Page1 European Children Celebrate Comenius project 2010-2012 Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria
Mar 23, 2016
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European Children Celebrate
Comenius project 2010-2012
Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria
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Lithuania
Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Linksmu Kaledu"
Location: Eastern Europe Baltic
Tree Type: Traditional
Decorations:The ornaments (Staudinukai) are made from white straw. In
Lithuania, the straw is bleached to attain the white color.
The ornaments on the museum's tree are made from white plastic soda
straws made by one woman, the late Rose Maziliauskas. These ornaments
are made into very complex geometric patterns and shapes; No lights are on
the tree. On top of the tree is a straw cross that symbolizes the faith of the
Lithuanian nation.
Other decorations may include eggshells, feathers, and nutshells, birds
(Riesutas) made from walnut shells with wings made from birch bark,
feathers, paper or flower-like aureoles surrounding centers of shiny beads,
metal or mirrors. There also may be straw crosses.
Originally the Lithuanian Christmas tree wasn't a tree at all but
evergreen boughs, hung with the bleached straw ornaments and placed in
the house.
Traditions: The Christmas season begins with Advent, the four weeks before
Christmas. In Lithuania this was also a time to stay in the home after dark
because evil spirits were very active at this time of year. Children and young
adults were these creatures favorite prey. Christmas Eve is a time of magic
and secrecy. It is thought that the spirits of the dead return home on this
night.
At sunset, a special meal (Kucios) is served. Before anyone sits down at the
table they must be clean both in body and soul, at peace with the neighbors
and free of debts. On the table is spread fresh sweet hay as a reminder of the
manger. The hay is covered with a pure white tablecloth, which is only used
on this day. A crucifix and a plate containing blessed wafers (Plotkele) are
placed in the center of the table, and candles are placed on the table as well.
An empty place is left at the table if a family member has died during the
year.
On Christmas morning, the children receive a visit from Father Christmas
(Kaledu Senelis). Several costumed helpers attend to Father Christmas, and is
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dressed in a fur coat that is inside out. Who has a flaxen beard. He carries a
sack filled with grain. In the house, Father Christmas scatters grain into the
corner of honor behind the table (krikstasuolis). In order for the children to
receive their gifts they must perform a song or dance.
Traditional Christmas food: Twelve different dishes are served on the table
because Jesus had twelve apostles. All the dishes are strictly meatless: fish,
herring, slizikai with poppy seed milk, kisielius (cranberry pudding), a dried
fruit soup or compote, a salad of winter and dried vegetables, mushrooms,
boiled or baked potatoes, sauerkraut (cooked, of course, without meat) and
bread. In keeping with Lithuanian Christmas tradition, only the dishes as
they were prepared in Lithuania for this meal should be eaten and fresh
fruit, fresh vegetables, exotic seafood should be left for another meal. It must
not be forgotten that Lithuania is a northern European country where
cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes, etc., do not grow in winter. The people whose
lifestyle produced the Kucios traditions made do with foodstuffs prepared in
t In certain Lithuanian regions apples were placed on the table because
December 24th is the feast day of Adam and Eve. The apples recalled our
first parents through whose sin mankind fell and that the world was saved
through the submissiveness of the New Eve— Mary, the Mother of God—to
God's will.
Everyone gathers at the dinner table as soon as the first star appears in the
sky. If the night is cloudy, the meal begins when the father or grandfather
announces it is time to eat. When everyone is assembled at the table, a
prayer is said. The father then takes a wafer and offers it to the mother
wishing her a Happy Christmas. "God grant that we are all together again
next year," the mother responds and breaks off a piece of wafer. She offers
the father her wafer in return. The father then offers his wafer to every
family member or guest at the table. The mother does likewise. After them,
all the diners exchange greetings and morsels of wafer. Care is taken not to
skip anyone for that means terrible misfortune or even death the following
year. In breaking a piece of wafer, each tries to get a piece larger than that
remaining in the other's hand for it means his year will be better. The person
holding the wafer tries to prevent a large piece being taken for this will
"break his luck." he summer and fall: dried, pickled and otherwise preserved
for the winter.
Traditional foods:Poppy milk (aguonų pienas); Slizikai ( or kūčiukai) - slightly
sweet small pastries made from leavened dough and poppy seed; Auselės
(Deep fried dumplings); Silkė su morkomis'( Herring with carrots); Spanguolių
kisielius - cranberry and milk sauce dessert
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Latvia
Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Prieci 'gus Ziemsve 'tkus un Laimi 'gu Jauno
Gadul"
Location: Eastern Europe Baltic
Tree Type: Traditional
Decorations:The straw ornaments are made out of material found in the
fields. There are also several cross shapes made from the tops of wheat. The
straw ornaments are made into geometric shapes from simple to more
complex designs. The garlands are made from cranberry, apples and
pinecones. The tree was originally decorated with lit candles though today
electrified candles are used.
Traditions: In Latvia the Christmas celebration is know as Ziemassvetki or
winter festival. The festival is a direct descendent of ancient winter solstice
celebrations. A central element to Ziemassvetki is the log burning which
involves groups of people dragging a log around the house during the day,
burning the log all night singing ritual songs and drinking beer.
The earliest mention of a decorated Christmas tree in Latvia is found is
found in legal documents from the city of Riga. In 1510 it is stated that
members of the local merchant guild carried a Firtree decorated with
artificial roses to the marketplace. They danced around it and then set it on
fire. The reasoning behind this has been lost to history, though it may have
been associated with the ancient tradition of the Yule Log.
On Christmas Eve the family gathers around the tree and sings traditional
Christmas carols. Traditional foods served during this time include pork,
pig's snout, pig's feet, beans, whole grains, peas and a variety of breads and
rolls. Each food has a meaning: e.g. eat a pea you'll cry one day less; eat a
bean one day you will mature; eat a pig's snout you will write a great deal;
eat a dumpling there will be many sunny days. Later, Father Christmas may
visit. He is a stern looking man dressed in gray and has a long white beard.
He brings gifts for the good children and for the bad ones he gives them stick-
switches.
Traditional Christmas food: Special foods were eaten at the winter solstice, a
celebration to mark the days becoming longer. Many of these foods can still
be found on contemporary Latvian Christmas tables. A popular dish used to
be a boiled pigs head with boiled pearl barley, although today the most
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popular traditional Christmas dish is boiled grey peas with pieces of fried
meat and fatty bacon, usually eaten accompanied by a drink of rūgušpiens
or kefīrs (curdled or cultured milk). This dish can be found in many
restaurants and cafés in Latvia all year around. All of the peas boiled at
Christmas must be eaten by the morning, otherwise there will be a lot tears
shed in the new year. Another special Christmas food is the once-popular
blood sausage with pearl barley, because its rounded bend is reminiscent of a
circle, symbolising the solar year. In western Latvia a traditional Christmas
snack is sklandu rauši (tarts filled with a mashed potato and carrot). In the
last 100 years it has also become popular to bake gingerbread at Christmas,
another tradition inherited from the Germans. Today one of the most
popular Christmas meals is roast pork with sautéed sauerkraut. A modern
festive table also often includes carp, and fish scales are placed in pockets
and purses, so that the new year brings a lot of money. According to Latvian
tradition you should eat nine meals at Christmas for the coming year to be
rich, although today this ritual is performed only rarely.
