When we look at the word “Christmas,” it certainly unveils a feeling of comfort. Red, green and white all scattered around, the snow’s welcoming chillness and the Christmas tree’s woody smell truly sum up how cozy the winter holidays are. Growing up in Eastern Europe, Romania, helped me master the true meaning of Christmas. Family!
Christmas in Romania depicts many traditions, some of which are still practiced until these days, and they all come down to one single detail, “unity.” Since it is a Christian holiday, it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, on December 25th. Being celebrated by Romanian people for three days, a lot of meaningful and heartwarming events take place! Everything must be shared with our family members, from the significant present gifting, decorating the Christmas tree to singing carols. Christmas in Romania is also known as “a family’s holiday,” having dinner on Christmas Eve while treasuring the moments spent together is said to bring good luck for the new year.
Most traditions come from the countryside, and they are strongly related to the welcoming of Jesus Christ, harvesting crops, caring for the animals, and bringing the family together. These ideas are very well conveyed in our carols (in Romanian, colinde) and lead me to describe a very meaningful Christmas tradition: going carol-singing from house to house (in Romanian, a merge cu colinda)! It is practiced by people of all ages, especially children and teens, and it shows a group singing carols accompanied by instruments, going to every doorstep and spreading the positive atmosphere of Christmas. This happens on Christmas Eve, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and the practitioners are rewarded with apples, nuts or oranges, and nowadays money.
Knowing that a new year is on the way, we also practice something different which lasts until New Year’s Eve, called “a merge cu uratul” – it is meant to drive evil spirits away as people sing and play instruments (the traditional tobā, a drum which emerges the sound similar of a gong) dressed up as different characters (bear or goat). Romanian people continue this practice on January 1st, and it is known as “a merge cu steaua” – it celebrates the arrival of the new year, and people sing a specific carol at others’ doorstep to bring good forune and health for a joyful and hard-working year.
I have to admit that our traditional food is one of a kind, and I am leaning towards our irreplaceable sponge cake (in Romanian, cozonac) – it is a type of bread filled with a chocolate paste mixed with nuts, jelly or raisins. Along with that, we cannot miss the nostalgic smell of tangerines! Loved by everyone, its smell clearly indicated the warmth of Christmas and the feeling of “home.” If I pricked my all-time favorite memory from my childhood, I would go for Christmas. My country’s Christmas culture resonates with the importance of keeping our traditions alive, and tightening the line between generations, and I do believe it fills our inner child with pure joy!