Christmas News from Slovakia

We celebrate Christmas on 24th and 25th December. On 24th December, called Štedrý deň, we usually decorate Christmas tree with sweets, decorations like small angels, bells, stars, small lights which shine in red, green, yellow and blue colour. On the top of it we give big star. Small children enjoy to dress up a tree.

Women in family cook all day. They prepare meals for dinner and during day members of family don´t eat anything,only drink. In the evening family sit around the table where is candle and gingerbreads and they pray. They starts to eat. The first typical meal is wafer with honey and garlic. Next meal is ,,kapustnica“ - cabbage soup with mushrooms and sausage. Typical meal for North-East of Slovakia is ,,pirohy“. We always have it with cabbage or potatoes. Another typical meal is mushrooms sauce called ,,mačanka“. At the end of dinner we have "bobaľky“- small pastry with poppy seeds. After dinner we open our presents under the Christmas tree. Children believe that Jesus gives them.

Christmas  traditions

• People wash their faces in water where are coins. They believe that then they will be rich.
• The chain around the table is symbol  of united family.
• People cut an apple on two halfs and they look at it. When it looks like star inside, the family will be healthy.
• On 25th December people have a rest. They don´t do anything. Lots of poeple go to the church because  Jesus was born on this day.

Back to 2020 Vision Main Page