Romanian Christmas Traditions

The homeland of Dracula is kind of a truly amazing place to spend Christmas.Some of these customs and traditions are old, unusual, and authentic and they put Romania in festive mood. So, let's see what to expect from a Romanian Christmas:

Christmas Fasting (Postul Craciunului) 

The most important is the Nativity fast, which runs from November 14th to December 24th. According to the Orthodox religion, during these 40 days preceding Christmas, nobody is allowed to eat meat, eggs, or milk, with few exceptions when fish is permitted (St Ignatius).

Saint Nicholas  (Sfantul Nicolae)

Especially popular among the little ones, Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6th. On Saint Nicholas' Eve, all Romanian children clean their boots, place them at the door (or window), and go to sleep waiting for MosNicolae to fill them with presents. In the morning, the most obedient of them will discover lots of little surprises, while the naughty ones will only find the symbolic rod.

Pig Slaughter (Taierea porcului)

Each year, on Ignat Day (St. Ignatius), on December 20th, Romanian families sacrifice their pig in order to have a rich meal for Christmas. From the fat melting to the preparation of sausages, one thing is for sure - Romanians really know how to cook every bit of the animal.

Family Reunion

In Romania, Christmas has always been a great opportunity for family members to get together. During Christmas, most Romanian houses are filled with neighbours, friends, relatives, and good will. Carol singers constantly knocking at the door and colorful decorations throughout add a cheerful festive touch to the scene.

Further Christmas traditions and customs in Romania include the decorationof the Christmas Tree; the arrival of Santa Claus with his bag full of gifts; the decoration of each city with millions of glowing lights; and, of course, the charming Christmas Markets sprinkled all over the country.