Celebrated on December 25, Romanian Christmas is closely related to pagan festivals, some of which continue to be part of the Christmas celebration in Romania today. Pagan themes of life and death are intertwined with Christian Christmas traditions.
Romanian Christmas Pig
Pork is an important part of Romanian Christmas Eve and Christmas food. On December 20, the Day of Saint Ignatius, a large pig, fattened for the same purpose, is slaughtered to provide the basic ingredient for the Christmas feast. While the rural villagers still practice pig slaughter, keeping and slaughtering domestic animals is not practical for city dwellers, but the tradition of eating pork for Christmas prevails in Romania. Other dishes will accompany the main dish of pork or will be made of pork, and you can drink Romanian plum brandy.
Another important dish on the Romanian festive table is the cozonac, a fluffy cake that incorporates a variety of ingredients depending on the recipe and the baker’s preferences. The cake may contain nuts, seeds, cocoa, dried fruit, or other additions.
Romanian Christmas carols
Christmas carols and carol practice are very important in Romanian Christmas traditions. The act of walking through town, or from house to house, singing Christmas carols dates from pre-Christian times. Today, Romanian Christmas carols are often children who can carry a cane crowned with a representation of the Christmas star. For best effect, Christmas carols traveling in groups carry noises like bells and whips to scare away evil spirits. As during Carnival in Eastern Europe, the most serious Christmas carols can be disguised as hairy beasts that faintly represent bears or goats.
Christmas carols can expect a small gift of money or food in exchange for their services, a bit like when trick or treaters visit neighborhood houses on Halloween in exchange for candy.
Caroling was such an important tradition in Romania that there are different types of Christmas carols, including Christmas carols accompanied by dancing and acting. Caroling is also not limited to Christmas and can be done during other times of the year, such as New Years Eve. Caroling masks are still made by artisans in Romania, but are now bought more frequently as souvenirs and conversation pieces. Some Romanian Christmas carols have a religious theme, while others may refer to Romanian folklore.
Santa Claus in Romania
Santa Claus, or Saint Nick, is called Mos Nicolae in Romania, and he appears on December 6 to distribute small gifts and presents to good children, who leave their shoes at the door to fill them overnight. However, Santa Claus can also visit on Christmas Eve after decorating the family Christmas tree.
Visit Christmas markets in Romania such as the Sibiu Christmas Market to see traditions unfold before your eyes. Other historic cities, such as Bremen, have established their own Christmas markets to accompany a calendar of festive events and attract visitors curious about Romanian traditions.
