Romania3ndclass+MagicalChristmasinRomania

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Baicoi, Romania The Baicoi town is situated in the southern part of Romania, 20 Km distance from Ploiesti, the main city from Prahova county, at approximately 80 km from Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. Baicoi has a population of around 20.234 people and a surface of around 66.56 square km. Our highschool has 16 classrooms, a librarian, 4 specific labs, a gym, and also a computer science lab. We have 852 students, between ages of 7-19, who attend day and evening classes. We have 65 employees and among 46 are well trained and qualified teachers. We have classes from 7.30 am to 8 pm. An usual class is 50 minutes with a 10 minutes break. Grup Scolar Republicii 111, 105200 Baicoi Romania Phone: +40 244260658 School Email: grupscbaicoi (at) clicknet.com In our school, students learn two languages and those are english and french. Besides that we have some extra hours of german and spanish language for any student who wants to learn this language. =Christmas in Romania= is a unique experience to explore Romanian customs Christmas in Romania is unique. Ancient times customs are piously kept at the countryside. There are more then 2000 year-old customs from our Dacian ancestors mixed or overlapped with Christian's traditions. And it isn't only the Christmas Day.
 * Grup Scolar " Constantin Cantacuzino"**
 * School type:** High School
 * School contact details**

It's a long row of holidays about. Each one with its own meaning, customs, stories and superstitions. You can see Christmas holidays on short (that means 3 days between 25 and 28 of December) or in a large sense, the way Romanian people see them (19 days between 20th December and 7th January). In fact I'd say we have a messenger of all this holidays on 6th December, __[|Niculas Day (Saint Nicholas Day)].__ For Romanians Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus are two different characters. =Saint Nicholas Day=

for Romanians is simply Niculas
For hundreds of years kids have waited the morning of 6th December. It's Saint Nicholas Day. In fact they are waiting for Saint Nicholas (called Niculas in Romanian) to fill their boots with presents. They know Saint Nicholas love them and is a very generous old men. But they also know Saint Nicholas come with two baskets: one filled with candy and other goodies and in the other he brings twigs. Every child must put a shoe or a boot next to the door and weather they had been good or bad they would receive candies or twigs. Of course they know they weren't perfect. So they carefully clean up the boots, give them a mirror-finish and go to sleep with the hope in their souls. In the morning of Saint Nicholas Day they rise and run eager to see if their boots have or haven't tho =media type="custom" key="11554518" align="right"= se candies. And because the adults are only bigger children they play the same game as children do. But for them the real game is how to fill the other boots and nobody see them. This game could often take you the whole night. But in the end, Saint Nicholas, the friend and protector of those in need, will always be there. Saint Nicholas Day is so close to Christmas Day that, in many countries, the faces of those two old men overlap and become Santa Claus. But in in many countries of Europe they are still separated. For Romanians Saint Nicholas Day is the messenger of all the joy and happiness Christmas holiday will bring. Next comes Ignat Day on 20th December. A sacrifice day. Pig sacrifice day. Reading [|my childhood memories about Ignat Day]you'll find out the whole ritual. Or maybe you're interested in [|Ignat Day's customs and superstitions]. This day is the opening one for the whole chain that will come: [|Christmas Eve] with [|Christmas Eve customs and superstitions] of course, [|Christmas Day], [|New Year Eve], [|Sanvasiu (Saint Basil's Day)], [|Boboteaza (Epiphany Day)] and finally [|Santion (Saint John's Day)]. =Christmas Eve=

memories from grandparents
The day of 24th of December, Christmas Eve, is a feast day for all Romanians. All preparations for Christmas are done. It's time to celebrate. It's time for little kids to start their trail from house to house and sing their beautiful Christmas carols and give Christmas cheers. Later in night it's time for drummers bands to do their show. At home, in my grandma house, all jobs are done. Except three things. She has to arrange the table and put the cruse with "sarmale" in the oven. And we have to decorate the Christmas tree.

