Traditions and customs of rare beauty, preserved from ancient times.

The most beloved celebration of the Romanians, Christmas, brings with it traditions and customs of a rare beauty, preserved from ancient times.

One of the most beautiful customs is related to the torso and the wool fabric, which the women were proud of, weaving for the family both the clothes they wore and the items to decorate the house such as towels or blankets. They gathered in seating, as many families as possible in a house to have more room for the friendly and warm atmosphere that exists.

Elderly women gave advice to the young, initiating them in the mystery of spinning and wool. In addition to working in the seated area, it was also a good opportunity to learn the news that circulated in the community, to say riddles, proverbs, to play ballads, to learn carols, in a word to keep the tradition.

Mass for the soul of the dead
Beginning from Ignat (December 20) and until Christmas, young people walk with the toad, goat or birch, an animal head mask. The birth of the Lord is announced through the carols, and the first to start singing on the morning of the Eve are the children and the young, who are welcomed by the hosts with apples, walnuts and cakes called the Diapers of Christ. On the day before Eve, after midnight, according to tradition, people make a festive meal for the souls of the dead, but only using fast food.

A very important act is now the priest's call, which will bless the table and taste first of all kinds of food. In some places the pig is not cut by Ignat, but on Christmas Eve, so as not to ruin a pork bowl. Also, on Christmas Eve, no spirits will be consumed because it is said to be the invention of the devil, who will play the drinker.

The Bukovinian traditions say that during Christmas it is not good to have things borrowed, and in Moldovans on the eve of the day, they give nothing out of the house, not even the garbage and also does not borrow anything. On the eve of the day, the women of the righteous go forth with their hands full of dough, and touch every tree, saying, "How are my hands full of dough, so that the fruit of the tree shall be the fruit of the year."

Another tradition is:
The bride or groom's substitute
Unprompted from our Christmas houses is the fir tree, which in the Romanian folk tradition is the substitute of the bride or groom in the case of the death of an unmarried couple. Another ancient tradition says that on Christmas Eve you do not have to beat yourself, not even as a joke with someone, because you will be filled with bubbles over the year.

Moreover, on the morning of Christmas, the elders say we have to clean ourselves with fresh spring water in which to put a silver coin to be clean as silver, rich and free of illness all the year that will come. It is said that at midnight between December 24th and December 25th, the water turns into wine, and the animals receive the gift of speaking.

Source:
https://secretele.com