Christmas Traditions
Around the World
Hungary
Santa Clause
(Winter-grandfather) (Tel-apo or Mikulas) comes on the 6th of
December. Children should clean and put their shoes outside
next to the door or window before they go to sleep. Next day
candies and/or small toys appear in them in red bags. For children,
who don't behave well, a golden birch placed next to the sweets,
a symbol for spanking... (but don't worry, it is just for fun,
and not for actual punishment.)
On 24th of December, children go to their relative
or to the movies, because little Jesus brings the tree and the
presents that evening to their house. It is customary to hang
edible things on the tree, like golden wrapped assorted chocolates
and meringues beside the glass balls, candles (real or electrical),
and sparklers. Families usually cook festive dinner for that
night. An example would be fresh fish usually with rice or potatoes
and home made pastries as dessert. After dinner, the tree would
be viewed by the children for the first time. It was very exciting.
Christmas songs are sung and then the gifts under the tree are
shared.
Older children
attend the midnight mass with their parents. (During communism,
children had to hide at the back of the church. Teachers could
have lost their jobs for attending the mass. Later (in mid 1970's)
most of the Communist Party leaders of the town attended it
too.) Next day the children attack the edible part of the tree.
Festive food is enjoyed on the second and third day too. People
from Transylvania serve stuffed cabbage on Christmas Eve, and
next day for lunch. Most likely the reason for that custom is
that stuffed cabbage is the best on the second and third day
after it was cooked. Moms can prepare the food a day earlier,
leaving more time for decorating and organizing. Very practical.
On the 25th of December, the whole family attended church and
ate stuffed cabbage for lunch.
