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 soupChristmas

Eve Sauerkraut

Soup(KAPUSTNIC

A)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 flour2 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp.salt20 g ground red paprikablack 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 drainedmushrooms. Cook the soup another 30 minutes.Heat the oil in the frying pan and addthe chopped onion. Than add the flour stirin the paprika. Slowly mix in approximately300 ml of water. Add then onion-flour mixtureto the soup. Cook another 15 minutes

Naturally Fried Carp with

POTATO SALAD Ingredients:300g carp (uncleaned)10g salt, 1g pepper20g butterflour, red paprika100g 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

untildone.

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