Poland
Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Wesolch Swiat"
Location: Central Europe
Tree Type: Traditional
Decorations: Traditionally, the Christmas tree is decorated on the Wigilia
day - quite an event for children. Early on, the tree was decorated with
apples to commemorate the forbidden fruit - the apple of paradise (the
garden of Eden). Today, the Christmas tree is adorned with apples, oranges,
candies and small chocolates wrapped in colorful paper, nuts wrapped in
aluminum foil, hand-blown glass ornaments, candles or lights, thin strips of
clear paper (angel's hair), and home-made paper chains. The latter, however,
has become rarer because commercially produced aluminum foil chains are
being sold.
Traditions: Polish customs, especially at Christmas time, are both beautiful
and meaningful. The Christmas season begins with the first Sunday of
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Advent. Many days before the actual celebration nearly everywhere women
are cleaning windows in apartments and houses just before Christmas. The
insides of the houses are also cleaned thoroughly. It is believed that if a house
is dirty on Christmas Eve, it will remain dirty all next year. Weather-
forecasting is quite popular during Christmas. Everything that happens on
Christmas, including the weather, has an impact on the following year. Only
a white Christmas is considered a real Christmas; therefore, everybody is
happy when there is fresh snow outside. Some ceremonies take place before
the Christmas Eve supper. Among farmers, a popular ritual is the blessing of
the fields with holy water and the placing of crosses made from straw into
the four corners. It is also believed that animals can speak with a human
voice. Another important customs in Polish tradition is straw which is put
under white tablecloth. Some maidens predict their future from the straw.
After supper, they pull out blades of straw from beneath the tablecloth. A
green one foretells marriage; a withered one signifies waiting; a yellow one
predicts spinsterhood; and a very short one foreshadows an early grave.
Poles are famous for their hospitality, especially during Christmas. In
Poland, an additional seat is kept for somebody unknown at the supper table.
No one should be left alone at Christmas, so strangers are welcomed to the
Christmas supper. This is to remind us that Mary and Joseph were also
looking for shelter.
It is still strongly believed that whatever occurs on Wigilia (Christmas Eve)
has an impact on the coming year. So, if an argument should arise, a
quarrelsome and troublesome year will follow. In the morning, if the first
visiting person is a man, it means good luck; if the visitor is a woman, one
might expect misfortune. Everyone, however, is glad when a postman comes
by, for this signifies money and success in the future. To assure good luck and
to keep evil outside, a branch of mistletoe is hung above the front door.
Christmas Day, called the first holiday by the Poles, is spent with the family
at home. No visiting, cleaning, nor cooking is allowed on that day; only
previously cooked food is heated. This is a day of enjoyment, for Jesus was
born. On Christmas Day, people start to observe the weather very closely. It
is believed that each day foretells the weather for a certain month of the
following year. Christmas Day predicts January's weather; St. Stephen's Day
impacts February's, etc.
St. Stephen's Day is known as the second holiday. This is a day for visiting
and exchanging Christmas greetings. When night begins to fall, you can hear
stamping and jingling, followed by Christmas carol singing outside. Carolers
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begin their wandering from home to home. Herody, a popular form of
caroling, is a live performance usually played by twelve young boys. Dressed
in special costumes, they include King Herod, a field marshal, a knight, a
soldier, an angel, a devil, death, a Jew, Mary, shepherds, and sometimes the
Three Kings and an accordionist. They sing pastoral songs and carols, and
when let into a house, perform scenes from King Herod's life. Oration and
songs vary and depend upon to whom they are being addressed: the owner of
the house, a young woman about to be married, a widow, etc. At the
conclusion, the performers are offered refreshments and some money. Also
popular is caroling with a crib (szopka) and with a star. Usually, those are
items are carried by three caroling teenagers. They, too, are given some
money.
The Breaking of the Oplatek
One of the most beautiful and most revered Polish customs is the breaking of
the oplatek. The use of the Christmas wafer (oplatek) is not only by native
Poles in Poland but also by people of Polish ancestry all over the world.
The oplatek is a thin wafer made of flour and water. For table use, it is
white. In Poland, colored wafers are used to make Christmas tree
decorations. In the past, the wafers were bake by organists or by religious
and were distributed from house to house in the parish during Advent.
Today, they are produced commercially and are sold in religious stores and
houses. Sometimes an oplatek is sent in a greeting card to loved ones away
from home.
On Christmas Eve, the whole family gathers and waits impatiently for the
appearance of the first star. With its first gleam, they all approach a table
covered with hay and a snow-white tablecloth. A vacant chair and a place
setting are reserved for an unexpected guest, always provided for in
hospitable Polish homes.
The father or eldest member of the family reaches for the wafer breaks it in
half and gives one half to the mother. Then, each of them breaks a small part
from each other's piece. They wish one another a long life, good health, joy
and happiness, not only for the holiday season, but also for the New Year
and for many years to come. This ceremony is repeated between the parents
and their children as well as among the children; then, the wafer and good
wishes are exchanged with all those present, including relatives and even
strangers. When this activity is over, they all sit down and enjoy a tasty
though meatless supper, after which they sing koledy (Christmas carols and
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pastorals) until time for midnight Mass, also known as Pasterka ("the Mass of
the Shepherds").
Traditional Christmas food: Christmas is the most festive holiday of the year
in Poland. There are many traditional dishes that are served on this
occasion, and rarely at any other time of the year. At least a month ahead of
time, there is great activity in the kitchen. Because traditionally there are
twelve dishes served on Christmas Eve, and many guests are expected, there
is a lot of work to be done. Fortunately, many dishes can be prepared weeks
in advance and, when properly stored, will still be fresh when the Holiday
arrives. There is no meat, but there is lots of fish, usually herring and fried
carp. There is also sauerkraut (a cabbage dish), Christmas borsh (beetroot
soup) and traditional dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms. It is a
tradition that everybody must try every dish. There are a lot sweet things to
eat as well: cheesecake, ginger care and everybody’s favorite, poppy seed
cake and a traditional drink made from dried fruit.
After supper Poles sing or listen to Christmas carols and wait for Santa Claus
to come. Sometimes presents appear suddenly under the Christmas tree,
sometimes there is a big bag on the doorstep, and sometimes Santa appears in
person and gives the presents to the family!
Romania
Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Sarbatri Fericite"
Location: Eastern Europe
Tree Type: Traditional
Decorations: The star symbolizes the star of the Magi. The lights are part of
any momentous occasion of Christian life. The globes represent the joy of the
world. Some of the globes are handcrafted making them look more beautiful.
The dolls, which are handcrafted, according to Romanian tradition
symbolize the purity of the child. The apples, fir-cones and nuts represent the
original ornaments with which the Romanians decorated their trees.