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Grandma will stuff the table with all Christmas goodies: many kinds of sausages, melt fat, head cheese, lots of cakes and beverages. The guests that will come will be frozen and hungry. They need to stay and rest. To eat and drink and regain strength to sing again for the neighbour... and the neighbour of the neighbour...

First come children. They are pure and innocent so they must open the show. Those under 7-8 years old come in the morning. Teenagers come in the afternoon and evening. They sing carols and wish the people all the best. They enter the house because, according to tradition, they bring fortune and happiness. My grandma gives them knot-shaped bread and cakes; apples, nuts and money. Then, late in the night, we hear the drums. Wow! Drummers' band starts its trail. We are waiting for. We stay and listen to those drums. They are beaten all the way. They slow down when the band arrive in front of a house and they sing a carol. We don't hear drums anymore. They are into that house.

Drums again. They come. They are at our neighbour. Turn off the lights! Turn off the lights! And we're waiting again. OK! They left the neighbour and are coming to us. They are at our door and sing a carol. What a beautiful Christmas carol. Grandpa asks the children: "Do you like it? Are we inviting them into the house?" "Yes. Yes." And we turn on the lights. They come in and sing another carol. Then they sit down at the table and start talking. It's a lot of noise. Almost everybody says something. It's time for grandpa to thank and give them presents because they bless our house.

Drummers' head thank him for gifts in masterly rhymes. Then he "paints" every member of the family in humour colours. There is no way for offence so we laugh a lot. Women and children start to dance with drummers. A lot of joy.

It's time. They have to go to the next house. Beaten drums are heard again. This time slower and slower as they move away. It's time for children to go to bed. And grandma tells them a story about Jesus Christ. The adults? They can also go to sleep. But they think it's better to go and sing a Christmas carol to relatives' and friends' doors. One day a year it's Christmas Eve, isn't it? Grandparents stay at home to take care of children and put the presents under the Christmas tree. All the rest go out and sing until in the morning.

= = =New Year Eve=
 * One great Christmas Eve again!** Every little thing on Christmas Eve prepares your mind and soul for Christmas Day. The day when Jesus Christ was born.

Romanians' traditions and superstitions
On New Year's Eve people prepare themselves for a new beginning. It's time for the "Little plough" and the "Big plough", two agrarian traditions. It's time to find out your future. What could the new year bring out for you? It is said that the mood you are in the first day of the year the same you'll be the whole year. So, with this thought in mind people clean up the house and themselves. They put order in every little thing in their houses and every little thought in their minds. After all this have been done they rest as much as they can. A long party night will come and next day they cannot sleep too much. Cause if they sleep a lot in first day of the year they'll be sleepy all the year long.

"The big plough" comes in the afternoon. It is time for the young men of the village now. This is a larger group. "The big plough" has the same meaning as "The little plough" but the show is different. There are many customs related to guessing of future:media type="custom" key="11563028" align="right" In any case starting from nightfall till in the morning no light must be turned off and no one must sleep. At the midnight Romanians eat fish because it brings health and welfare in new year.
 * New Year's** Eve morning brings us "The little plough". This is a 5-10 children band that wish health and prosperity for the new year to every householder in village.
 * A girl has to go out in the yard on the New Year Eve and count nine stars. If the last one is more brighter than the others her future husband will be handsome and strong. She must pray to the star to bring him to her.
 * In some places of Transylvania people put 12 soup plates turned up on the table. Under each plate they hide different objects. Unmarried young men and women come and pick up a plate. What they find under the plate talks about the character of his/her partner: the mirror means he/she will be proud ;the glass for plum brandy - drinker, bread - rich, charcoal - black soul, salt - poorness, pencil - a great person, money - wealth. Of course they laugh of all this things.
 * In other places there is a custom called "The rod" - from the name of the tool used: a rod from the weaving loom. Young people gather in someone's house. They bring a personal object with them and put them in a large vase with water. There is a character called "the rod man" who reads their future. He uses two rods and beats the vase with them. He strikes up a invocation of spirits. Each player asks for an object. Any of them but his/her personal one. Now let the fun begin. But all the joy stands in the rod man's talent to find humours words and invent meanings for each person.

