Christmas in Slovakia

Christmas in Slovakia is traditionally generous, consisting of multiple courses. There are many local variations, but I could describe what kind of Christmas dinner I grew up on.

Garlic with bread

After a glass of champagne, we have some garlic with bread. People have believed, that if they will consume some garlic on Christmas, it will bring them health for a year ahead.

Wafers with honey

Next are wafers with honey. Wafers are a symbol of serenity and happiness while honey is believed to strengthen love and relationships in the family.

(Not well visible on the picture, honey is between the wafers)

Bread with poppy seeds (Bobaľky s Makom)

Another course of Christmas dinner is one of oldest ones, and it's bread with poppy seeds. The bread is special kind that is baked once a year, on Christmas.

A recipe for this meal can be found here.

Sour Cabbage Soup

The soup of the meal was sour cabbage soup, or in some families bean or lentils soups (legumes were believed to expand family fortune)

A recipe for the soup can be found here.

Fish and potato salad

As main course, we have had fish (traditionally Carp) and potato salad. I don't know the reason behind the potato salad, but we've been eating Carp for Christmas because of our neighbors from Czech republic who brought their tradition in.

A recipe for potato salad is here.

Other traditions for Christmas table

There are a few more traditions connected to Christmas:

• All food needs to be on the Christmas table, because no one can stand up from the table during the meal.
• Place setting for one more person - Some families set additional place for travelers as a symbol of charity
• Apple divination - if cutting apple in half produces star it means health and happiness, if it produces a cross, it means sickness and death
• Walnut shell divination - Girl puts candle in one half of walnut shell and boy puts candle in second one. They let these shells to swim on water. If those shells meet, the lovers will marry, and if the shells won't meet, they will break up.
• Walnuts in corners - After dinner, the oldest member of family will throw walnuts to each corner. It is supposed to bring prosperity to household.

After Christmas dinner

After Christmas dinner, we would clean up the table, sit at the sofa and relax for a bit. We would drink some sparkles and open the gifts from underneath the tree (yes, we open gifts on 24th evening).

Afterwards, we would go to the neighbors and sing Christmas carols, we would be met with some refreshments and money. Same tradition is in some villages, where are groups of young people going from door to door singing carols for whole village.

Cover photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash