1. Christmas in Romania December

3. How we prepare our souls? Christmas is a very important celebration for the Romanian people. We celebrate the Holly Birth. Christmas is a very important celebration for the Romanian people. We celebrate the Holly Birth. During 40 days before this holiday Christians respect the Advent when we do not eat meat or dairy products thus preparing for the great celebration, but more important is that we must be better, not to upset our parents and our teachers. During 40 days before this holiday Christians respect the Advent when we do not eat meat or dairy products thus preparing for the great celebration, but more important is that we must be better, not to upset our parents and our teachers. We go to church for confession We go to church for confession

5. How we prepare our houses? Before Christmas the Romanians must have their houses clean, as their souls. Before Christmas the Romanians must have their houses clean, as their souls. So, they wash the windows, the carpets, the curtains, decorate the house for the celebration. So, they wash the windows, the carpets, the curtains, decorate the house for the celebration. Everywhere in the town, on my street I can see families cleaning their house. Everywhere in the town, on my street I can see families cleaning their house.

6. The Christmas tree Christmas eve brings us inside the houses the Christmas tree. It used to be natural, but now, year after year the ecological trees are more used. Christmas eve brings us inside the houses the Christmas tree. It used to be natural, but now, year after year the ecological trees are more used. We decorate the tree with Christms balls, angels, sweets and chocolates. We decorate the tree with Christms balls, angels, sweets and chocolates.

8. The Christmas carols On Christmas eve children go caroling. On Christmas eve children go caroling. They go from house to house and sing carols about Jesus and Virgin Mary, about the holly birth,the magicians, the holly star. They go from house to house and sing carols about Jesus and Virgin Mary, about the holly birth,the magicians, the holly star.

9. Christmas carols The Christmas carol is one of the best-known winter traditions. Long time ago, the ones who went carol – singing were the children who, after the midnight of 24th towards 25th of December, went from house to house, wishing health, happiness and fortune to the householders. The Christmas carols are ritual texts which are sung during the Christian holidays and they are dedicated to Christmas and to the New Year which is to come. Their origin is to be found in the history of our people. Throughout the centuries they became more beautiful and acquired a great variety all over our country. They express the atmosphere of celebration and the high spirits with which all Romanians welcome the Birth of the Son of God and the New Year.

10. O ce veste minunata- What a wonderful news

11. O, ce veste minunata Langa Viflaim s-arata Cerul stralucea Ingerul venea Pe-o raza curata Pastorilor din campie Le vesteste-o bucurie Ca-ntr-un mic locas Din acel oras S-a nascut Mesia In cetatea pastoreasca Vrut-a Domnul sa se nasca Fiul sau cel Sfant Noua pe pamant Sa ne mantuiasca Pastorii cum auzira Spre locasul sfant pornira Unde L-au aflat Pruncul luminat Si Il preamarira E Iisus Pastorul mare Turma ca El nimeni n-are Noi Il laudam Si ne inchinam Cu credinta tare O, ce veste minunata Langa Viflaim s-arata Cerul stralucea Ingerul venea Pe-o raza curata Pastorilor din campie Le vesteste-o bucurie Ca-ntr-un mic locas Din acel oras S-a nascut Mesia In cetatea pastoreasca Vrut-a Domnul sa se nasca Fiul sau cel Sfant Noua pe pamant Sa ne mantuiasca Pastorii cum auzira Spre locasul sfant pornira Unde L-au aflat Pruncul luminat Si Il preamarira E Iisus Pastorul mare Turma ca El nimeni n-are Noi Il laudam Si ne inchinam Cu credinta tare

12. Trei pastori se intalnira Three shepards Trei pastori se intalnira Three shepards

13. Trei pastori- Three shepards Trei pastori se intalnira Si asa se sfatuira Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, Si asa se sfatuira: Haideti fratilor sa mergem, Floricele sa culegem, Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, Floricele sa culegem. Si sa facem o cununa, S-o-mpletim cu voie buna, Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, S-o-mpletim cu voie buna. Si s-o ducem lui Hristos, Sa ne fie de folos, Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, Sa ne fie de folos. Trei pastori se intalnira Si asa se sfatuira Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, Si asa se sfatuira: Haideti fratilor sa mergem, Floricele sa culegem, Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, Floricele sa culegem. Si sa facem o cununa, S-o-mpletim cu voie buna, Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, S-o-mpletim cu voie buna. Si s-o ducem lui Hristos, Sa ne fie de folos, Taza soarelui, floarea soarelui, Sa ne fie de folos.

