira:Si asa se sfatuira:

Haideti fratilor sa mergem,Haideti fratilor sa mergem,Floricele sa culegem,Floricele sa culegem,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Floricele sa culegem.Floricele sa culegem.

Si sa facem o cununa,Si sa facem o cununa,S-o-mpletim cu voie buna,S-o-mpletim cu voie buna,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,S-o-mpletim cu voie buna.S-o-mpletim cu voie buna.

Si s-o ducem lui Hristos,Si s-o ducem lui Hristos,Sa ne fie de folos,Sa ne fie de folos,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui,Sa ne fie de folos. Sa ne fie de folos.

Preparing the dinner….Preparing the dinner…. Five days before Five days before ChristmasChristmas with a very sharp knife the with a very sharp knife the pigpig

is cut.is cut.

This custom is called "Ignatius" from Saint Ignatius This custom is called "Ignatius" from Saint Ignatius (celebrated on December the 20th). Straws are put in his (celebrated on December the 20th). Straws are put in his snout and then it is covered with burning straws and then is snout and then it is covered with burning straws and then is it singed. The it singed. The pigpig is nicely washed and covered with a piece is nicely washed and covered with a piece of cloth for ten minutes. The housewife comes and incense of cloth for ten minutes. The housewife comes and incense the the pigpig and then the husband comes and makes the sign of and then the husband comes and makes the sign of the cross on the pig's head saying to the family gathered the cross on the pig's head saying to the family gathered around: "Let's eat the around: "Let's eat the pigpig!" After the !" After the pigpig is cut there is a is cut there is a feast called the pig's funeral feast or alms. At the feast the feast called the pig's funeral feast or alms. At the feast the whole family friends and neighbors take part. All eat the rid whole family friends and neighbors take part. All eat the rid or the skin of the bacon and they also eat small pieces of or the skin of the bacon and they also eat small pieces of fried pork they drink wine or plum brandy.fried pork they drink wine or plum brandy.

This is an ancient tradition, becoming more and more This is an ancient tradition, becoming more and more popular because of the good food that is made of the meat.popular because of the good food that is made of the meat.

Traditional food Traditional food

CozonacCozonac At Christmas time At Christmas time

Romanian mothers Romanian mothers readied the dough readied the dough for baking these for baking these delicious breads delicious breads with a variety of with a variety of fillings. The smells fillings. The smells of Cozonac baking of Cozonac baking is like a bell is like a bell ringing our senses. ringing our senses.

TRADITIONAL FOODTRADITIONAL FOOD

CARNATI SI CALTABOSICARNATI SI CALTABOSI

Traditional food- Cornulete Traditional food- Cornulete 150 ml oil 150 ml oil

1100 ml mineral water00 ml mineral water750 g flour750 g flour

250 g margarine250 g margarine5 ml vinegar 5 ml vinegar

un praf de sareun praf de sare

Traditional food -SarmaleTraditional food -Sarmale Tradional foodTradional food

SarmaleSarmale

We need cabbage, We need cabbage, rice, meat, onion, rice, meat, onion, tomatoes sauce tomatoes sauce and a lot of LOVE. and a lot of LOVE.

Ion Creanga- “Memories from my boyhood”Ion Creanga- “Memories from my boyhood”

““At Christmas when father killed the pig, At Christmas when father killed the pig, singed and scalded it and quickly singed and scalded it and quickly wrapped it up in straw to make it sweat, wrapped it up in straw to make it sweat, and thus easier to shave, I would and thus easier to shave, I would bestride the pig, straw and all, and I bestride the pig, straw and all, and I would have the time of my life knowing would have the time of my life knowing that I would get the pig's tail to fry and that I would get the pig's tail to fry and the bladder to fill with grains, to blow it the bladder to fill with grains, to blow it up and rattle when it was dry; and then up and rattle when it was dry; and then alas, what a time mother's ears had of it, alas, what a time mother's ears had of it, until she'd break it against my head! “until she'd break it against my head! “

Santa Claus Santa Claus

We wait for Santa for years. In our poems We wait for Santa for years. In our poems he is an old men, wearing a sheep-coat . he is an old men, wearing a sheep-coat . He has a sleadge pulled by litlle rabbits.He has a sleadge pulled by litlle rabbits.

Being so old and being so clold outside , Being so old and being so clold outside , the children are worried about him and the children are worried about him and his travel. They wait for him with warm his travel. They wait for him with warm milk and cookies. They learn poems to say milk and cookies. They learn poems to say to Santa .to Santa .

Who helps Santa?Who helps Santa?

Santa’s helpers are some angels. They go and watch the child Santa’s helpers are some angels. They go and watch the child through the window to see his or her behave. through the window to see his or her behave.

Santa has in heaven, on his leap a big book . He writes there Santa has in heaven, on his leap a big book . He writes there everyhing about children, as the angels say. Before preparing the everyhing about children, as the angels say. Before preparing the Christmas gifts he reads in his book about the children and Christmas gifts he reads in his book about the children and decide what they deserve. decide what they deserve.

Christmas in school Christmas in school On the 1On the 1stst of December we decorate the of December we decorate the

classrooms with Christmas tree and Christmas classrooms with Christmas tree and Christmas decorations.decorations.

At the music lessons we learn songs about winter At the music lessons we learn songs about winter and carols.and carols.

At the arts lessons we draw and paint cards, At the arts lessons we draw and paint cards, Christmas trees, pictures with Santa.Christmas trees, pictures with Santa.

At the Romanian Laguage Lessons we learn At the Romanian Laguage Lessons we learn carols and poems about this important carols and poems about this important celebration.celebration.

The the foreign language lassons we learn about The the foreign language lassons we learn about Christmas in the world.Christmas in the world.

Christmas in schoolChristmas in school

We celebrate Christmas with poems, We celebrate Christmas with poems, songs and feeling with our parents.songs and feeling with our parents.

Santa comes in schools, too.Santa comes in schools, too.

Winter Winter

The week of goodness –The week of goodness –ProjectProject

Open wide the doors of you heartsOpen wide the doors of you heartsWe are not here to ask for anythingWe are not here to ask for anything

We are here to give... We are here to give...

Christmas must be a moment of joy in Christmas must be a moment of joy in every family.every family.

We ask the priests where are families with We ask the priests where are families with old people who need help or are sick and old people who need help or are sick and alone.alone.

We collected food, clothes and money and We collected food, clothes and money and visited those families, to congratulate visited those families, to congratulate them and to give them a ray of happiness. them and to give them a ray of happiness.

Ready to give presents to Ready to give presents to poor peoplepoor people

We found people in We found people in need...need...