I forgot a very nice custom. On the New Year's Eve young men walking throughout the village use to exchange the gateways of the quarrelled people. So they force those people talk and they may even make peace.

The New Year Eve meaning is the year what is going to "die". And, as everywhere in the world, Romanians are waiting for a New Year to come. There is plenty of food and drinks on the tables these days. Of course, special [|Christmas food]. =Romanian Christmas food=

the most loved food by both Romanian and foreigners
Romanian Christmas food is soooooo special. And tasty. My mouth is already watering. That's why you can find it all over the year not only in Christmas time. I don't make a mistake when I say on Christmas every Romanian family have on their table sarmale, caltabosi, carnati and toba. Below you'll find short explanations of these words (and many others) and in the future their recipes. All of them being part of the traditional Christmas food in Romania.

Romanian Christmas food generally use pork (except Advent food). Pork meat, animal's organs, fat and blood. Everything swine has inside is used. Some of them are used for Christmas holidays, others are prepared to be eaten later, till in spring. I have to warn you. All this food has a lot of fat. Then how can we be well and healthy? Simple. Near all these types of food we drink wine. Red wine. We also drink tuica (plum brandy) as appetizer and we eat a lot of garlic and onion.

All pork preparation things start on Ignat Day. Then all appetizers are prepared and all the rest at least half prepared. The recipes kept from a generation to another differ from household to household (not much) but they can significantly differ from province to province.

And if you ever wish to try some of the [|Romanian Christmas recipes] I can assure you they are very tasty. But let's go back to traditions and customs. I don't know exactly how is in English but we talk about tradition when a custom is spread all over the country. And we talk about a custom when is only a local custom applicable only to a local area. Romania is a little country but it has many tradition and countless customs. You can read about specific customs on each holiday page. But I think traditions deserve a special space. In chronological order we have:
 * [|Colindul - Carols' trail]media type="youtube" key="E8FQuT9FnVA" width="425" height="350" align="right"
 * [|Dubasii - Drummers' band]
 * [|Steaua - The Star]
 * [|Capra - The goat]
 * [|Ursul - The bear]
 * [|Plugul - The plough]
 * [|Irozii, Vicleimul - Nativity Drama]
 * [|Sorcova]


 * Weather **

**Romania** has 4 distinct seasons much like that of North America. The winters can are cold reaching temperatures between 0°C and -5°C. There is lots of snow fall in the mountains creating a perfect destination for skiers and snowboarders with its affordable ski resorts. Spring is pleasant with cool mornings and nights and warm days. In the summer hot sunny days can be experienced along the Black Sea coast and Transylvania where temperatures reach about 30°C. Autumn is dry and cool with colourful foliage from the trees and mountains.

**Average Seasonal Temperaturesmedia type="youtube" key="vz5PbsZtXBk" width="425" height="350" align="right"** **Romanian Traditions and Customs**
 * || ** Summer ** || ** Winter ** || ** Average ** ||
 * ** Black Sea Coast ** || 20.0 °C || 2.4 °C || 11.2 °C ||
 * ** Bucharest ** || 21.8 °C || 0.6 °C || 11.2 °C ||
 * ** Transylvania ** || 18.2 °C || -2.6 °C || 7.8 °C ||
 * ** Carpathians ** || 14.5 °C || -4.5 °C || 5.0 °C ||
 * ** Danube Delta ** || 20.8 °C || 2.3 °C || 11.5 °C ||
 * ** Timisoara ** || 21.2 °C || 0.0 °C || 10.6 °C ||

People in the small towns and villages outside the cities have changed their lifestyle very little over the years. It is not uncommon that the villagers will use horse-drawn carriages as their main means of transport. Romanians are naturally hospitable people and always eager to share stories of their village with travellers passing-by. You might even be invited into their home for a home-cooked traditional Romanian meal.