Traditions: According to Romanian tradition the Christmas tree was one of
the gifts that the Magi brought to the Christ Child and Romanian families
take great pride and receive great joy from the way they decorate their
tress. The Romanian reverence for the season is reflected in the presentations
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of the story of Christ's birth. From large theatrical presentations to puppet
shows each dramatize the Nativity story. Carols form an important part of
the Romanian folklore. Romanian carols are not simple songs with religious
origin, but reflect many aspects of Romanian culture. On Christmas Day, the
boys parade through the towns and villages carrying a great wooden star
(Steaua) decorated with tiny bells, colored paper and ribbons. The star is
illuminated with a candle and is decorated with a picture of the Christ Child
and the Magi.
Traditional Christmas food: Romanian Christmas food is so special and tasty.
You could to say on Christmas every Romanian family have on their table:
Piftie - pork and beef based aspic, with pork meat, vegetables and garlic;
Cârnaţi - pork-based sausages; Tobā - various cuttings of pork, liver boiled,
diced and "packed" in pork stomach like a salami; Sarmale - rolls of cabbage
pickled in brine and filled with meat and rice; Cozonac, sort of Romanian
equivalent of panettone.
Bulgaria
Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Chestita Koleda"
Location: Eastern Europe
Tree Type: Traditional
Traditions: The Christmas holidays start in Bulgaria on Ignajden (20th
December) and finish on Stephen’s Day (28th December). It is believed that
on the 20th of December the birth pangs of Virgin Mary have started and
Christ is born on the ―Little Christmas‖ (Christmas Eve, 24th December).
The Ignajden celebration is connected to the custom ―polazvane‖ (crawling in
English). Depending on the first person to enter the house, it is guessed what
the next year will be – good or bad. The celebration is named after St. Ignat
Bogonosec, he is called Bogonosec (God carrier in English), because he always
said that he carries god in his heart.The Yule Log and the table with the
Christmas dishes play the most important role in the Christmas Eve. The Yule
Log is made by oak or pear wood, with its help the fire is kept lit throughout
the night. There are three kinds of ritual breads: true Christmas ones (called
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―kolak‖ or ―pogacha‖, it’s meant for the people), ―economic‖ ones (for the
animals in the home) and for the ―Koledars‖.
The ―Koleduvane‖ starts after midnight on the 24th of December. The
―koledars‖ have chosen their leader on Ignajden and until Christmas Eve
they’ve learnt songs. The participants in this custom are only young and
non-married men. With their songs they wish luck, health and wellbeing to
the owners. The owners gift them with belts, meat and fruits.
It’s a Bulgarian custom to build ―survachki‖ – big wooden rods, decorated
with strands made out of popcorn, dried plums, garlic and colorful wool.
With it the children pat the adults for health on the 1st of January.
Traditional Christmas food: The table for Christmas Eve – the dinner should
start early on that day; during the dinner nobody should get off the table; 7,
9 or 11 meatless dishes are served: beans, ―sarmi‖ with wheat and rice, stuffed
peppers, pumpkin-head, corn, walnuts, ―oshav‖(boiled dry fruits like
compote), wine, honey and dried fruits. A coin is placed in the Christmas
cake, whoever finds it will have the most luck next year.
Turkey
Traditional Christmas Greeting: ―Mutlu Yıllar‖
Location: A Bridge Asian to Europe
Tree Type: No tree at home but only some of the big restaurants there are
pine trees.
Traditions: In Turkey at the night on 31th of December only we celebrate the
New Year. We make a lot of kinds of food, a bit dance. We enjoy until
morning. We don’t sleep when the time is 00:00. We believe that if we sleep
or feel bad at that time we will be in bad feelings by the New Year. People
give presents to each other.
Traditional Christmas food: There is no specific traditional food consumed
during Christmas time since Turkey is predominantly Muslim and most
people do not celebrate Christmas. However, many people roast a Turkey or
Chicken for New Years.
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Kunefe-Turkey
Ingredients: 500 gr (~1lb) shredded dough, 4 Tbsp butter, 300 gr unsalted cecil
cheese (mozzarella works too), 3 cups sugar, 3 cups water, Ground pistachio
for garnish.
Preparation: In a pot, prepare the syrup mixing 3 cups of sugar and 3 cups of
water. Bring to a boil. Then turn the heat off and let it cool. Melt the butter
and pour all over the shredded dough. Mix it using your hands and make
sure they get mixed up well. Meanwhile, split the shredded dough into small
pieces by pulling them apart with your fingers. Grease a middle size oven
tray or Pyrex. Then, spread half of the shredded dough and press down using
your hands. Slice unsalted cecil cheese or Mozzarella (about ¼ inch thick).
Place sliced cheese over the shredded dough evenly and then, cover with the
remaining half of the shredded dough. Again press down to compress using
your hands.
Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C) and bake Kunefe until the top turns light
brown. Then, take it out of the oven and turn upside down with the help of a
flat tray. Again bake until the other side turns light brown. Pour the cooled
syrup all over the hot Kunefe and set aside for 5-7 minutes before serving.
After the syrup is absorbed slice the Kunefe as you like and garnish with
ground pistachio.
Banitsa-Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, banitsa is a symbol of Bulgarian cuisine and traditions.
Traditionally, Bulgarians prepare and serve banitza on two holidays –
Christmas and New Year's Eve. On these days; people add literally lucks,
meaning fortunes.
Dough: Traditionally, ―banitsa‖ is made with homemade or commercially
made pastry sheets that are prepared from a baker's hard dough including
flour, eggs, and water. At home the sheets can be spread by continuously
pulling the sheet of dough with one's fingers until it becomes less than a
millimeter thin, or by using a rolling-pin in several stages with vegetable oil
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sprinkled between the partially spread leaves, or by a very difficult
technique comprising waving movements of the entire sheet over the head of
the cook, which resembles pizza dough making techniques. Commercially
available sheets are mechanically spread and somewhat dried before
packing.
Filling: Tikvenik (sweet banitsa with pumpkin filling)
The traditional filling is made of crushed white cheese ( sirene ), yoghurt, and
eggs. Sometimes baking soda is added to the yogurt,[1] which makes the
yogurt rise (as the baking soda reacts with the acid in yogurt). The addition
of baking soda results in a fluffier filling.
Vegetable fillings include spinach, sorrel, nettles, leeks, onions, or sauerkraut.
The cabbage variant is called zelnik and the leek or onion variant is called
luchnik .
In some regions of Bulgaria, a filling with rice is made. There are also meat
fillings with minced meat, onions, and mushrooms. Sweet fillings with apples
(similar to apple pie or strudel) or pumpkin with sugar, walnuts and
cinnamon exist as well. In some regions, only the walnuts, sugar, and
cinnamon are used. The apple variant is called shtrudel , and the pumpkin
variant is tikvenik .
Preparation: In a large greased baking dish, individual sheets are layered
one by one with small amounts of filling and vegetable oil between them.
