Christmas & New Year's in Romania

 Christmas & New Year's in Romania

Events that happen on Christmas and New Year in the city we live

We, Romanians, like to keep our traditions, identity and ancestry. And we do have a lot of traditions and celebrations.

One of them and the most loved among Romanians who live in the countryside but not only is “colindatul”, a kind of “trick or treat”. It is similar to the trick or treat on Halloween, except that it takes place during Christmas time. Kids and teenagers go around the city and sing Christmas carols to other people and they receive bagels, fruit like apples or oranges, sweets and even money. They are usually dressed in traditional Romanian clothes.

Another Christmas custom that we celebrate in our city is “Steaua”. Between Christmas and 6th of January children all over Romania make an ornament that looks like a big star and they sing to other people special carols that bring the news of Jesus being born, called “Steaua sus rasare”, „În oraşul Vitleem”; „Trei crai de la răsărit”. You can usually see groups of children aged 7- 14 doing this, but grown-ups like to sing these carols too.

“Sorcova” is another custom celebrated in our city and not only in the first day of the new year. Children buy a colorful ornament which looks like in the picture below and they sing a special carol while touching the head or the shoulders of the person they are singing to. 

The short version of Sorcova goes like this:

“ Sorcova, vesela,

Să trăiţi, să-mbătrâniţi:

Ca un măr, ca un păr,

Ca un fir de trandafir.

Tare ca piatra,

Iute ca săgeata.

Tare ca fierul,

Iute ca oţelul.

La anul si la multi ani!” 

by Ana Maria , Lucian and Giulia

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Nowadays, everyone can't wait to decorate the tree; this custom takes place on Christmas Eve or Christmas night, when Santa Claus brings, in addition to gifts, the tree beautifully decorated with globes and tinsel. A very well-known custom is caroling.

Here are some examples :

1.The Rising Star

2. A Beautiful Fir Tree

3. Santa Claus With Blonde Hair

In Romania we have some special winter food.Some examples are:

1.Polenta

2. Cabbage rolls

3.Smoked pork hock

4.The GingerBread is a popular dessert in Romania

                                                                 

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What do we do?

-we decorate the Christmas tree

-we prepare traditional food like: stuffed cabbage with meat and rice, soup, stuffed eggs

-we go to church

-we listen to carols

-we eat sweets like candy canes and chocolate

-we go caroling

-we wait for Santa Clause to arrive

On Christmas Day we open presents, we go to church and we have a meal at the table with the whole family.

For New Years` Eve we prepare food with our mothers, we clean the house.

On New Years` Eve we celebrate with our families and friends, we open champagne and we stay up late to watch the fireworks.

by Robert, Alina, Alessia , Daria,Gbariel