CHRISTMAS TRADITION IN SLOVAKIA Christmas in Slovakia isnt

CHRISTMAS TRADITION IN SLOVAKIA

Christmas in Slovakia isn't too different from what most Europeans and North Americans are used to.

The Slovak Santa Claus, Saint Nicolaus, does not arrive the night before Christmas, but on December 6; accompanied by an angel and a devil, who ask children if they are good or bad.

Children, of course, say they were good, and are rewarded with sweets or cookies by the angel

Like in here. . .

Cooking the Christmas dinner begins about two weeks later. Traditionally, a big feast day is devoted to Christmas Eve. Slovak words for Christmas Eve are literally bountiful eve (Štedrý večer) and the bounty of this sacred evening lies in the wide range of festive dishes, of which there had to be twelve different kinds.

DIFFERENT regions, different minorities, and different religious groups in Slovakia traditionally had different Christmas dinners After wafers or bread with honey and garlic, most families would start the dinner with „kapustnica“ - cabbage soup

Cabbage soup Christmas Eve Sauerkraut Soup (KAPUSTNICA) Ingredients: 1. 5 kg sauerkraut, 1 pair of smoked pork sausage, 1 kg smoked meat (pork or beef), 50 g dried mushrooms, 1 chopped onion, 100 ml cooking oil, 150 g finely ground flour 2 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp. salt 20 g ground red paprika black pepper to taste

PREPARATION: Put the meat, sausage, sauerkraut into water. Add salt and boil it for 2 hours. When the meat is tender, add the drained mushrooms. Cook the soup another 30 minutes. Heat the oil in the frying pan and add the chopped onion. Than add the flour stir in the paprika. Slowly mix in approximately 300 ml of water. Add then onion-flour mixture to the soup. Cook another 15 minutes

Naturally Fried Carp with POTATO SALAD Ingredients: 300 g carp (uncleaned) 10 g salt, 1 g pepper 20 g butter flour, red paprika 100 g vegetable oil

PREPARATION: Debone, remove skin and clean fish, pat dry. Salt and pepper the filets, then put them in mixture of flour and red pepper. Fry slowly on hot oil until done.

In many homes, a bell rings to announce the arrival of "baby Jesus“, who places gifts under the Christmas tree. After dinner, the family gathers around the tree to open presents. When the Christmas tree is lit, some of the almost forgotten customs and rites of their ancestors come to life once more, their thoughts return to their family friends and to love.

Even our school celebrates Xmas before the Winter Holidays

In the school canteen we sing Christmas Carols

We narrate poems. .

. . . Or just dance. . .

Children organize Christmas Sale. . .

Even the city enjoys Christmas atmosphere. .

The Xmas Tree on Main Street. . .

St. Elizabeth Cathedral

May Peace, Joy and Love be yours this Season

ZŠ Tomášikova 31 Košice, Slovakia © Mgr. Magdaléna Kanócová English Teacher