A few weeks ago, me and my Good Doctor had a discussion about Christmas. Of course, we ended up fighting like a cat and a dog that we are. A classic example of a good discussion turning bad and of a bad thing turning into something good. As I didn't have all the answers to his questions (and boy, did that make me angry!) and realized, once more, that I still have so many things to learn, be them basic or not, I started a little research on this topic. As you can easily guess, the story is long and can become boring or too much for those unfamiliar with its details. So, that is why and this is how the long story goes short:
- Saint Nicholas was a real person, born in a wealthy family, in the 3rd century, in a village pertaining to nowadays Turkey (but back then, to Greece); raised as a Christian, after the death of his parents, he dedicated his life to God and to helping the ones in need. He was made Bishop of Myra and became known for his generosity and love for children. Due to his religious believes, he was imprisoned by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He died in 6 December, 343. This is how this date become the day when Christians celebrate him. On December 6, Romanians also celebrate the people that are named after Saint Nicholas: Nicolae, Niculae, Nicu, Nicuşor and Nicoleta (for girls).
In Romania, Saint Nicholas (Moş Nicolae) is eagerly awaited by children as well as by grown-up children (what?!), even though he is an authoritarian figure. He always brings the presents on December 5, in the evening, and leaves them in your shoes, which, by all means, have to be clean! If you don't receive anything it means that Saint Nicholas was simply too busy to arrive to you; too busy with other kids, younger than you; so you, as an older and thus wiser kid, will understand it and will not get upset on him. If you find a stick, usually wrapped in a shiny foil, or potato or onion skin, it means you've been a bad kid! Make sure, next year it won't happen again! But if you've been a good one, then behold the goodies; it can be anything, from gingerbread to a sledge, from an engagement ring to a Maldive vacation, from health to even kids! Whatever you deserve.
- Santa Claus derived from Saint Nicholas. The Dutch, founders of New Amsterdam (the nowadays New York) brought with them the tradition of Saint Nicholas who, in Dutch, is called Sinter Klaas. Sinter Klaas became Santa Claus. John Pintard, who founded the New York Historical Society in 1804, promoted Saint Nicholas as patron saint of New York, in remembrance of the city's Dutch roots. Washington Irwin, made reference to a jolly Saint Nicholas in his "Knickerbocker's History of New York" published in 1809. In 1820, artist Alexander Anderson was commissioned by John Pintard to create the first American image of Saint Nicholas. Due to cultural changes that too place in time, Saint Nicholas became Santa Clause, a more cheerful, pipe-smoking, white haired and bearded man, dressed in a red suit. The present image of Santa Claus became popular due to a series of Coca Cola advertisements illustrated by artist Haddon Sundblom (tststststs, aaalways, aaaaalways Coca Cola).
In Romania, Santa Claus(in Romanian, Moş Crăciun) comes on Christmas Eve (in Romanian, Ajunul Crăciunului), December 24, and leaves the presents under the Christmas tree (in Romanian, bradul de Crăciun). Children and grown-up children (like I said, what?!) can find them in that very evening or in the next morning, depending on Santa's timing and child's level of curiosity. Just like Saint Nicholas, if you don't receive anything, at least be wise. But you don't receive bad things for being bad this time. Santa is too jolly and forgiving, plus he thinks Saint Nicholas already made the point clear. Ho, ho, ho, ho.
On December 25, Romanians also celebrate people named after Christmas: Cristian, Cristi and Cristina, Cristiana (for girls).
Notable for Romania is the replaced, by the communists, of Moş Crăciun (Santa Claus) with Moş Gerilă (Old Man Frosty) in an attempt to erase the religious meanings, relations and backgrounds.
- The Christmas Tree, although of pagan origins, symbolizes life as it stays always green; plus is nice; and smells nice; so why not let the tree stay where it should and go and buy a fake one?! A symbol for a symbol! How symbolic!
