1. Christmas in Croatia

2. Christmas
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ
The word Božić in Croatian comes from the diminutive of the word God (Bog)
We celebrate Christmas on the 25th December

3. Advent This is the time before Christmas
It starts 4 Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve
We make advent wreaths with 4 candles which we light every Sunday before Christmas, they symbolize hope, peace, joy and love

4. Christmas wheat
On Christmas Eve, the Christmas wheat, which has been sprouting since St. Lucy's Day on the 13th of December, is tied with ribbon in the colors of the Croatian flag – red, white, and blue. Sometimes a candle is also placed within the wheat.

5. Christmas Eve
On this day people make Christmas meals, they clean and decorate the house and cook dinner ( usually fish)
After the dinner families go to church to a midnight mass

6. Christmas Day Christmas Day is spent with family and at church
People are happy, they sing Christmas carols and they spend time with their families and closest friends
They eat Christmas cookies and other traditional food

7. Christmas food
On Christmas Day Croatians traditionally prepare turkey, lamb, roasted pork, sarma (minced meat wrapped in cabbage), peppers stuffed with minced meat, salads, freshly baked bread and traditional Christmas deserts such as fritule (pastry similar to doughnuts), strudels, walnut and poppy-seed cakes and many, many more.

8. Christmas tree We decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve
Long ago people used to decorate Christmas trees with flowers or fruit
Today we decoate it with Christmas lights and balls
We put presents under the tree

9. Christmas decorations
Besides sprouting wheat, Croatians decorate their homes with wreaths and trees. Licitar hearts or hand-decorated cookies often decorate Christmas trees in Croatia. Christmas creches are also used for decoration in Croatia. Various greenery, including evergreen boughs, is a typical Christmas decoration.

10. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our project partners!