CROATIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS!
Zadar team PROJECT MEMBERS are as follows:
- Paula,
- Betricija,
- Marina and
- their teacher
HTUŠ etwinners with love
So, Merry Christmas, everyone!!! 
SRETAN BOŽIĆ - MERRY CHRISTMAS!
how we celebrate Christmas - read and learn!
WE BOAST CROATIAN CHRISTMAS SONGS - VERY CULTURE-ROOTED, VERY NUMERABLE, VERY SPECIAL!
LET'S SHARE OUR CULTURE WITH YOU, DEAR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS!
CROATIAN CHRISMAS CAROLS - terribly harmonious, very special and numerous, too; only a few for you!
CROATIAN EATING HABITS FOR CHRISTMAS
DOBAR TEK! ENJOY YOUR MEAL/S!
There are a number of different Croatian cuisines which can be grouped
according to three main regions: Mediterranean cuisine, the mountain cuisine of
the south, and the continental cuisine of the northern plains, each with its
own particular customs. The north begins the holiday's food-related
celebrations. Custom dictates that each family sow some wheat on the feast of
St. Lucy (December 13) in a plate with a little water, to be used as a table
decoration. The sprouts are then tied with a tricolor (red, white and blue)
ribbon called a "trobojnica" around three candles.
On the coast
In Dalmatia, bakalar (dried cod) soup is the traditional dish for Christmas eve. On Christmas day, it's customary to eat pasticada (Dalmatian pot roast), sometimes sarma (stuffed cabbage), raisin doughnuts, krostuli (traditional Christmas doughnuts, finely knotted, fried and dusted with icing sugar), as well as dried figs and nuts.
In the north
Christmas eve is a fast day. Only plain bread is eaten, whereas in the evening "fat" beans are served with sauerkraut and onions fried in oil. Try the wonderful strukli (a kind of large vegetable ravioli) served with a compote of dried fruits (prunes, pears and apples).
When it comes to
Christmas Day, there once was a time when everyone made a traditional bread
called "cipov" (also prepared for Easter) from wheat, yeast and milk.
Lunch is a three-course meal composed of cold meats, turkey and walnut and
poppy seed rolls. Dinner is more elaborate and starts with a clear soup with
fresh noodles.
Next comes a spit-roasted suckling pig, a goose or turkey accompanied by the traditional strukli. There is an extravagant array of desserts with countless cakes and cookies. Among them we should mention Croatian Kuglof that bears no resemblance to its Alsatian namesake. It's a walnut and poppy seed cake glazed with egg, crowned for the occasion with a candle and a pine bough.
Next comes a spit-roasted suckling pig, a goose or turkey accompanied by the traditional strukli. There is an extravagant array of desserts with countless cakes and cookies. Among them we should mention Croatian Kuglof that bears no resemblance to its Alsatian namesake. It's a walnut and poppy seed cake glazed with egg, crowned for the occasion with a candle and a pine bough.
The Croatian baking
tradition is evident everywhere. There are two kinds of bread: Badnji Kruh, or
Christmas eve bread made with honey, walnuts and dried fruit; and the braided
Christmas bread. Nutmeg, raisins and almonds are mixed into the dough before it
is woven into the shape of a wreath. It often serves as the centerpiece for
Christmas dinner and stays on the table until Epiphany.
Here are a few
typical dishes
Christmas Eve dinner:
Cod fish - bianco and biudetto
Bakalar - bijeli i biudet
Bakalar - bijeli i biudet
Smelts and salted sardines
Girice i slane srdele
Girice i slane srdele
Christmas Day dinner:
Stuffed cabbage
Sarma
Sarma
Turkey with Zagorje noodles
Purica s mlincima
Purica s mlincima
Suckling pig
Odojak
Odojak
Dalmatian pot roast
Pasticada
Pasticada
Walnut roll
Orahnjaca
Orahnjaca
Dried figs with walnuts
Suhe smokve s orasima
Suhe smokve s orasima
Grappa
Loza
Loza
poems about Christmas
God only knows
God opens doors of opportunity that
No one can close.
Do not be upset
When you encounter troubles,
Good things will happen in our lives.
No one can close.
Do not be upset
When you encounter troubles,
Good things will happen in our lives.
Leave all deadly sins behind
Including jealousy and hatred.
Be faithful to Him and
Do the righteous ways.
Including jealousy and hatred.
Be faithful to Him and
Do the righteous ways.
Even though someone
“Put your life in danger and in sorrows.”
Be happy each day and
Learn how to forgive.
“Put your life in danger and in sorrows.”
Be happy each day and
Learn how to forgive.
He knows our desires before
We even know them.
Learn how to appreciate
His Almighty Blessings.
We even know them.
Learn how to appreciate
His Almighty Blessings.
Indeed, we will be able to thank Him
With all our hearts and
With all our souls as
He works in a mysterious ways.
With all our hearts and
With all our souls as
He works in a mysterious ways.
Therefore, God only knows what
No one can predict.
Be thankful each day and
Live happily.
No one can predict.
Be thankful each day and
Live happily.