In Romania, Christmas trees can be found in the open markets or at the supermarket approximately a couple of weeks before Christmas. Most of the people though, would buy one in the week preceding Christmas and would decorate it during this week or even on December 24; this is why most of them are grumpy and annoying in this specific day; cause they are tired and stressed; cause they do everything on the last minute. Also most of them prefer the natural one (who wouldn't?) but exactly those that fall under the "most" category don't prefer to plant another one in return.
- Christmas is there to commemorate the birth of Christ, so is a Christian holiday. It is celebrated on December 25 by means of a common agreement as this day is not known to be the actual birthday of Christ. Countries as Russia, Ukraine, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, Egypt and the Great Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrate it on January 7 (such countries use the Julian calendar as opposed to the Gregorian one).
In Romania, (I don't know how many of) the eastern orthodox followers (the majority of the population) practice the Nativity Fast, a period of abstinence from the body pleasure, humility and repentance. Exempted from these "rules" are the ill, the young, the elder and the nursing mothers.
And of course, after all these food restrictions, behold the pork (all sorts of pork home/supermarket-made products), ţuică (traditional Romanian alcoholic beverage made out of plums) rachiu (like the previous one but made out of any other fruit or cereal except plums), cozonac (a sort of sweet bread filled with walnuts/Turkish delight/poppy seeds/raisins; very much like the Italian Panettone except the shape) and many other goodies.
- Carols, are basically songs about Christmas and everything related to it; they can be sang in the period of fasting, before Christmas and especially on the Christmas Eve;
In Romania, carol singing is still practiced. Usually children (from the same block/neighborhood/family/school class or just friends) but grown-up children as well, group together and go from one home to another to sing carols. Carol singers are regarded as announcers of the birth of Christ and rarely the doors they knock remain closed. Children normally go to all the homes in their neighborhood, even if they don't know the ones living in there. Those who receive them, listen to their carols and at the end the children are given money and goodies. Grown-up children normally go just to people they know (usually relatives and friends) and they are not given money (doh!) but just goodies, be it alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, sweets,or food (most of the time from all these categories). They are likely to come starting with when it gets dark and ending in the morning (kids normally go to bed by midnight though). If, by any chance, you do not want to open the door to carol singers, make sure no one knows you are home; you'll be severally judged, otherwise; unless you are not a Christian, and then is fine, of course.
Abruptly, but
In Romania, (I don't know how many of) the eastern orthodox followers (the majority of the population) practice the Nativity Fast, a period of abstinence from the body pleasure, humility and repentance. Exempted from these "rules" are the ill, the young, the elder and the nursing mothers.
And of course, after all these food restrictions, behold the pork (all sorts of pork home/supermarket-made products), ţuică (traditional Romanian alcoholic beverage made out of plums) rachiu (like the previous one but made out of any other fruit or cereal except plums), cozonac (a sort of sweet bread filled with walnuts/Turkish delight/poppy seeds/raisins; very much like the Italian Panettone except the shape) and many other goodies.
- Carols, are basically songs about Christmas and everything related to it; they can be sang in the period of fasting, before Christmas and especially on the Christmas Eve;
In Romania, carol singing is still practiced. Usually children (from the same block/neighborhood/family/school class or just friends) but grown-up children as well, group together and go from one home to another to sing carols. Carol singers are regarded as announcers of the birth of Christ and rarely the doors they knock remain closed. Children normally go to all the homes in their neighborhood, even if they don't know the ones living in there. Those who receive them, listen to their carols and at the end the children are given money and goodies. Grown-up children normally go just to people they know (usually relatives and friends) and they are not given money (doh!) but just goodies, be it alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, sweets,or food (most of the time from all these categories). They are likely to come starting with when it gets dark and ending in the morning (kids normally go to bed by midnight though). If, by any chance, you do not want to open the door to carol singers, make sure no one knows you are home; you'll be severally judged, otherwise; unless you are not a Christian, and then is fine, of course.
Abruptly, but
The End
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