1. Dominik Beitl

2. Christmas
Christmas. These most important Christian
holidays are celebrated in many countries
around the world. Folk customs and
traditions that are associated with them
vary from nation to nation, and are very
different.

3. Slovak Christmas
Slovakia is already preparing for Christmas four
weeks in advance. This period is called Advent.
People decorate their houses with Christmas
decorations. Four candles symbolise the number of
Advent Sundays before Christmas. People meet at
the Christmas markets where they buy gifts for their
loved ones.

4. Advent Calendar
Advent Calendar is very popular
for Children. It has 24 boxes
marked with numbers. In
December every day Children
open a window in which they find
a chocolate surprise.

5. St. Nicholas
6 December is the Feast of St. Nicholas.It is
said that St Nicholas brings sweets and
candies for children and he puts them into
cleaned childrens boots through the window
during night.Children find the surprise in the
morning. Our Nicholas is known as white-
haired grandpa with a big beard in a red coat,
which tends to go along with the angels and
devils. The angel and the devil helps him to
give gifts to children.

6. Saint Lucia
13 December is Saint Lucia’s Day. People
believe that this day they can see the witches.
The girls prepare 13 Lucia leaves.They place
12 names of boys and the 13 th one remains
empty. The last leave they open on Christmas
morning is important because the name that
was written on it, means it will be name of
their future husband. If they find the blank
leave next year the girl will not get married.

7. Christ’s Birthday
24 December, on Christmas day, we begin to
celebrate Christmas in Slovakia. On the east
and partially in central Slovakia, the day
known as "Ms Vilija" or "vigilija", derived from
the Latin "vigil", which means eve. The
biggest holiday of Christmas is the first
Christmas Day (December 25) - the day of
Christ's Birth.

8. Senten season
• On Christmas Eve we use to eat nothing
till the end of the day. The children believe
that if they are able not to eat during this
day, they will see a gold star or a golden
pig in the evening.

9. Traditions
• While children decorate the Christmas tree,
mothers bake, and prepare variety of meals
fov Christmas Eve table. Gingerbreads and
other cakes are prepared a few days berore.
Foods are served by different customs and
traditions in different regions of Slovakia.
Generally, on the table on Christmas Eve we
don’t miss the bread, garlic, honey, wafers,
cabbage soup, fish, potatoe salad, cakes,
fruits. After the dinner we use to sing carols,
and we unpack our Christmas gifts and
children are very happy.

10. • The Christmas table is special too. Dinner is
associated with many traditions that are
adhered. At first people eat waffles with honey,
a coinis put under the table cloth to have enagh
money during the whole year. The apples,
legumes and nuts are on each Christmas table.
• An apple symbolizes health, wisdom, nuts, small
ornaments for girls beauty and future happiness,
and coin meand success.

11. Midnight Mass
• Many people take part in midnight mass to
celebrate the birth of Jesus and sing the
most beautiful Christmas song "Silent
Night, Holy Night." On 25 and 26
December families often stay together, go
to churches or visit their relatives and
friends.