Christmas Day

Merry Christmas dear friends and family!!!!!

We're already well into the Christmas day here and chances are by the time you will read this posting, this day will be past us. We've enjoyed being able to spend Christmas this year in Romania and seeing all of the local traditions that go along with it.

Yesterday, the city center was lined up with huge speakers blasting joyous Christmas music, mostly in English. So, it was sort of like experiencing both worlds at the same time. The music gave the city a vibrant holiday atmosphere. It helped also having about a quarter of an inch of snowfall the night before, snow that was melted quickly by the afternoon sun which warmed the city above the freezing point. The snow is all gone today and the sun is still out shinning brightly. It warmed up a bit and the sun lost its teeth ("Sun with teeth" is a Romanian saying indicating that although it is sunny outside, it is still nipping cold).

A popular Christmas tradition in Romania is going caroling with "Capra" (capra literally means goat). In the past few days we've seen gypsies holding small goats in their arms, posted next to shopping center entrances. The idea is that people go by, touch the goat to receive good luck in the next year, and then give the goat owner some money for this. In other instances, carolers dress up in brightly colored costumes (red, yell, blue, green, etc) and have a goat mask on their head. Again, the idea is that touching or seeing the goat will bring one good luck in the next year.

The major religion in Romania is Eastern Orthodoxy. Churches across town have been filled with people going in for a Christmas prayer and to light up a candle for those dead in the family. For most part, churches are open throughout the day, offering opportunities for parishioners to come pray, light a candle, and even talk to a priest, need be. Also standing out is the tendency of most people to make the sign of the cross over their face and chest anytime they pass by an Orthodox church. Whether driving or walking, the right hand automatically proceeds to doing this ritual no less than three times in a row. Usually, most churches will have a mid-night mass on Christmas and Easter. Last night, after mid-night mass, there was an outbreak of fire crackers throughout town.

Yesterday we spend most of the day at some friends' house having a nice Christmas dinner and catching up on life. Dinner consisted of a plate of cold cuts and other finger food, a very tasty chicken soup, sarmale (stuffed cabbage), potatoes with chicken cordon bleu, and a variety of desert sweets at the end. Every item is home made, preparation which takes many hours. Between each course there was a break of about 1/2 hour, time during which one stops to enjoy a cup of coffee and chat. Lots of food followed by lots of talking followed by lots of food followed by lots of talking followed by...... you get the idea.

May our Lord bless you greatly!

The Popas