Christmas – it‘s an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on 25 December by millions of Christian people around world. Likewise, Christmas is a civil holiday in many of world´s nations. It is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.

Christmas in Slovakia is celebrated on 24 December. People do noteat anything during the day – they are fasting, because it is said that who will not eat the whole day until the dinner, he will see a golden pig. The dinner starts with cutting the apple. If a nice star appears in it, we will be healthy and happy all the year. Than we eat walnut, garlic and onion with sweet home made bread. Further there is usually served bread rolls, either sweet with honey and poppy or salty with cottage cheese, followed by sauerkraut cabbage or fish soup, various kind of fish with a potato salad.

After the dinner we go to the Christmas tree to unpack gifts. Lots of the people listen to the to Christmas carols.

Midnight Mess is celebrated by Roman Catholics since 1223. It was celebrated for the first time by Francis from Assisi in a small cave near Grecio in Italy. The Greek Catholics and the Protestants celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ differently. However, it is visited very much even by the non-practising Christians.

Midnight Mess is very similar to a regular mess, except for one thing – at the end, only at the light of a Christmas tree people sing „silent night“.

On 25 December people usually go to visit very close family. It is also a day when kids have next chance to find gifts at the Christmas tree from grand parents and god parents.

On 26 December people usually go to the party called „Štefanská“. It is a way to celebrate with other people the Christmas time. These parties are overall in Slovakia.

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