(X-mas cont. from pg 15)
(roughly translated, “Elf Father and Elf Mother). For Christmas dinner the family eats duck, rice pudding hearts, and Danish cookies.
Maria Pojoga, a third grader, enjoys her Romanian heritage especially during the holidays. Her parents were both born in Romania and have kept the deep cultural influence of their home country in their Christmas celebrations. They enjoy Romanian soups and dumplings (Supă de pui cu găluşte) and cakes, as well as singing carols which is a favorite. While Maria doesn't go to Romania during the holiday season, she has visited in the summer and has had friends visit from Romania around Christmas. Another interesting aspect of the Pojoga family Christmas is prayer. Her family offers prayers to the Baby Jesus, along with the rosary and other prayers in Romanian. They attend a Romanian Orthodox church in Houston and Maria is always impressed by the rites celebrated there. Maria also enjoys writing letters to Santa, and trying to catch him in the act of delivering presents.
Traveling north, we arrive at Poland, where 8th grader Emma Gazdik’s father has family history. One very interesting tradition that they participate in involves a type of bread similar to an unconsecrated communion host, the opłatek. They first break it and then share with the entire family. One food they eat around this time is the pierogi, which is a similar to a dumpling, and is often filled with meat, cheese, or potato fillings. They also listen to Polish music, and attend mass on Christmas eve. (X-mas cont. on pg 17).
How do you say Merry Christmas in...
Tagalog? Maligayang Pasko
Spanish? Feliz Navidad
Vietnamese? Giáng sinh vui vẻ
French Canadian? Bon Noel
Danish? Glædelig jul
Romanian? Craciun Fericit
Polish? Wesołych Świąt
German? Fröhliche Weihnachten
to men of goodwill.
"Nisse Far og Nisse Mor," Christmas visitors to Danish Households
Opłatek, Polish Christmas bread.
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