Our First FAMILY Christmas Holiday in Slovakia - Traditions, Family and Celebrartions скачать в хорошем качестве

Our First FAMILY Christmas Holiday in Slovakia - Traditions, Family and Celebrartions

This year, we decided to spend our first-ever Christmas away, visiting my family in Slovakia. Our girls had never celebrated Christmas anywhere but home—let alone abroad—so it was a big shock for them. At first, they weren’t too excited about being away during the holidays. Slovakian Christmas is all about traditions, some dating back hundreds of years. The main Christmas celebration takes place on December 24th, with a special dinner in the evening. Traditionally, we would decorate the Christmas tree a few days before Christmas or even on the morning of Christmas Eve. In preparation for Christmas dinner, we would set the table and bring out exotic fruits that weren’t normally available throughout the year—pineapple, mandarins, bananas, figs, and of course, apples from our garden. These fruits formed the centerpiece, symbolizing prosperity. The table would always have salt, honey, and garlic. (Interesting fact: In Slovakia, guests are traditionally welcomed with bread and salt!) A fresh loaf of bread was placed at the head of the table, remaining there throughout Christmas. Underneath it, we would slip a substantial sum of money to symbolize the success of the past year and to bring prosperity for the next one. We also had a special set of plates and cutlery that were used only for the most special occasions. As kids wouldn't be allowed to enter the room, as "Jezisko" - Jesus would bring the presents under the Christmas tree and nobody was allowed to see him :) We would normally go downstairs to visit grandma for a little while. Before Christmas dinner, we would go outside and invite the spirits of our ancestors to join us. We would open the door, call out their names, and welcome them—mostly our grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, and aunties, our closest family. Once inside, we would gather around the Christmas table, where the head of the family—usually the eldest member—would lead a prayer. For many years, this was my grandma before she passed away. She would bless the table and each family member with holy water, specially collected from the church before Christmas. Next, honey would be painted on our foreheads in the shape of a cross while the person leading the ritual said, “May you always be welcomed by the world and remain as sweet and pleasant as this honey.” This blessing was given to every family member. Then, we would each eat a piece of garlic, cut by my grandma. This was an old tradition meant to protect us from sorcery and also to bring good health, as garlic symbolizes strength and well-being. After that, an apple was carefully cut into small pieces, making sure not to cut through the seeds. A healthy apple core meant a healthy family. Each person received a piece while my grandma would say, “If you ever feel lost in the world or in your thoughts, remember you have a strong and loving family behind you. Think of this moment, this apple, and you will always find your way back home.” We then ate a wafer, similar to Holy Communion bread but slightly larger, dipping it in honey before eating. This was followed by a toast, with another blessing before we finally began our meal. The dinner typically started with sauerkraut cabbage soup, a dish far more delicious than it sounds, often made with homemade smoked sausage and double cream. For the main course, we had Russian potato salad with fish. Traditionally, Christmas Eve was a meat-free day, but over time, our family adapted the tradition to include sausage in the soup and schnitzel (breaded pork) as part of the meal. After the feast, there was an endless selection of cakes and biscuits. As children, we could finally look under the Christmas tree and open our presents. But Christmas Eve didn’t end there! We kept eating, drinking, and enjoying cheesy Slovakian and Czechoslovakian movies before heading to midnight mass at our local church. And that marked the end of our beautiful Christmas Eve celebration. I am so happy that all of those traditions are being still kept alive even when we celebrate our Christmas in England. Our girls love it!!