- –
- written by Alon Calinao Dy
CHRISTMAS NATIVITY ACROSS CROATIA
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St. Nicola’s Day in Croatia
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CHRISTMAS SONGS KNOWN TO ALL! OUR FAVOURITE ONES! ENJOY THEM!
Croatian Christmas Eve
CROATIA'S CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN THE PAST AND NOWADAYS
The Christian
holiday Christmas is celebrated differently among different nations and is an
important part of their cultural heritage. Read our feature in order to find
out more about Christmas traditions and celebrations in Croatia in the past and
nowadays.
THE TRADITION OF GIVING
PRESENTS
Preparations for the holiday start by giving presents on the 6th of December (St. Nicholas Day) and on the 13th of December (St. Lucy Day). This tradition dates back to the 11th century. On St. Lucy Day, a person wrapped with a white sheet used to go from house to house giving children dried figs, almonds, walnuts and apples, but also scaring children that were naughty. Furthermore, rods were placed under the pillows of these children in order to warn them to behave properly. Nowadays, St. Nicholas places candies in the boots of well-behaved children, and his assistant "Krampus" (evil spirit or devil) distributes the rods. The traditional Croatian Christmas present was a decorated apple called "bozicnica" that was given to girls by boys.
CHRISTMAS WHEAT
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One of the traditions that is still followed today is to sow Christmas Wheat that stands for life and fertility. This tradition does not exist in Protestant communities and in most of Europe, and besides in Croatia, can only be found in Portugal and southern Italy. Until Christmas, the wheat grows in a water filled container, decorates the table on Christmas and afterwards is put under the Christmas tree or in a corner of the room. The wheat is trimmed and wrapped with a red or a red, white and blue ribbon. In some of Croatia's regions, an apple and candles are placed in the middle of the wheat. After Christmas, the wheat is given to birds since nothing from Christmas times should be thrown away.
CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONS
Three larger tree-stumps, brought into the house on Christmas Eve, placed into the fireplace and used to light all of the candles in the house, symbolize the Holy Trinity. Some Christmas food and wine were added to the fire because it was believed that the large tree-stump fire would bring good to all of the members of the household.
The Straw tradition as a symbol of Christmas was followed much longer than the tree-stumps tradition. The moment when the head of the household brought the straw into the house marked the beginning of Christmas celebrations. The majority of the straw was spread on the floor under the table, while some was placed on the table and covered by a tablecloth, and some was tied into bundles or wreaths. After dinner, all members of the household used to sit on the straw and chat until time for church. In some regions, people slept on the straw instead of in their beds on Christmas Eve. The straw spread on the floor symbolized the birth of Christ in the creche, while straw tied into bundles and wreaths symbolized fertility.
Until 1850, people in Croatia did not decorate Christmas trees, even though this tradition has been observed in German regions since the 16th century. It is interesting to note that the first Christmas trees had been deciduous and that coniferous trees were only used after intensive afforestation. Trees used to be decorated with apples, oranges, plums, pears, walnuts and hazelnuts, as well as sweets, paper and glass figurines. Besides all of these, there were also gold and silver colored threads, lanterns and candles that were lit at the holiest moments. Even though the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree appeared relatively late in Croatia, decorating the home with greenery is a centuries-old tradition usually done by children. Children in coastal regions used to decorate their houses with sage, ivy and evergreen branches. This tradition symbolizes the strength of life as opposed to winter period.
The NATIVITY, that is placed under the Christmas tree is a reminder on the event that is being celebrated - the birth of Christ. The creches used to be made of plaster, clay or wood and could only be found in churches. It was a matter of prestige to have the largest and most beautiful creche. According to documents, the first life size creche was made by St. Francis in 1223. Since the 19th century, creches can also be found in homes.
Candles symbolize both the awakening of nature and the light that Christ's birth brought to the world.
CHRISTMAS FAST AND CHRISTMAS DINNER
It is a tradition to fast on Christmas Eve and to stay awake till midnight when it is time to go to church, as well as to prepare a plentiful dinner on Christmas. People had to finish all of their household chores and prepare food and desert before the evening bells rang on Christmas Eve. While on Christmas Eve people used to fast, on Christmas Day there were always meat and cookies even in the poorest families.
CROATIAN CHRISTMAS CAROLS - IN CROATIAN!
MORE CHRISTMAS CAROLS
SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAST - SLIDESHOW
CROATIAN NATIVITY
CROATIAN CHURCH ALTARS
MOMENTS OF CHRISTMAS
enjoy the presentation - inspiring!
HOLY BIBLE ONLINE
POLNOĆKA - SUNJA
MIDNIGHT HOLY MASS AT CHRISTMAS EVE FRO SUNJA
NOVEMBER 2012
Hello there.
OdgovoriIzbrišiChristmas is such a beautiful time of the year. When I was a kid, it had a most magical feeling to it.
I honestly did not know Christmas had such a past, but that makes us think:
Christmas is celebrated differently everywhere on Earth, however, it it celebrated the same, since it was made and changed over the centuries with influences by many countries. It's a time that unites the world and brings out the kindness of mankind.
Daniel Gheorghe