Funny how after being away and coming back things look different. The Nistru (river) is frozen across, the swans and ducks have gone to the Ukraine side the walk on the river is still beautiful and Moldova was going to celebrate Christmas: We were just in time.... Enclosed are pictures of the kids that came and shared the ceremonies of Christmas and New Year. Bad Picture of us being a bit jet lagged but this is how they say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year here. | ||
Christmas at our Casa (Crăcuin acasa) It was -10 on Christmas day. Tradition is that the neighbor kids come by to trick or treat ( that is what it's like) they come to your door and sing and then you give them treats like fresh baked cookies, fruit. money and candy. We only had a few kids come and we invited them in to warm up with hot chocolate and sing in the room. It was nice having music in our house. Hăitura or New Years Eve (Jan. 6) when children come and read poems and play musical instruments that they have made with a can and leather string. Agian treats are given...  Plugușoru Jan 7, New Years The tradition of the little plough
The Year divinity is born, grows, ages and dies along the calendar year and revives after 365 days, and 366 in leap years.
St. Basil is the first of the holidays celebrating the important saints of the Romanian religious and lay calendar, some of the saints are young and some are elder. On every January 1, St. Basil, a joyful young man who likes love and fun, is celebrated.
On the New Year Day, the caroling bands wish people be in good health, rich and wealthy and joyful, and they receive fancy breads, wine, sausage and money, in exchange.
Shouting over the village is a night ceremonial when lads play judges sentencing those who broke the community laws and rules Perched on hills, trees or roofs they say whipping words to the spinster, the elder singles, the old women who put bad spells on people, the men who abandon their wives, the lazy, the thieves and the drunkards.
The whole community is looking forward watching the show. For cleaning and removing the evil and the bad, and fires are lit.
On the first day of the year, on St. Basil day heavens are said they stay open and prayers come true, and beasts and animals can speak like humans. This is the day of ceremonials called the Plow and Sorcova, when people are wished well and prosperity.
Again the tradition of the kids celebrating with singing and treats given like our caroling
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