Dusty

Oh Esther..... So you guys have Boxing Day as well. I think we must have followed your tradition, but the U. S. does not have it . They have Black Fri. which is the same concept but it is the day after their Thanksgiving.

I don't usually participate in that day as there are too many people and all scrambling for bargains.

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adoptivemommy

Even though you FORGOT the Romanian chick, I will join in anyway! When I was still in Romania, we didn't actually put up our Christmas tree until December 24th, which, if I'm not mistaken, it is a European tradition of sorts. Santa Clause would "bring" the tree along with the presents and we found them on our balcony on the morning of 24th. We decorated the tree but didn't open the presents until the next day. We usually had Christmas dinner at one or the other grandmother's house and our tradition was that we had about a 4 to 5 course meal so we started about 2PM and didn't get up from the table until about 10PM. Take in consideration though that in communist Romania usually the only time we had a feast that included meat was only on special occasions, so maybe 5 or 6 times a year. The rest of the time we ate potatoes, beans and chicken wings (when we could fins them!)

Laura

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Esther462

Yes. The UK rules. I don't go shopping on Boxing Day to mad and I love my family.

Boanerges

Intersting how the traditons seem to vary from region to region.

Boanerges

There seems to be something wrong with my tree!!!

Dusty

Who said I forgot the Romanian Chick. I could never do that. I was waiting for your input.

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Dusty

Here ya go Laura so you don't think I forgot you. I have put a lot of traditions on the Trivia thread in the discussion forum. Maybe I should have put them here. Perhaps Bro Larry can help do that.



Christmas in Romania

• Carols form an important part of the Romanian folklore. Romanian carols are not simple songs (a sort of invocation in verse sung by children and lads, on the evening of Winters Holidays) with religions origin, but wide windows through which we are allowed once in a year to go by the immaculate snow-towards the evergreen Heaven and to eye-touch God at least for an instant , in order to give us the power to surpass the life's obstacles. Carols put people in the mood for a perfect communion with the simple and healing greatness of Jesus' Birth. The carol singers walk in the streets of the villages and towns holding in their hands a star made of board and paper with biblical scenes painted in water colors and they sing:

• "Do you receive the pretty star,
  Pretty and so very bright?
  It Haseko we did in the sky
  Just like God thought it would be right,
  Stand it could be seen on high,
  Just like we did in the sky"
  On the first Christmas day, children walk in the streets of snow covered towns and villages, when holding in their hands a star made of board and paper with a biblical scenes painted in water colors or an icon showing Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, they sing somewhat of a question:
  "Do you receive the pretty star,
  Pretty and so bright?
  It has appeared on the earth
  Just like God through it would be right
  And it could be seen on high,
  Just like we did, in the sky.
  Five days before Christmas with a very sharp knife the pig is cut.
  This custom is called "Ignatius" from Saint Ignatius (celebrated on December the 20th). Straws are put in his snout and then it is covered with burning straws and then is it singed. The pig is nicely washed and covered with a piece of cloth for ten minutes. The housewife comes and incense the pig and then the husband comes and makes the sign of the cross on the pig's head saying to the family gathered around: "Let's eat the pig!" After the pig is cut there is a feast called the pig's funeral feast or alms. At the feast the whole family friends and neighbors take part. All eat the rid or the skin of the bacon and they also eat small pieces of fried pork they drink wine or plum brandy.

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Dusty

Oh no it must be those sinuses again. It looks kind of top heavy though.

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Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Ikonion

I'm from Germany and on Christmas Eve I always go to the church at 4pm. There is a wonderful service with a neat nativity play. At 6pm we start having our banquet with the whole family. And here comes in my favourite meal of the year!

1. Borscht (a spicy beetroot soup)
2. Carp with potatoes and sauerkraut
3. Poppy seed dumplings
4. Fresh plum compote

We start and end the banquet with prayers. And we have a nice evening with a lot's of Christmas-carols.

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Boanerges

THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!