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Christmas in Slovakia. Advent. comes from the Latin word adventus , meaning "coming„ means a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas
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Advent • comes from the Latin wordadventus,meaning"coming„ • means a time of waiting and preparation for thecelebration of theNativity of Jesusat Christmas • the keeping of anadvent wreathis a common practice in homes or churches
The pupils of our school with their own hand-made advent wreaths
Saint Nicholas' Day • is celebrated in Slovakia on the 6th December • in Slovakia St. Nicholas is known as svätý Mikuláš • he comes in the evening and gives presents to good children • he also brings along the Devil who rings the chains and threatens bad children • if he can't appear in person, he leaves small presents (such as dried fruit, chocolate and sweets) in the children's shoes
Preparations for Christmas • cleaning the house • shopping for Christmas presents • baking • buying the carp (it is eaten in the main Christmas meal) and the Christmas tree
Christmas tree • It is usually decorated with coloured lights, glass balls,wooden decorations and finished off with the silver threads. • The most traditional ornaments are made from slama – straw. They can be in the shape of a heart, ring, cone or a star. Straw and hay are symbolic from their use in Jesus’ manger where he lay.
Christmas dinner • It used to be the custom to fast (not to eat anything) all through Christmas Eve • It was said that if you manage to get by without food for the whole day, you will see a little golden pig in the evening (after the Midnight Mass service)!
Two things you will find at every Slovak Christmas table: sliced apple, indicating good luck if the star is unbroken Christmas wafers called oblátkyeaten with honey
Christmas menu • wafers with honey followed by garlic (to be healthy during the coming year) • „bobaľky“ – small baked balls covered with sweet crushed poppy • sauerkraut soup – kapustnica - with mushrooms • fried carp (or any other fish) with potatoes or potato salad
Customs in Slovakia • In some Slovak families, the head of the household traces the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the children in honey. This is a wish for a sweet New Year. • During the supper, no one is permitted to leave the table because it is thought that someone would not be present there during the coming year. • When the meal is completed, the dishes are cleared away but the pastries, nuts, candies and fruit are left on the table for any visitors even for the visitors from the other world who died.
Presents • Time for opening the presents comes after the dinner • The presents are under the decorated Christmas tree • People usually sing Christmas carols and at midnight they go to church to a Midnight Mass Service. This is the busiest Church service of the year.
Christmas carols • SILENT NIGHT! HOLY NIGHTALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHTROUND YOUNG VIRGIN MOTHER AND CHILDHOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILDSLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE!SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE! • SILENT NIGHT! HOLY NIGHT!SHEPHERDS QUAKE AT THE SIGHTGLORIES STREAM FROM HEAVEN AFARHEAVENLY HOSTS SING HALLELUJAHCHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN!CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN! • SILENT NIGHT! HOLY NIGHT!SON OF GOD LOVE'S PURE LIGHTRADIANT BEAMS FROM THY HOLY FACEWITH THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE,JESUS, LORD AT THY BIRTH,JESUS, LORD AT THY BIRTH. • Tichá noc, svätá noc!Všetko spí, všetko sní,sám len svätý bdie dôverný pár,stráži Dieťatko, nebeský dar.Sladký Ježiško spí, sní,nebesky tíško spí, sní. • Tichá noc, svätá noc!Anjeli zleteli,najprv pastierom podali zvesť,ktorá svetom dnes dáva sa niesť:Kristus, Spasiteľ je tu,Tešiteľ sveta je tu! • Tichá noc, svätá noc!Nežná tvár, lásky žiarbožsky rozsieva v jasličkách tam:bije záchranná hodina námv tvojom zrodení, Boh Syn,Ježiško, Láska, Boh Syn!
Popular Slovakian Christmas carols • Listen to the most popular Christmas songs and carols: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0Q0iEEUYIhw
Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St. Steve's Day) • They are much quieter and days of rest. • People might go to Holy Mass Service and visit their family on Christmas Day. • Families with children like to go to church and watch 'Betlehems' – crib scenes - which are displayed in almost every church. Some of them are mechanical!
New Year's Eve • It is celebrated in Slovakia mostly with friends at home, in some restaurants or in the mountains where people go skiing.
Definitely Christmas time is considered as the biggest family holiday time.
Thanks for watching! • Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014! • Veselé Vianoce a šťastný Nový rok 2014!