After half of the sheets are placed in the pan, a large portion of the filling is
spooned onto the leaves and is then covered with the remaining sheets and
filling in the same manner. The pastry is then baked at 200–250 °C. In some
recipes, just before the banitsa is finished, a glass of lemonade or mineral
water is poured into the tray, and the baking continues for several more
minutes. An alternative method of preparation is taking each sheet of dough,
laying it out flat and sprinkling some of the filling on it. Then, the sheet is
rolled up into a tight roll with the filling on the inside of the roll. The long
roll is then taken and rolled up in a circle. This first sheet of dough is then
placed in the baking pan. The process is repeated with the remaining sheets
of dough and each consecutive roll is placed around the first one in the pan.
The resulting shape resembles a spiral (see photo). The banitsa is then
sprinkled with vegetable oil and baked.
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COZONAC-Romania
Ingredients: 8 cups flour, 8 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup butter, 2 tbs. oil, 2 cups
milk, 50 gr. yeast (2 pkgs), 1 tbs. salt, 1 tbs. rum, vanilla extract, 1 lemon
scraped skin
Preparation: First put the flour in a large bowl in a warm place. Dissolve the
yeast in ½ cup warm milk and a teaspoon of sugar. Separately dissolve 3 tbs.
flour in milk, mixing well until the mixture is homogeneous. Mix well with
the yeast and beat until it makes big bubbles. Spread some flour on top, cover
with a towel and place in a warm place to rise. Meanwhile separate 7 yolks
from egg whites. Keep 4 egg whites in a bowl. Put the other 3 in another bowl
if you intend to cook walnuts sweet bread (see below). Mix the yolks with salt
and a half of sugar till they become a frothy cream. Then mix the butter
with the rest of sugar until they become a frothy cream. Beat 4 egg whites
until makes a foam. When the yeast has risen enough, put on the top of the
flour. Add the yolks and a little bit of warm milk and mix. Add the foam
from egg whites, a little bit of warm milk and mix a little bit. Then start to
knead. Knead for at least half an hour, bringing the dough from the sides to
the middle. Add the oil, rum, vanilla, lemon scraped skin and little by little,
the melted warm butter. Add flour till the dough doesn't stick to your
fingers. If the dough is too hard, add a little more milk. In the end the dough
must have an elastic consistency and air bubbles. Cover the bowl with a
towel and place in a warm place. Let it to rise for about 2-3 hours to triple in
bulk. If the dough is ready to overflow the bowl punch down and let it rise a
little more.
When the dough has risen enough, grease your hands with oil, take dough
pieces, place on the floured work surface and give it the desired shape
(round, oval, braided etc. depending on your pan shape). We use the braided
shape, especially for Easter. The pan shape symbolizes the coffin and the
braided sweet bread is Jesus Christ's body before He rose to heaven. Then
place in the baking pan previously greased with oil or butter. The dough
must only fill the pan halfway. Allow it to rise some more (about 20-30
minutes), still in a warm place. Beat an egg and brush each sweet bread
with. Sprinkle sugar, walnuts or raisins on top. Place in the warm oven and
bake at medium heat for about 30-40 minutes. The top should look brown.
When the sweet bread is ready, remove from the pan, place on a towel, cover
with a blanket and let it cool off slowly in a warm place. Serve it only after
it's cold, generally next day.
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Piernik - Honey Cake-Poland
Set oven temperature to 350°F (175C) and preheat.
Pour into saucepan: 1 cup (240ml) honey, 1 cup strong coffee, 1 cup canola or
vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon (5ml) ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1
teaspoon ground nutmeg
Preparation: Mix together and bring to a boil. Then set aside and allow
cooling down to a warm temperature. In a mixing bowl, beat 3 large eggs
with 1 cup (240ml) of brown sugar and 3 teaspoons (15ml) of baking powder.
Slowly add the warm liquid to the beaten eggs, mixing at slow speed. Add 4
cups (950ml) of plain white flour (NOT self-raising), and mix thoroughly.
Pour the final mixture into the loaf pans and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until
an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and allow
cooling for 15 minutes. Cut each loaf into 3 layers, spread jam (strawberry,
raspberry or apricot) and then reassemble.
Prepare chocolate frosting as follows:
Place into saucepan: 2½oz (70g) semi-sweet chocolate, 3oz (80g) sweet
(unsalted) butter, 1/3 cup (80ml) water, ½ teaspoon (2.5ml) vanilla extract, 1
cup (240ml) white granulate sugar
Stir the chocolate, butter, vanilla and water together, gradually adding
sugar. Bring it slowly to a boil, stirring constantly. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
Let it cool until it becomes a thick mass, easily spreadable with a knife.Place
cakes with flat side down and spread chocolate frosting evenly on top and
sides. Cool completely in refrigerator, until the frosting is hard. Wrap in
aluminum foil, then in plastic.
CHRISTMAS EVE BISCUITS ―Kūčiukai‖-Lithuania
Ingredients: 1/2 k (1 lb) flour; 1 cup milk, 50 g (4 tablespoons) vegetable oil, 20
g (4 teaspoons) fresh yeast, 2 tablespoons poppy seed; 1/4 cup sugar
Preparation: Blend yeast with sugar and dissolve in warm milk. Add half of
the flour to yeast and mix well. Dust top of batter with flour, let rise in
warm spot for 1 hour. Beat dough, add remaining flour, oil and scalded
poppy seed. Mix well and knead until dough is not sticky, about 30 minutes.
Let rise in warm spot for 1 hour. Roll dough into 1cm/, 1/2 inch thick rolls
and cut into same lengths. Place dough pieces on floured baking sheet and
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bake in preheated oven at 350F/160C, until golden brown. These biscuits are
baked for Christmas Eve supper, when they are served with poppy seed milk.
Pīrāgi (Bacon rolls)-Latvia
Preparation: The making of Pīrāgi can be separated into four distinct steps.
Preparation of Dough: Milk, flour, yeast and other ingredients (for varying
tastes) are mixed together in a bowl. The mixture is then kneaded to a
proper consistency - determined by the individual preparer - and then set to
rise until the volume has doubled (approx. 90 min.). While the dough is ri
sing, the Filling is prepared.
Preparation of Filling: Bacon, ham, and onions (for the meat-variety of
Pīrāgi) are chopped into little bits and then lightly baked on a pan. The now
mixed-together ingredients are then strained - to remove any fat that might
have seeped during the baking - and then deposited into a bowl along with
caraway seeds and any additional ingredients one would desire. These
ingredients are then mixed together and the Filling is prepared.
Forming Pīrāgi: A chunk of dough is taken out of the bowl and then
flattened. A bit of dough is pulled toward the preparer from the chunk. A
tablespoon of filling is placed in lower ½ of the bit of dough. A glass with a
diameter of approx. 3 in. is used to cut out a circle of dough. The circle of
dough is then folded over, and formed into the Pīrāgi shape.
Baking Pīrāgi: Uncooked, formed Pīrāgi are placed on a baking pan, glazed
with a mixture of beaten egg and water, and then baked for 10-15 minutes.
