STUDENT: GEROGIANA NUTU Christmas Is a Celebration of Light, Compassion for Others, a Time of Cheerfulness, Delicious Food and U

STUDENT: GEROGIANA NUTU

Christmas is a celebration of light, compassion for others, a time of cheerfulness, delicious food and unforgettable moments spent with family. This celebration is held all over the globe regardless of race because it is a time when everyone forget about daily worries and concerns. It represents the moment when the family reunions take place.

Christ’s birth celebration is an occasion of great celebration for the Romanians as a Christian nation. Since December 20 it really begins to smell like Christmas. Drums resound louder, not so shy that the early Advent. Children repeat the carols, and some of them prepare " The Star" and "Star Song".

Birthday celebration of Christ begins in the morning of Santa Christmas Eve with carols which keep up until the night is coming. Meanwhile, in the evening, the Christmas dinner is prepared. Here, the members of family will take part in.

On December 25 all of them will be present at the Christmas Liturgy. After that, housewives begin to put on the table beautifully decorated dishes prepared for Christmas Day: "caltaboşi", "toba", forcemeat rolls in cabbage leaves, roast pork, sponge cake, cakes.

In rural areas of the country, especially in Moldova and Oltenia, the forcemeat rolls in cabbage leaves ( sarmale) are prepared and traditionally served( for cooking, the so called sarmale are placed in a clay pot that is sprayed with water. Thus, the forcemeat rolls in cabbage leaves are baked, having a great flavour. See the pictures below).

Gradually, the children with "The Star " begin to appear at the people’s houses. They announce that Isus (Jesus) was born and also they talk about the Magi’s worship.

The Magi’s worship and the fact that they had given gifts to Jesus generated the custom of Christmas presents. It was created a mythical character called Santa Claus who offers gifts to children. In Romanian villages children find the gifts under the Christmas tree. In the Orthodox calendar the three days of Christmas celebration end with St. Stephen’s celebration. All the Christmas days are a great occasion to see your parents, grandparents and also your friends.

The Carols gate the secret word of holy Birth through centuries. They symbolize the creative and religious spirit of the Romanian people. The carol’s joy is unbounded. As soon as the night falls, the children gather and start to sing carols. Before leaving their home, they receive purses of canvas in which they gather nuts, bagels and apples.

The carols managed to be until nowadays, marking the spiritual life of the community. In some areas of the country, such as Bihor, carol singers are accompanied by the "Turca ", a fantastic appearance of "Capra", with dual role: to bring prosperity and to ward off evil spirits.

In Bihor, the boys are invited in houses where they sing beautiful songs like carols for elderly, carols for hosts, carols dedicated to farmers, fishermen, hunters. It is said that heavens are open and God hears prayer of the honest man and also his pure soul which is purified during the Advent.

On Christmas Eve carols begin. In some areas of the country (especially the villages of Suceava) children start to sing carols. In other places children go at night. In Ardeal, the carols begin after the Liturgy from the first Christmas day and continue during the three days of celebration. Children sing carols in the people’s yard or to the window. As a reward, they receive various gifts: biscuits, nuts, apples and money. When carol singers are adults, drinks is offered too.

O,ce veste minunată ! Oh,how a wondrous news !

1. O, ce veste minunată, 1. Oh, how wonderful news

Din Betleem ni s-arată. Is shown to us from Bethlehem.

Că a nascut prunc That the Pure Virgin

Prunc din Duhul Sfânt Has born a child

Fecioara curată. From the Holy Spirit.

2. Mergând Iosif cu Maria 2. As Joseph and Mary went

La Betleem să se-nscrie. To Bethlehem, in order to be

Într-un mic sălaş censed.

Lâng-acel oraş In a small shepherds’ shelter,

S-a născut Mesia. Close to that town,

The Messiah was born.

3. Ce Domnul cel din vecie,

Ni l-a trimis ca să vie,| 3. Whom the Lord, who is before

Să se nască all ages,

Şi să crească, Sent to us, so that He would

Să ne mântuiască. come,

To be born,

To grow up,

And to save us all. Trei păstori Three shepherds

1. Trei păstori se întâlniră (bis) 1. Three shepherds met

Raza soarelui, floarea soarelui. Sunbeam, sunflower.

Şi aşa se sfătuiră. And talked to each other thus:

2. Haideţi, fraţilor,să mergem (bis) 2. Come on, brothers, let us go

Floricele să culegem. And pick some little flowers.

3. Şi să facem o cunună (bis) 3. And make a wreath out of them

S-o-mpletim cu voie bună. And knit it joyfully.

4. Şi s-o ducem lui Cristos (bis) 4. And take the wreath to Christ,

Să ne fie de folos. For the good of us all.

Nowadays, the decoration of the Christmas tree has become one of the most beloved traditions in both rural and urban region and also the Santa Claus’ waiting in the Christmas Eve. In the stories of our parents, the Christmas tree was often brought by Santa Claus, when children were asleep. The natural Christmas tree or the plastic one does not miss from any house. The tinsel, colored Christmas balls that shine in the light of candles and colored lights which give life to Christmas tree, the star herald of Jesus Birth which is perched on top of the tree, the angels who urge us to be overcome by the emotion of Holy Child Birth- all of them announce the Big Night.

O,brad frumos !

1.O, brad frumos, o brad frumos,

Cu cetina tot verde.

Tu esti copacul credincios,

Ce frunza nu si-o pierde,

O, brad frumos, o brad frumos,

Cu cetina tot verde.

Verdeata ta imi place.

Cand o revad sunt bucuros

Si vesel ea ma face.

O, brad frumos, o brad frumos, Verdeata ta imi place.

Cu frunza neschimbata.

Ma mangai si ma faci voios

Si ma-ntaresti indata.

O, brad frumos, o brad frumos,

Cu frunza neschïmbata. O, Christmas Tree !

1.O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Thy leaves are so unchanging;

Not only green when summer's here,

But also when 'tis cold and drear.

Thy leaves are so unchanging!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas tree

Afforded me the greatest glee!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

Thy candles shine so brightly!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy candles shine so brightly!

From base to summit, gay and bright,

There's only splendor for the sight.

Thy candles shine so brightly!

How richly God has decked thee!

Thou bidst us true and faithful be,

And trust in God unchangingly.

How richly God has decked thee! !"

1. colindători ------carol singers

2. beteală ------tinsel

3. om de zăpadă ------snowman

4. sanie ------sledge

5. pom de Crăciun ------Christmas Tree

6. vâsc ------mistletoe

7. zăpadă ------snow

8. colinde ------carols

9. clopoţei ------bells

10. luminiţe colorate ------coloured lights

11. Magi ------Magi

12. cadouri ------gifts, presents

13. Moş Crăciun ------Santa Claus

14.Crăciun ------Christmas

15. Naşterea lui Isus ------Jesus’birth

16. fulgi de zăpadă------snowflakes

17. urşii ------the bears

18. cozonac ------sponge cake

19. bomboane ------sweets

20. portocale ------oranges

21. prăjituri ------cakes

22. mere ------apples

23. nuci ------nuts

24. covrigi ------pretzels

25. sarmale ------forcemeat rolls in cabbage leaves

26. carne de porc ------roast pork

27. mămăliguţă ------polenta

28. cârnaţi ------sausages

29. ţuică ------brandy

30. vin fiert ------mulled wine