The Beauty of Christmas Time

Christmas.

The most beautiful and awaited time in a year which everyone is looking forward

to, but especially children´s hearts as awaiting Jesus.

At this time people put all their troubles aside and spend these exceptional

moments in a circle of their dearest, in their family circle.

In Slovakia, Christmas time already begins

a month before Christmas Eve when four candles gradually light up on the Advent wreath.

Favourite Advent calendar light up sparkles in children´s eyes with joy as they open one window a day from the first of December and find some candy in it.

Catherine ( the 25-th of December)

It was the first important day of winter period. This day brought the spirit of enjoy and fun. All girls were looking forward to “Catherine´s Party” because this was the last one before Advent

(Catherine closes up music.)

Ondrej (the 30-th of November)

On Ondrej girls used to shake with fences and they chanted these words.

After that verse, they were waiting from which end of a village a dog barked.

From that place a bridegroom should have come.

Barbora (the 4-th of

December)

In the past, girls used to break cherry branches- small Barboras, which was watered form a creek till Christmas

Eve, and the water was being carried in a mouth.

When the branch flowered till Christmas, a girl would have got married in a year.

Nicolas (the 6-th of December)

Every year Nicolas with his fellows come and see our kindergarten. We sincerely invite them saying rhymes and songs and he rewards us with packets full of sweets.

In the morning, on the 6-th of December, in their clean boots put at windows children found sweets and other nice surprises they were waiting for.

In other case it was coal and a wooden spoon because of unpleasant behaviour.

Lucy (the 13-th of December)

On this day, girls used to prepare twelve sheets with boys´ names on them while the thirteenth should have let unwritten. The sheets had been slowly destroyed till the last one which carried the name of the future groom.

When the last sheet was that unwritten, a girl should have been single within following year.

Christmas Eve ( the 24-th of

December)

On Christmas Eve people used to fast in the past which lasted until the rise of the first star.

Children were told if they were able not to eat till dinner, would have seen a golden star or a golden pig.

While children were decorating Christmas tree, mummies were baking, cooking and preparing different dainties on Christmas Eve´s table.

On rich Christmas Eve´s table there must have been a bread, garlic, honey, sour cabbage soup, fish with potato salad, cakes and fruits.

After dinner, Christmas carols were sung, presents, which not only children were keen on, but adults as well, were being unpacked together.

A lot of people met together at midnight Mass to sing Christmas song

„Silent Night, Holy Night“.

Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year