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Romania
Easter is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm throughout the
world. On the occasion of Easter, the Christian community presents in every
nook and corner of the world celebrates this day as the day of the
resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion. The celebration of Easter is
marked by morning services at the church and feasting and party in the
evening. In almost all the countries around the world, the festivities of Easter
are more or less the same. However, certain specific traditions of the place
make the Easter at a particular country stand a little different from the
other. Here in this article we have explored the Easter celebrations in
Romania.
Easter in Romania is celebrated according to the rituals of the Eastern
Orthodox Church. The Easter entire season consists of Flowers Saturday
(Lazarus’ Saturday), Palm Day (Flowers Day), Great Thursday, Great
Friday, Easter, The Small Fountain and Good People’s Easter. Each of these
has small interesting rituals. The Easter celebration goes on for a long week
and finally wraps with Good People’s Easter celebrated in honor of the
ancient spirits.
The Friday before the Easter is called the Great Friday or the Friday of
sufferings, as it is the day when Jesus was crucified. On Saturday, people go
to church for the midnight mass, taking with them a bowl of Pasca, eggs and
steak, where these aliments are blessed by the clergy. On returning home
from the mass, people first eat some of the sanctified aliments and only then
the rest.
Starting with Holy Thursday, people start painting eggs in a multitude of
colors. The predominant color is red, but other colors are also applied -
yellow, green, blue and even black. Decorated eggs or 'oua incondeiate' are
an integral part of Easter celebration in Romania. The eggs are decorated
using a type of thin and round sticks called chisita, made of beech wood.
The special Easter cake, known as Pasca, is baked on Great Thursday. The
Pasca can have a round shape (reminding little Jesus' diapers) or a
rectangular one (the shape of his grave). The shells of the eggs used for the
Pasca are thrown in a river. This action stems from the ancient belief that
the shells are taken by the river to the country of the Good People,
announcing them the Easter has came.
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In some regions (Bucovina, Transylvania), there is a tradition called "the
wetting". On Monday morning, the boys take a bucket of water and go to the
houses of the unmarried girls. If they found them sleeping, the boys throw
water on them. As it is believed that those girls will marry soon, they reward
the boys who had wetted them by giving them the most beautiful decorated
eggs and Pasca or cake.
Poland
Easter is one of the major Christian festivals celebrated in order to
commemorate the holy resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. This
festival is celebrated as the holy day of hope and auspiciousness in all the
countries where the people of Christian community reside. This festival is
generally marked with extensive church service and festivities. Though the
celebration of Easter is more or less the same in every country, a little
difference can be observed in regional practices and traditions.
Like the other central-European nations, Easter is a prominent festival in
Poland also. The rich cultural heritage of Poland is reflected in the Eastertide
celebrations. While religious ceremonies follow the rituals of the Christian
church, Easter celebrations have imbibed elements of native Polish culture.
There are several such traditions that seem to be the confluence of the polish
and Christian culture. Therefore apart from some regular Easter rituals,
there are certain Polish rituals which make Easter celebrations, a little
different in the country.
The "blessing basket" is one of the unique Easter traditions in Poland. The
blessing basket is prepared the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The basket,
stashed with colored eggs, bread, cake, salt, paper and white colored
sausages, is taken to the church to have it blessed. This tradition stems from
the belief that the Great Lent, which is the forty day fast before Easter, is not
over until the basket has been blessed. Hence it is called the Blessing Basket.
It is considered to be sanctified and auspicious.
The family breakfast on Easter Sunday morning is an important part of
Polish Easter celebration. On the breakfast table, each of the participants
wishes the others of the family good luck and happiness. The table is
decorated with green leaves and a sugar lamb may be placed as a centre-
piece. As no smoke is allowed, no warm meals were served. Sharing a boiled
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egg with one’s relatives is a national tradition of Poland on Easter breakfast
table. A piece of egg with salt and pepper, sanctified by priest, is a vital item
on this occasion.
Another traditional ritual is Dyngus or Smingus Dyngus, celebrated on the
first Monday after Easter. On this day boys roam around the neighborhood
to sprinkle girls with water or perfume. This custom of watering has its roots
in pagan traditions since the pouring of water is an ancient spring symbol of
cleansing and purification. Easter Monday has also been celebrated as
"Switching Day" because on this day boys switch girls with a small willow
branch. So, apart from the regular Easter norms, the special rituals of Easter
make it unique in Poland.
Bulgaria
Easter is one of the most significant holidays in the Bulgarian calendar.
Starting with Palm Sunday, the holy week leads up to the Great Day. In the
country, the festival is popularly known as "Velikden", which literally means
'the faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ'. Easter traditions in Bulgaria
are a derivative of the Eastern Orthodox Church rituals. In tune with
worldwide Orthodox traditions, bright red colored eggs and Easter breads
known as "kolache" or "kozunak" are the prominent symbols of Easter in
Bulgaria. In the article, explore all about the traditions and celebrations of
Easter in Bulgaria.
Easter Celebration in Bulgaria-congregation: At midnight on the Saturday
before Easter Sunday, people in Bulgaria gather at church, with red painted
eggs and bread. The priest proclaims three times "Christos Voskrese" (Christ
has risen) and the congregation replies "Vo istina voskrese" (Indeed he has
risen). One of the Easter breads is specially decorated with one or more (but
an odd number) of red eggs. After a special sequence of services, the clergy
blesses the breads and eggs brought by the people.
Good Luck Crack:The Bulgarian 'good luck crack' is a unique Easter tradition
in all over the wolrd. Eggs are cracked after the midnight service and over
the next few days, during the festive season of Easter. On Easter, the eggs are
cracked before lunch. The egg that is cracked on the wall of the church is the
first egg that people eat after the long fast of Lent. People take turns in
tapping their eggs against the eggs of others, and the person who ends up
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with the last unbroken egg is believed to have a year of good luck. He/she is
considered as the most successful, healthy and happy person for the rest of
the year.
Easter Presents: The tradition of presenting Easter eggs to loved ones is a
tradition followed since ages, in Bulgaria. According to the tradition, in days
preceding Easter, Christian families send a loaf of bread and 10-15 red eggs as
gifts to their Turkish friends. The person, who delivers the eggs, usually
receives money in return. Such breads and eggs are presented not only to the
Turkish friends, but also to the Spiritual parents, to the biological parents
and to the near and dear, including relatives and friends.
Traditional Easter Feast: Bulgarian Easter is believed to be incomplete
without the traditional recipes, indigenous to the country. The traditional
Easter recipes served on the festival in Bulgaria include 'Banista' (Bulgarian
pastry), Easter cake ―Kozunak‖, the lamb and coloring boiled eggs The
traditional recipes are prepared and served on the Easter Sunday. The entire
family takes part in the feast. Friend and far away acquaintances are also
often called upon to join in the feast.
Lithuania
The word for Easter, Velykos, has been borrowed from Beylorussian and
means "important day." The word is very accurate because Easter was the
year's most solemn feast in Lithuania. Easter is not only the feast of Christ's
Resurrection, but also nature's awakening from winter's sleep.