The Romanian culture is very rich in tradition and folklore. The culture steams from the Dacians, who once occupied the area in the past, among other influences are the Romans. Festivals feature brightly ornamented costumes with traditional dancing. Wood carvings, skilfully woven carpets, and pottery are some of the elements of traditional Romanian culture. Special folk arts of Romania are the decorated Easter eggs and painted glass. These items can be found in many markets and vendors near tourist attractions throughout the country.

Whether you want to see the customs of the ancient festivals related to various celebrations throughout the year, such as Easter, Christmas, the New Year or ceremonies, the origins of which are centuries old, or, conversely, modern performances, Romania is the place to come to. Easter is the most important celebration of the Romanian people and it is preceded by numerous preparations and rituals. It’s a must for the people to have a clean house and have all the ritual foods ready. This is why the cleaning starts on Great Thursday. Men, who are usually working in the field or at the forest, will remain home starting with this day and will take out the thrash, fix the fence, cut wood, bring water, butcher the lambs. Women are the ones that paint and decorate the eggs, do the laundry and generally clean the house. Because it’s a good thing to have a new piece of clothing on the Easter, a long while ago, girls and young wives start to sew shirts for them and also for their parents, brothers, husbands or children, about two weeks in advance. Now, in modern time, people shoping a new clothings.
 * EASTER ROMANIAN FOOD & TRADITIONS**

The eggs are painted starting with Thursday. Initially the only accepted color was red, but in time other colors were also applied – yellow, green, blue and even black. The most interesting traditional eggs are the decorated eggs (in Romanian they are called “oua incondeiate”, “oua inchiestrite”).

”Pasca”, a special Easter cake, is baked on Great Thursday, but especially on Saturday, so it wouldn’t alter until Easter. It has a round shape (reminding little Jesus’ diapers) or a rectangular one (the shape of His grave). In some regions “pasca” is also baked on St. George Day. Among the ingredients are pot cheese, egg yolk, raisins and sometimes sugar and cinnamon. The traditional Easter lamb also symbolizes Jesus. In Banat region, the remains of the sacrificed lamb are buried under an apple or a pear tree, in order that the family should be healthy.

Saturday night, when all the cleaning and preparations in the house are done, the steak, the pies and the cakes are put on the table, in the “clean room”.

After they clean and dress the new clothes, the people take a bowl with “pasca”, eggs and steak and go to the church, where the aliments will be sanctified. Only the ill old men and little children remain at home, as it is said that who can go to the church on Easter night, but he doesn’t do it, will get ill.

A fire is lighted near the church and it will be kept for all the three Easter days. In some regions, when the roosters announce the midnight, the man who watches the fire shuts with his rifle, calling the people to the church. The bells are also ringed at midnight.

People hold lighted candles during the religious mass and only put them out when they return home, after they enter the house and make crosses. These Easter candles are kept for the times of danger, when they will have a protective function.

At home, people first taste the anaphora and then sit to the table. They first eat some of the sanctified aliments and only then the rest. In some regions, rabbit or fish meat is first eaten, believing that these animals will confer to the people some of their agility.

There’s the custom of knocking the eggs. It is believed that those who knock their eggs will see each other on the other world, after death. According to the tradition, the one whose egg cracks first is weaker and he will die quicker. He must give his egg to the winner; otherwise he will eat its egg rotten on the other world. Eggs are knocked until the third Easter day, until the “Ispas” or until the “Great Sunday”.

It is supposed that a child born on Easter, at the time when bells ring, will be lucky all his life. The man that dies on the Easter day or in the next week is blessed, his soul heading straight to heaven, as the skies are believed to be opened at this time.

