ABOUT ADVENT IN CROTIA
- by Paula
... we all know them - let's sing!
CROATIAN NATIVITY - very much culture-rooted!
beautiful nativity images from Zadar churches
- by Paula
... we all know them - let's sing!
CROATIAN NATIVITY - very much culture-rooted!
beautiful nativity images from Zadar churches
Advent is a period of the liturgical year
that is marked by preparations for the celebration of Christmas. In Western
Christian churches, the Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas and ends on
December 24, on Christmas Eve.
The Advent
season reminds many of us of our childhoods, but it does not represent only
sweet nostalgic memories but also the expectant waiting for a new, better beginning.
Advent is a period of expectation, of vigilance, of
preparing for Christmas....
There are
many customs in Croatia related to Advent that speak of the particularities of
the locations and times from which they originated, but also of their traditional
connections with European culture.
The venerable and grand celebration of the Nativity of Jesus used to take weeks before Christmas to prepare. People would pray and fast, but also socialize and have fun. They would pray for prosperity and predict the future. They would all walk together in song and prayers going to the first morning mass – the Matins, while the first carolers would appear as early as the Feast of St. Barbara.
The venerable and grand celebration of the Nativity of Jesus used to take weeks before Christmas to prepare. People would pray and fast, but also socialize and have fun. They would pray for prosperity and predict the future. They would all walk together in song and prayers going to the first morning mass – the Matins, while the first carolers would appear as early as the Feast of St. Barbara.
On the
Feast of St. Nicholas, the children received gifts of fruit or were given a
scare by the Krampus daemon and his birch rods and chains, while in the evening
on the Feast of St. Lucy girls went to sleep hoping to dream of the young man
they would marry.
One of the traditional Christmas gifts in
Croatia was a decorated apple – the Christmas Apple – that young men gave to
girls. A tradition observed even today is the planting of wheat seeds before
Christmas to symbolize the renewal of life and fruitfulness. On the Feast of
St. Barbara or St. Lucy wheat seeds – the symbol of life – are planted and
greenery is used to decorate the house and the dining table.
While the wheat planting custom has been preserved even in the cities, the tradition of bringing in the badnjak log and laying hay over the dining table on Christmas Eve has almost disappeared even in the villages.
While the wheat planting custom has been preserved even in the cities, the tradition of bringing in the badnjak log and laying hay over the dining table on Christmas Eve has almost disappeared even in the villages.
The
tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in Croatia has been present since
1850, and, interestingly, the first trees used were deciduous.
They used to be
decorated with apples, oranges, plums and pears, gilded walnuts and hazelnuts
or various sugar candies, paper or glass figures, if they were available.
In
coastal areas, children used to decorate their houses with sage, ivy or pine
branches that symbolized life force that would defeat the death of nature in
winter. Christmas trees or green branches are an especially visible symbol of
Christmas.
Decorated trees are still present in city squares and in front of public buildings.
In private homes, they are the center around which the family gathers and children receive gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Nativity scenes placed under the tree directly represent the event that is celebrated – the night when Jesus was born.
Decorated trees are still present in city squares and in front of public buildings.
In private homes, they are the center around which the family gathers and children receive gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Nativity scenes placed under the tree directly represent the event that is celebrated – the night when Jesus was born.
The Advent wreath…
During Advent, a wreath is made and placed on the
table to symbolize the expectation of Christmas.
It is usually shaped as a ring made of
evergreen branches holding four candles. Every Sunday during Advent, one of the
candles is lit. The pine branches and the holly within the wreath symbolize
immortality, the laurel symbolizes victory over sin and suffering, and cedar
symbolizes strength and healing of all illnesses.
Holly leaves are reminiscent of the crown of thorns, which, according to English tradition, was woven from the branches of the evergreen plant. The wreath often also contains a branch of rosemary, the plant that legendarily protected the Virgin Mary on her travels to Egypt. Weaving and decorating evergreen wreaths is an ancient tradition dating to pre-Christian times.
Holly leaves are reminiscent of the crown of thorns, which, according to English tradition, was woven from the branches of the evergreen plant. The wreath often also contains a branch of rosemary, the plant that legendarily protected the Virgin Mary on her travels to Egypt. Weaving and decorating evergreen wreaths is an ancient tradition dating to pre-Christian times.
The first Advent wreath in the world dates from 1838 and the poor Every VERY year during the season of Advent he would organize prayer moments for the children in his charge. In 1838 he wrote in his journal that he wanted to find a way to make Advent nicer to them and decided to light a candle every day during prayers, starting from the first day of December. Around 1851 Wichern’s protégés started decorating the wooden cartwheel that held the candles with evergreen branches. Catholics around the world started forming Advent wreaths after World War I.
The four
candles in the wreath symbolize the four weeks of Advent – three candles are
usually purple, and one is pink.
- First Sunday – purple candle – the candle of hope
and expectations – creation.
- Second Sunday – purple candle – the candle of
peace and reconciliation – embodiment.
- Third Sunday – pink candle – the candle of joy
and merriment – absolution.
- Fourth Sunday – purple candle – the candle of
love – the end.
- There is also a tradition of placing a fifth,
white candle in the wreath – the candle of Christ!
Apart
from Advent liturgy with especially prominent Matins masses, the faithful also
pray in their homes.
Daily family prayers of The Angelus are conducted under candlelight, with no other lights present. Families follow the prayers by reading Advent texts from the Scriptures. The prayers and the readings from the Holy Book during Advent help family members to grow with hope and carry within them the light of Christ in this world.
Daily family prayers of The Angelus are conducted under candlelight, with no other lights present. Families follow the prayers by reading Advent texts from the Scriptures. The prayers and the readings from the Holy Book during Advent help family members to grow with hope and carry within them the light of Christ in this world.
POLNOĆKA - A MUST FOR ALL CATHOLIC BELIVERS HERE!
ALSO, CANDLE LIGHT - THE SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS
Candles – Aničič
ALSO, CANDLE LIGHT - THE SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS
Candles – Aničič
Candle accompanies Christians from
birth to death, as earlyas from the very beginnings of Christianity. The use
and symbolism
of candle is manifold. At baptism a candle is given to the baptised; first communicant holds a candle; candle accompanies the engaged couple at wedding; at lighted candle a sick person leaves this world. In sacral heritage of the Croats many customs and rites are related to the candle. The light of candles embellishes Christmas Eve vigil and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil. Christmas candles are attributed miraculous powers, so housewives often keep the candles that have not burned down for the next year. In Croatian spirituality the cult of the dead is exceptionally observed. So, at the merriest time of the year, at Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, candles are lighted for the dead. The candles consecrated at Candle mass are treasured in all Croatian Catholic homes like a sacred thing. In traditional heritage of the Croats candle is used against illnesses, spells and bad weather. |
yours,
Paula
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