The early Eastern morn, just before dawn, abounds with magical power.
Much of this magic is concentrated in flowing water. Bathing in such water
before sunrise prevents all boils, sores, rashes and other skin ailments. If it
rains on Easter morning, it is necessary to stand bareheaded in the rain to
ensure good growth. Small children who wanted to grow quickly were
reminded of this. As the sun rises on Easter morning, it "dances" swaying
from side to side and changing color: from green to blue, to red and then
golden yellow. This phenomenon can be seen by rising before dawn and
watching for the sun's first appearance on the horizon. Everyone went to the
Resurrection services. If on the way you passed a woman, you'll have an
accident. To avoid calamity it was necessary to turn around, return home
and then take another road to church.
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In Lithuania the Easter morning procession was usually conducted around
the church. It was very solemn: church flags were held high, girls strewed
flowers, the choir and all the people sang, alternating with a brass band, and
the church bells pealed loudly. Three turns were made while singing the
Lithuanians' favorite Easter Hymn Linksma diena mums prašvito (A Happy
Day Has Dawned for Us). After the services, a blessing was made over the
Easter food which was arranged in baskets decorated with greens and placed
on the altar-rails. At the conclusion of the liturgy in church, the people
hurried home. In fact, all large and small roads, every path was the scene of
races: whoever arrived home first would be successful all year and would
complete all work on time. Even persons walking tried to pass those ahead
and reach home first. It is not surprising that accidents happened during
such races. Perhaps that is why it was said that a woman met on the road
brings disaster (someone had to be blamed!).
At home, Easter breakfast was eaten. The meal began when the homemaker
peeled a blest Easter egg, cut it and gave a piece to every member of the
family. This was done so that peace and love would always reign within the
family and everyone would live in harmony. Afterward, a variety of other
dishes was consumed: meat, sausages, cakes. On Easter it was necessary to
eat well and to satiety, to "recover from Lent" because of the fast all through
Lent. If the area had poor families with no Easter food, their neighbors
shared what they had and brought the disadvantaged families everything
they need to be satisfied and happy.
Children hunted for hidden Easter eggs left them by the Velykų Senelė (Easter
Granny) or Velykė. Bunnies who painted Easter eggs were also a familiar
fixture, but they were only helpers for the Velykų Senelė. Very early Easter
morning they loaded Easter eggs into a beautiful little cart pulled by a tiny
swift horse. The Velykų Senelė used a sunbeam as a whip. Sometimes the
bunnies themselves pulled the cart laden with Easter eggs.
The Easter Granny travels around the country, stopping in every child's
yard to leave eggs in baskets placed or hung for that purpose. When they
awake, good children find beautifully decorated Easter eggs (and in. more
recent times even sweets). Bad children only find a single plain completely
white egg. If this happens, the child is disgraced. His friends and family
laugh at him. Sometimes bunnies accompany the Granny and help her
distribute the Easter eggs. They are kept busy not only before Easter and on
Easter day, but all year round baking cookies for children. When parents
leave their children behind, they promise to bring them a gift, bunny cookies.
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A variety of games were played with Easter eggs. The simplest is an egg-
breaking contest. Two players face off, each holding an Easter egg and hit
each other's egg. The one whose egg remains intact is the winner. The egg is
held in the fist so that only its tip protrudes. The other player hits it with the
tip of his egg. If the egg breaks on the side, the impact was wrong and the
owner of the broken egg is not considered the loser. The winner claims the
broken egg. After the game the number of eggs won was tallied. It was of
paramount importance to have a hard-shelled egg that withstands breaking.
In selecting a strong egg, the contestant taps an unboiled egg against his
teeth. If the sound is clear and sharp the shell is hard: if dull and muffled, the
egg will break quickly, it's not even worth coloring.
Some smart alecks devised an "unbreakable" egg. It was made this way: a
raw egg's shell is pricked at both ends. A thin straw is inserted into one end
and used to blow out the contents through the opposite end. Another straw
with one end shaped as a funnel is then placed into the hole and melted pine
or fir sap is poured until the egg is full. If the sap does not flow smoothly, a
helper inserts a straw into the opposite hole and draws the air out of the egg.
After the egg is filled with sap, the holes are carefully concealed and the egg
is then tinted along with others. It weighs about the same as a real boiled egg.
Sometimes the empty shell was filled with melted sugar, but it was much
heavier and the sugar hardened unevenly making it more difficult to play.
Of course, if caught, the cheat was punished. The direst penalty was to eat
the "Easter egg."
Another amusing Easter game was egg rolling. This was best done outdoors,
but also could be played in a larger room. A trough is made from pieces of
wood or bark to measure about 10 cm long and 15 cm wide (it can also be
much longer). One end of the ramp is propped up to produce a downward
incline, but not too steep. A small circle is drawn at the bottom of the slope
for the playing field into which the eggs will roll. When the game is played
outdoors, the trough must be placed on a smooth surface because the eggs will
not roll in the circle if there are pebbles, high grass, etc. When played
indoors, the surface of the circle must not be too slippery for the eggs will roll
out. A low wall or enclosure may be built around the circle. When all the
preparations are completed, the players begin the contest. Four to eight
persons play. Each uses an egg of a different color to tell them apart. Eggs
may also be marked in different ways. The egg is let down the incline. After
one contestant finishes, the next rolls his egg aiming to reach the other's egg
and tap it. If the egg hits the first one, its owner wins and takes the first egg.
The eggs are rolled down the slope in turn. A contestant who wins an egg
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rolls out of turn until his egg fails to hit another. Another player then takes
his egg from the circle and rolls it.
Eggs used in the rolling contest may already be cracked (for instance,
already used and won in an egg-breaking contest), but their sides should be
intact because eggs with cracked sides do not roll well. The trough may be
straight or curved in different ways to make the eggs roll longer. The slope
may also be made of cardboard from an old box, plastic or any other
material strong and rigid enough to support the weight of an egg.
A simpler egg-roll is done without a trough. A circle at least one meter in
diameter is traced on a smooth surface. Barriers or enclosures are placed
around the circle to keep the eggs from rolling out (crumpled newspaper may
be used). A gate is kept open on one side through which the players push
their eggs. The first player is chosen by lot. He rolls his egg into the circle.
The second player attempts to roll his egg so that it will tap the first one. The
game is played like the one using an incline, but in this case the eggs are
rolled into the circle by hand with the player kneeling or sitting on the
ground. Because the egg does not roll down a ramp, the entire game depends
on the contestant's skill, how he rolls his egg into the circle. If the egg is rolled
so hard that it leaves the playing field, the contestant loses his turn.
In the past, only young men and adolescents played egg-rolling contests. It
was not proper for girls to do so. They provided their beaus with eggs,
cheered the contestants on and guarded the eggs won. Today mostly children
(boys and girls) roll eggs.
