Winter Traditions

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Winter Traditions
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Caroling
On Christmas Eve, groups of girls and boys walk
on the streets singing carols about the birth of
Baby Jesus.
Caroling is a ritual consisting in ceremonial
texts (carols), magic formulas, dancing and
gestures. The performers wish their hosts a Merry
Christmas, health, happiness and wealth.
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Steaua (The Star)
On Christmas Eve, groups of children walk on the
streets holding a wooden star decorated with
colored paper and fir-tree branches. This custom
has religious origins. The star led the Three
Wise Men to Baby Jesus.
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Capra (The Goat)
The goat was believed to be the animal that could
show if the weather was to be fine or foul. Most
certainly at first the "capra" dance (the
killing, the mourning, the burial, the
resurrection) was a solemn ceremony, a part of
the cult. As part of the agrarian festivities,
the dance became a ritual designed to bring
fertility in the coming year, an increase in the
number of animals in the shepherds flocks,
bumper crops - invoked and evoked by the grains
flung by the host over the procession of the
capra".
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The Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree, which used to be decorated
with dried fruit, flowers, walnuts, candles and
ribbons, symbolises the tree of life and
fertility. In our country, people started
decorating the tree in the 19th century.
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Plugusorul (The Plough)
Plugusorul is another Christmas tradition on
New Years Eve, groups of boys walk on the
streets with a plough, which is a symbol of
fertility. The ritual has a magical effect on the
crops for the following year. This Christmas
tradition brings joy and color to the winter
holidays, reminding us of agriculture, the main
occupation of our ancestors.
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Sorcova
Sorcova is a Christmas ritual which takes
places on New Years Day. The performer wishes
his host a happy new year, health, youth and
wealth. Sorcova is in fact a fir-tree branch
decorated with colored paper.
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Christmas in Primary School No. 1 Branesti
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Christmas Decorations
Made by our handy students
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• ?????? ??????!
• Su Kaledomis!
• Feliz Natal!
• Buon Natale!
• Kala Christougenna!
• Feliz Navidad!
• Wesolych Swiat!
• Craciun Fericit!

A collection of drawings made by our talented
students