Santa Clause (Winter-grandfather) (Tel-apo or
Mikulas) comes on the 6th of December. Children should clean and put their
shoes outside next to the door or window before they go to sleep. Next day
candies and/or small toys appear in them in red bags. For children, who don't
behave well, a golden birch placed next to the sweets, a symbol for spanking...
(but don't worry, it is just for fun, and not for actual punishment.)
On 24th of December, children go to their relative or to the movies, because
little Jesus brings the tree and the presents that evening to their house. It is
customary to hang edible things on the tree, like golden wrapped assorted
chocolates and meringues beside the glass balls, candles (real or electrical),
and sparklers.
Families usually cook festive dinner for that night. An example would be fresh
fish usually with rice or potatoes and home made pastries as dessert. After
dinner, the tree would be viewed by the children for the first time. It was very
exciting. Christmas songs are sung and then the gifts under the tree are shared.
Older children attend the midnight mass with their parents. (During communism,
children had to hide at the back of the church. Teachers could have lost their
jobs for attending the mass. Later (in mid 1970's) most of the Communist Party
leaders of the town attended it too.) Next day the children attack the edible
part of the tree. Festive food is enjoyed on the second and third day too.
People from Transylvania serve stuffed cabbage on Christmas Eve, and next day
for lunch. Most likely the reason for that custom is that stuffed cabbage is the
best on the second and third day after it was cooked. Moms can prepare the food
a day earlier, leaving more time for decorating and organizing. Very practical.
On the 25th of December, the whole family attended church and ate stuffed
cabbage for lunch.
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