If guests arrive on Easter, they are given Easter eggs as gifts. The guests also
bring an Easter egg for each family member (or at least the hosts and sweets
for the children). Easter morning children go "egg begging" but only to the
homes of acquaintances, close neighbors or godparents. When they arrive,
they say hello and stand silent at the door. It is quite obvious to everyone
that an Easter egg is required. The children politely say thank you, wish a
Happy Easter and continue on. When Easter was celebrated for three days,
no one went visiting the first day, it was unacceptable to intrude upon
people on such a holy day as if someone had thrown you out of your own
home.
The first day of Easter was said to be dedicated to God, people were expected
to conduct themselves seriously and quietly, spend time with their family,
eat well and "recover from Lent." The second day was for recreation, visiting
friends and having company. The third day was devoted to relaxation.
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People slept late, recovered from all the merrymaking because work was
waiting in the wings.
For Easter, homemakers set out Easter dishes which remained on the table
all day. When guests arrived, the women could then spend time with the
company and did not need to work. The table was covered with a white cloth
and decorated with greens or fruit tree branches (mostly cherry) which were
cut and set in water several weeks earlier so they would bloom for Easter.
(Easter lilies were unknown.) Greens were also attached to the tablecloth hem
which hung down from the table. The table was laden with cold Easter dishes:
baked ham, goose, suckling pig, a basket or plate full of Easter eggs, sweet
cheese, bread, cakes, etc. Beer (mostly homemade), liqueurs and cider were
served as beverages.
Everyone who arrives to extend Easter greetings must be served. It was
considered very impolite for the guest to refuse refreshment. Everything had
to be at least sampled and the cook praised, else she would feel insulted.
The young who behaved with such solemnity all during Lent wanted to have
fun on Easter. They assembled at a larger house to sing and dance. This
usually was done in late afternoon or evening. During the day, it was
popular to swing in swings and sing. If the Easter weather was warm and
fair, the swings were hung from a tall tree so the young could swing higher.
Given inclement weather, the swing ropes were tied from barn rafters.
People swung not only for the fun of it but to ensure a good harvest next
summer, just as on Shrove Tuesday. While swinging, the girls and young men
sang special songs.
A group of young men assembled to practice singing Linksma diena mums
prašvito (a popular Easter hymn), some other songs and make the rounds.
These are the so-called lalauninkai (from lalauti — to talk loudly and much).
In many other countries, such as the United States or England, carolers
make the rounds before Christmas singing Christmas carols and songs. They
may be compared to Lithuania's Easter lalauninkai.
These singers are usually unmarried men sometimes accompanied by a
fiddler or harmonica-player. Upon arriving at a house, they first sing an
Easter hymn; convey their Easter wishes and then carol. The homemaker
gives them cake, sausages, Easter eggs while her husband serves liquid
refreshments. The Easter eggs are handed out by the young girls of the
household. Although most homes were visited, it was predominantly those
with unmarried girls. They were told before Easter that the singers would
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arrive and tried to make beautiful Easter eggs. This was a perfect
opportunity to display their talents and show off before the other village
girls. It sometimes happened that the singers refused to accept an Easter egg
judged to have a poor appearance and this was considered a major disgrace.
The songs these carolers sang were noted for the refrains repeated after
every verse. The verses were short, usually composed of only two lines. The
refrain had no connection with the song's overall content. These singers were
especially well-known in Dzūkija which is famous for similar types or
harmony songs.
Latvia
Latvian traditional culture is the heritage from ancient times where old and
longstanding traditions coexist with newer traditions, while inherited
traditions mix with imported and invented ones, thus shaping the unique
features of contemporary Latvian culture. The particularity of the
traditional culture is found both in its diverse regional manifestations and
also in the heritages saved by the individual and extended families.
Nowadays the values of the traditional culture in most cases are inherited
partially. Nevertheless, being only one facet of the contemporary culture it
plays an important role both in the construction of Latvian identity and in
the creation of the uniqueness of Latvian culture that makes us interesting to
the other.
Lieldienas, "The Great Day", "Great Days" - these are designations used in the
folk songs for the spring equinox. According to folk tradition Easter has
arrived when the day has become longer than the night for the first time
that year.
On Easter morning people arose before the rising of the sun, and to obtain
health and beauty, they hurried to wash their faces in a spring or a stream
running east. This was followed by one of the most important Easter
activities - awaiting the sunrise exactly when it appears on the equinox
morning. In Liv villages the morning began with the calling and awakening
of birds so they might protect the people from evil and sickness.
Those who had risen first awoke those who were still sleeping and switched
them with steamed birch branches. In this way a special force that
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encouraged fertility and endowed people with health and success was
transferred from the branches. This ritual is connected with archaic concepts
about the staff of life and its fertility enhancing power.
The spring equinox (March 21) is the time when farmers are hurried by
endless labors and must keep up with the rapid awakening of nature and the
rhythm of work. But the Latvian preserves a certain independence from this
haste: for instance, one of the most important Easter rituals is the hanging of
the swing and swinging. But when swinging at Easter, one must not stop the
swing; it must stop on its own. Only when the swinging is gentle, will the flax
field finish its blooming without being beaten down by rain or wind.
According to archaic beliefs, swinging is connected with fertility, and it must
be done, so the livestock will do well, as well as the flax, and one will be
spared bites from mosquitoes and gadflies. The first to be swung were usually
the master and mistress, after that the rest took their turns. In return for
swinging them, the girls paid the boys eggs, pies, or even handmade mittens
and socks.
In the past, eggs for different peoples were a symbol of life, and also in
Latvian spring equinox traditions they were given a special place. Awaiting
Easter, eggs were colored with onion skins, rye shoots, chamomile, or hay
cuttings. This is not such an old custom, but in our day very popular. Eggs
are given for swinging, and eggs are knocked together to see which one
survives cracking, as according to belief, the one whose egg shell was
strongest, will live longer. During Easter, eggs are rolled and eaten in great
quantities, because in addition to round flatbreads and sprouted grains, they
are the primary Easter foods.
Turkey
Spring holidays and festivals in Turkey
The 23rd April is a national holiday in Turkey because it is national
sovereignty day which commemorates the establishment of the first national
parliament in Turkey in 1920.Although only one day, the decorations and
flags make it seem like a festival.
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Turkey's tulip festival is held in Istanbul towards the end of April. The
beginning of May in Turkey sees the Ephesus festival of culture and art held
in Selcuk near Izmir. The festival holds concerts, singing, dancing and craft
displays.
The last week of May in Turkey sees the Festival of Pergamum held in a
roman theatre north of Izmir. The festival provides drama and folk dancing.
Being one of the holiest Christian festivals, Easter is associated with a host of
traditional symbols and icons. Most of the Easter symbols pre-date
Christianity and are remnants of ancient Pagan symbolism. Each of them is
related to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. Since Easter
festival heralds the advent of spring, the symbols connected to it stand for
fertility, purity and peace. For instance, Easter symbols such as the bunny
and eggs represent the fertile state of mother earth. White lily flowers, which
are used to decorate the altar of churches on Easter, represent peace and
sanctity.
