Christman Eve has a spiritual significance in Romania. It is the final moment of preparations for the birth of baby Jesus. We respect secular orthodox traditions through domestic preparations ,practices and superstitions to bring harmony , peace, luck, and health to homes.
The emphasisis on prayers , the observanceof ancestral customs inherites as treasures.
We all attend services in the parishes to pray an receive the blessing of the priestsfor the Holy Christmas.Families reunite,children regardless of how far they live , travel to their parents home with the longing to see their mother, father and dear relatives. Everyone hugs, kissesand cries over the happiness of seeing each other.Begins the feast enriched with dishes made with passion and skill by women in their kitchen . Porc soups, traditional sarmales, tasty steaks, smoked sausages, ham, polenta, cheese and wondeful cakes and a lot of fruit are eaten.
Let s not forget the drinks for adults,.
It starts with a brandy/tuica, palinca/ boiled with pepper, white or red wine and fruit juices for children.Carols are sung at the beginning, then the repertoire switches to happy party song until late at night.
Happiness is in the air and now we are ready thinking that the New Year has been met with another grandiose party.