On the Easter day one must not sleep, because it is said that he will be sleepy all year long. Also touching salt directly is not recommended, a belief stating that the hands of the one who does it will transpire during the summer.

On Monday and Tuesday the married couple go to their relatives, bringing them “pasca”, announcing them Christ’s revival. Usually, the younger people go to the oldert ones. It’s a must for the people to have a clean house and have all the ritual foods ready. This is why the cleaning starts on Great Thursday. Men, who are usually working in the field or at the forest, will remain home starting with this day and will take out the thrash, fix the fence, cut wood, bring water, butcher the lambs. Women are the ones that p aint and decorate the eggs, do the laundry and generally clean the house. Because it’s a good thing to have a new piece of clothing on the Easter, a long while ago, girls and young wives start to sew shirts for them and also for their parents, brothers, husbands or children, about two weeks in advance. Now, in modern time, people shoping a new clothings. ||
 * EASTER ROMANIAN FOOD & TRADITIONS ||
 * [[image:easter.jpg width="287" height="182" align="left"]]Easter is the most important celebration of the Romanian people and it is preceded by numerous preparations and rituals.
 * The eggs are painted starting with Thursday. Initially the only accepted color was red, but in time other colors were also applied – yellow, green, blue and even black. The most interesting traditional eggs are the decorated eggs (in Romanian they are called “oua incondeiate”, “oua inchiestrite”). ||
 * ”Pasca”, a special Easter cake, is baked on Great Thursday, but especially on Saturday, so it wouldn’t alter until Easter. It has a round shape (reminding little Jesus’ diapers) or a rectangular one (the shape of His grave). In some regions “pasca” is also baked on St. George Day. Among the ingredients are pot cheese, egg yolk, raisins and sometimes sugar and cinnamon. ||
 * The traditional Easter lamb also symbolizes Jesus. In Banat region, the remains of the sacrificed lamb are buried under an apple or a pear tree, in order that the family should be healthy. ||
 * Saturday night, when all the cleaning and preparations in the house are done, the steak, the pies and the cakes are put on the table, in the “clean room”. ||
 * After they clean and dress the new clothes, the people take a bowl with “pasca”, eggs and steak and go to the church, where the aliments will be sanctified. Only the ill old men and little children remain at home, as it is said that who can go to the church on Easter night, but he doesn’t do it, will get ill. ||
 * A fire is lighted near the church and it will be kept for all the three Easter days. In some regions, when the roosters announce the midnight, the man who watches the fire shuts with his rifle, calling the people to the church. The bells are also ringed at midnight. ||
 * People hold lighted candles during the religious mass and only put them out when they return home, after they enter the house and make crosses. These Easter candles are kept for the times of danger, when they will have a protective function. ||
 * At home, people first taste the anaphora and then sit to the table. They first eat some of the sanctified aliments and only then the rest. In some regions, rabbit or fish meat is first eaten, believing that these animals will confer to the people some of their agility. ||
 * There’s the custom of knocking the eggs. It is believed that those who knock their eggs will see each other on the other world, after death. According to the tradition, the one whose egg cracks first is weaker and he will die quicker. He must give his egg to the winner; otherwise he will eat its egg rotten on the other world. Eggs are knocked until the third Easter day, until the “Ispas” or until the “Great Sunday”. ||
 * It is supposed that a child born on Easter, at the time when bells ring, will be lucky all his life. The man that dies on the Easter day or in the next week is blessed, his soul heading straight to heaven, as the skies are believed to be opened at this time. ||
 * On the Easter day one must not sleep, because it is said that he will be sleepy all year long. Also touching salt directly is not recommended, a belief stating that the hands of the one who does it will transpire during the summer. ||
 * On Monday and Tuesday the married couple go to their relatives, bringing them “pasca”, announcing them Christ’s revival. Usually, the younger people go to the oldert ones. ||