In Romania, on Christmas Eve, children and adults gather at dusk, go trough the streets and stop at each house singing carrols, reciting poetry and telling legends. When they go out, they ware traditional, embroiled, colorful patterned costumes. Carols are traditional songs expressing the joy of the birth of Christ and good luck for the New Year. For example, one carol is called "Steaua" which means "The star" and tells about the star that announced the birth of Jesus. While they sing, the children carry a star decorated with bells colored ribbon and shiny paper.

The food preparations start on St. Nicolas day, December 6, when animals are slaughtered for the family Christmas feast. From the meat, people make sausages, salami and roast, but the lent goes on for six weeks. Not until Christmas, one can eat dairy and meat. On Christmas day, we have a big feast with friends, family and relatives. For the feast, we always have a dish called "Sarmale" (sar-MALL-eh) which is very popular throughout the country. It consists of cabbage or grape leaves stuffed with rice, meat, and herbs. The filling can be cooked in tomato or lemon sauce, and Sarmale is sometimes served with sourecream.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, the village priest, the sacristan, and a boy with a bowl of holy water start parish rounds. The priest dips a bunch of sweet basil twigs into the water. He sprinkles the house and blesses it. The housewife drops a coin into the bowl, gives the priest a gift of hemp and invites him to sit down and eat. Then he goes on to the next cottage.

Each morning, during three days, there's a mass at the church lasting 4 hour.

Because of all these wonderful traditions and customs, I would recommend you spend a Christmas holiday in Romania.