14. Preparing the dinner…. Five days before Christmas with a very sharp knife the pig is cut. Five days before Christmas with a very sharp knife the pig is cut. This custom is called "Ignatius" from Saint Ignatius (celebrated on December the 20th). Straws are put in his snout and then it is covered with burning straws and then is it singed. The pig is nicely washed and covered with a piece of cloth for ten minutes. The housewife comes and incense the pig and then the husband comes and makes the sign of the cross on the pig's head saying to the family gathered around: "Let's eat the pig!" After the pig is cut there is a feast called the pig's funeral feast or alms. At the feast the whole family friends and neighbors take part. All eat the rid or the skin of the bacon and they also eat small pieces of fried pork they drink wine or plum brandy. This custom is called "Ignatius" from Saint Ignatius (celebrated on December the 20th). Straws are put in his snout and then it is covered with burning straws and then is it singed. The pig is nicely washed and covered with a piece of cloth for ten minutes. The housewife comes and incense the pig and then the husband comes and makes the sign of the cross on the pig's head saying to the family gathered around: "Let's eat the pig!" After the pig is cut there is a feast called the pig's funeral feast or alms. At the feast the whole family friends and neighbors take part. All eat the rid or the skin of the bacon and they also eat small pieces of fried pork they drink wine or plum brandy. This is an ancient tradition, becoming more and more popular because of the good food that is made of the meat. This is an ancient tradition, becoming more and more popular because of the good food that is made of the meat.

15. Traditional food Cozonac Cozonac At Christmas time Romanian mothers readied the dough for baking these delicious breads with a variety of fillings. The smells of Cozonac baking is like a bell ringing our senses. At Christmas time Romanian mothers readied the dough for baking these delicious breads with a variety of fillings. The smells of Cozonac baking is like a bell ringing our senses.

16. TRADITIONAL FOOD CARNATI SI CALTABOSI CARNATI SI CALTABOSI

17. Traditional food- Cornulete 150 ml oil 100 ml mineral water 750 g flour 250 g margarine 5 ml vinegar un praf de sare

18. Traditional food -Sarmale Traditional food -Sarmale Tradional food Sarmale We need cabbage, rice, meat, onion, tomatoes sauce and a lot of LOVE.

19. Ion Creanga- “Memories from my boyhood” Ion Creanga- “Memories from my boyhood” “At Christmas when father killed the pig, singed and scalded it and quickly wrapped it up in straw to make it sweat, and thus easier to shave, I would bestride the pig, straw and all, and I would have the time of my life knowing that I would get the pig's tail to fry and the bladder to fill with grains, to blow it up and rattle when it was dry; and then alas, what a time mother's ears had of it, until she'd break it against my head! “ “At Christmas when father killed the pig, singed and scalded it and quickly wrapped it up in straw to make it sweat, and thus easier to shave, I would bestride the pig, straw and all, and I would have the time of my life knowing that I would get the pig's tail to fry and the bladder to fill with grains, to blow it up and rattle when it was dry; and then alas, what a time mother's ears had of it, until she'd break it against my head! “

20. Santa Claus We wait for Santa for years. In our poems he is an old men, wearing a sheep-coat. He has a sleadge pulled by litlle rabbits. We wait for Santa for years. In our poems he is an old men, wearing a sheep-coat. He has a sleadge pulled by litlle rabbits. Being so old and being so clold outside, the children are worried about him and his travel. They wait for him with warm milk and cookies. They learn poems to say to Santa. Being so old and being so clold outside, the children are worried about him and his travel. They wait for him with warm milk and cookies. They learn poems to say to Santa.

22. Who helps Santa? Santa’s helpers are some angels. They go and watch the child through the window to see his or her behave. Santa’s helpers are some angels. They go and watch the child through the window to see his or her behave. Santa has in heaven, on his leap a big book. He writes there everyhing about children, as the angels say. Before preparing the Christmas gifts he reads in his book about the children and decide what they deserve. Santa has in heaven, on his leap a big book. He writes there everyhing about children, as the angels say. Before preparing the Christmas gifts he reads in his book about the children and decide what they deserve.

23. Christmas in school On the 1 st of December we decorate the classrooms with Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. On the 1 st of December we decorate the classrooms with Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. At the music lessons we learn songs about winter and carols. At the music lessons we learn songs about winter and carols. At the arts lessons we draw and paint cards, Christmas trees, pictures with Santa. At the arts lessons we draw and paint cards, Christmas trees, pictures with Santa. At the Romanian Laguage Lessons we learn carols and poems about this important celebration. At the Romanian Laguage Lessons we learn carols and poems about this important celebration. The the foreign language lassons we learn about Christmas in the world. The the foreign language lassons we learn about Christmas in the world.

24. Christmas in school We celebrate Christmas with poems, songs and feeling with our parents. We celebrate Christmas with poems, songs and feeling with our parents. Santa comes in schools, too. Santa comes in schools, too.

25. Winter

27. The week of goodness –Project Open wide the doors of you hearts We are not here to ask for anything We are here to give... Christmas must be a moment of joy in every family. Christmas must be a moment of joy in every family. We ask the priests where are families with old people who need help or are sick and alone. We ask the priests where are families with old people who need help or are sick and alone. We collected food, clothes and money and visited those families, to congratulate them and to give them a ray of happiness. We collected food, clothes and money and visited those families, to congratulate them and to give them a ray of happiness.

28. Ready to give presents to poor people

29. We found people in need...