Easter eggs have been used as gift items, since they are also a symbol of the
festival. Other symbols of Easter such as Easter cross and Easter lamb are
purely religious, since they symbolize the Crucifixion and Resurrection of
Jesus Christ. Easter lamb, one of the traditional recipes of the festival, is also
regarded as a symbol. The very delicious meat is served as a lip smacking
delicacy, at Easter lunch or dinner. Another peculiar symbol of the festival is
Easter hot cross bun, which derives its name from its Cross icing. Go through
our related section to know all about the popular symbols of Easter.
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Most of the major festivals are associated with a unique set of colors. For
instance, red, green and white are the traditional colors of Christmas, while
pink is used in almost all the decorations for Valentine's Day. Yellow stands
for friendship and hence, it is predominantly used on the occasion of
Friendship Day. Being a festival of high religious symbolism as well as
springtime festivity, Easter brings to our mind a myriad of hues that reflect
the dichotomous nature of the festival. Colorful Easter eggs, bright colored
baskets and Easter flowers represent the joyous colors of the spring season.
On the other hand, colors such as red and white symbolize the religious
connotations of Easter. Go through the following lines to know all about the
vibrant colors of Easter.
Red-The color red is symptomatic of the blood that Lord Jesus Christ shed
from his forehead, when the crown of thorns pierced into his bones. He shed
the blood as atonement for the sins of humanity. Red color is extensively
used to make designs on Easter eggs. Red spring flowers such as tulips are
extensively used to decorate Easter eggs and included in flower baskets.
White-According to the legends, while was the color of the robe, by which
Lord Jesus Christ was taken before he was scourged. The color white
symbolizes the hope of the resurrection, as well as the purity and newness
that comes from victory over sin and death. White lily, one of the traditional
flowers of Easter, is widely used for decorations of home and premises. It is
used to adorn the altar at churches as well.
Purple-Purple color is the color of royalty. It is the color of the garment that
covered Jesus, when he was taken to the crucifix. Jesus Christ's face and eyes
turned purple in color, when he was tortured while crucifixion. Purple tulips
can be used to adorn Easter flower bonnet. You can also make a beautiful
bouquet by making use of purple colored spring flowers.
Black-Black is the color of sin or darkness that engulfed the world after
Christ's crucifixion. As an exception, black color is not used to decorate the
home and premises during the ceremonious occasion of Easter. However, you
can always wear black colored outfit during the holiday season.
Yellow-Yellow symbolizes the light of the world brought by the risen Christ
that enlightens the world. Spring season is the time for the bloom of
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attractive yellow colored flowers, such as chrysanthemums, gerberas and sun
flowers. You can make use of the beautiful blooming flowers in your
decorations for Easter.
Easter egg Hunt
Easter is a wonderful occasion to have fun with kids. Hiding the beautifully
decorated Easter eggs in the home's premises is a tradition followed since
ages. According to the legends, the Easter Bunny hides all the eggs, which is
in turn searched by the kids. In the modern times, parents have taken the
charge of hiding the eggs, so that they have a lot of fun with the kids, who
search for the treat. Sweat treats such as toffees and chocolates are hid with
the Easter eggs as well. In the following lines, check out the instructions for
playing the basic Easter egg hunt game.
Things Needed: Plastic Eggs; Toys and Candies
Rules: Adults of the household fill little plastic eggs with toys and candies.
-They hide the eggs under bushes and in other 'strategic' places. This task is
supposedly done by the Easter bunny.
-On the Easter Sunday morning, the children of the house scour the
household to locate the eggs.
-Elders help the kids in their search by suggesting hints.
-The child who finds the most number of eggs is presented a gift basket of
candies.
Easter egg cracking
The festival of Easter is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Christians all
over the world. The occasion commemorates the Resurrection of Lord Jesus
Christ. Apart from following the rituals for the festival, people celebrate the
occasion by having a lot of fun with their near and dear. Playing games by
making use of Easter eggs is a good old tradition. One such game is Easter
Egg Cracking, which can be played by people of all ages. If you want to know
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how to play the game, then this article is what you need. Go through the
following lines and get the instructions for playing Easter Egg Cracking.
You Will Need: Eggs
Rules: Test the eggs first by knocking them against their eye tooth, and then
choose the best egg to use for the game.
-The contestants must agree beforehand on how much of their eggs will be
covered by their hands, as revealing a large part of the egg's shell is much
more risky.
-The game begins with the contestants trying to crack the pointed ends of
each other's eggs.
-The person who loses must then turn his or her egg upside down. If a
player cracks both ends of someone's egg, then he/she wins the egg.
Match the Eggs
Playing with Easter eggs became a tradition many centuries ago. Well before
the ancient period, Easter egg found its place in the folklore and superstitions
of many cultures. It was viewed as the symbol of rebirth by ancient Romans,
Chinese and Egyptians. In the medieval period, the tradition of coloring eggs
took the shape of a renowned art, when English kings dispersed hundreds of
decorated gold-leaf eggs throughout their royal household, during the festival
of Easter. In the modern times, playing with Easter eggs became a tradition.
In this article, we have given an easy game to play with Easter eggs. Check
out the instructions for playing 'Match the Eggs', in the following lines.
Things Needed: Decorative Paper, Easter Eggs, Scissors
Rules: Cut all the paper Easter eggs in two odd shapes.
-Mix them up and distribute each half to the children.
-Let the children mingle and find their egg match.
-Those that get paired are to sit down while others continue to play.
-The last of all children are to do something - such as sing a song or hop
like a bunny.
-The game starts again, except for the children, who have already lost.
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-The winning pair gets an Easter basket full of Easter eggs.
Says So Easter Bunny
A number of legends are connected to the celebration of the Christian festival
of Easter. Easter Bunny, a anthropomorphic rabbit, is perhaps the most
popular legendary character of the festival. As per the stories, the Easter
Bunny brings basket full of colorful eggs, to symbolize the Resurrection of
Lord Jesus Christ, on Easter. Therefore, decorating eggs and playing with it
has become one of the traditions of the festival. A number of games revolve
around the theme of Easter Bunny and eggs. One such popular game is 'Says
So Easter Bunny', mostly played by children. In this article, we have given
the instructions to play the popular Easter party game - 'Says So Easter
Bunny'.
You Will Need: Group of Children
Rules: One player is called as 'Easter Bunny' and gives instructions to the
other children.
-Whenever 'Easter Bunny' gives an instruction adding 'Says so Easter
Bunny' to its prefix, all the children have to follow it, but if it does not add
the phrase to the prefix, children do not have to follow it.
-For example, if the 'Easter Bunny' says 'Says So Easter Bunny, hop on one
foot', everybody will start hopping and will not stop even if the 'Easter
Bunny' says 'Stop!' They will stop only when the 'Easter Bunny' says 'Says So
Easter Bunny, stop hopping.' Anybody, who stops before this is said, is out of
the game.
-'Easter Bunny' tries to fool people by sometimes giving the instructions
with the phrase and sometimes without it.
-The child, who remains in the fray until last, is the winner.