YUGOSLAVIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE FATHER GOES OUT TO THE FOREST TO
GET A CHRISTMAS TREE, BUT THE TREE IS NOT LIKE OURS. THE
CHILDREN NEVER KNOW THE FATHER GETS THE TREE UNTIL THEY
ARE AROUND TEN YEARS OLD. EVERYTHING IS VERY SPECIAL.
THE TABLE IS SET ACCORDING TO TRADITION. THERE ARE APPLES,
NUTS, AND DRIED FRUIT IN ONE PLATE, SOME RICE IN A LITTLE
CUP, AND IN ANOTHER LITTLE CUP THERE IS HONEY. ALL OF THIS
HAS A SYMBOLIC MEANING, BUT THE PERSON TELLING ME DID NOT
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT EACH MEANT.
THERE IS STRAW AROUND THE PLATE AND ON THE ENTIRE TABLE.
THIS SYMBOLIZES THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD. CANDLES
ARE LIT AND PUT ON THE TABLE. THE FATHER STANDS UP AND
TAKES A HANDFUL OF STRAW, STANDING AT THE HEAD OF THE
LINE. THE MOTHER IS NEXT IN LINE AND FOLLOWING ARE ALL
THE CHILDREN ACCORDING TO THEIR AGES, ALL IN A STRAIGHT
LINE. ALL THE FAMILY, WITH THE FATHER AT THE HEAD, WALK
FIRST AROUND THE TABLE, THEN AROUND THE HOUSE. THE FATHER
THEN PUTS THE STRAW ON THE FLOOR WITH EACH PERSON IN THE
FAMILY TAKING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF AN ANIMAL. THE FATHER
IS THE ROOSTER, THE MOTHER IS THE HEN, AND THE CHILDREN ARE
THE CHICKS. THEY EACH IMITATE THE SOUND OF THE ANIMAL THEY
ASSUMED. THE FATHER HAS FOUR NUTS IN HIS HAND. HE CROSSES
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST. WITH
THESE FOUR NUTS, HE THROWS ONE INTO A DIFFERENT CORNER OF
THE HOUSE, SYMBOLIZING THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
THEN HE WISHES EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THEY THEN SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND EAT A SPECIAL MEAL WHICH
CONSISTS OF MACARONI AND NUTS, SUGAR AND FISH. THAT ENDS
CHRISTMAS EVE.
IN THE EARLY MORNING POLAZAJNIK COMES. HE IS VERY COLD.
HE BRINGS PIECES OF THE SAME TREE THAT FATHER HAD CHOPPED,
THAT'S WHY THE CHILDREN DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE FATHER GOT THE
TREE. HE THEN THROWS THESE BRANCHES IN THE FIRE. AS MANY
SPARKS COME OUT, SO MANY HAPPINESS IN THE HOUSE, WHETHER
IT BE OF HEALTH, MONEY, CHILDREN, OR ANYTHING THE FAMILY
DESIRES. HE THEN WISHES A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO THE ENTIRE
FAMILY. THE FAMILY THEN GIVES HIM A GIFT, USUALLY A WHITE
SHIRT AND A TIE, WITH STOCKINGS. THE MAN THEN USUALLY
EATS WITH THE FAMILY. THE FOOD THEY EAT IS EGG BREAD AND
COFFEE. THE POLAZAJNIK COMES BECAUSE THE FAMILY ARRANGED
TO HAVE HIM COME, SOMETHING LIKE OUR SANTA CLAUS.
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, THE HUSBAND AND THE SONS GO OUT AND
VISIT OTHER FAMILIES. THUS THE MEN ARE OUT VISITING WHILE
THE WIVES AND DAUGHTERS STAY HOME TO GREET THE MEN THAT
COME TO THEIR HOUSE. THIS IS JUST ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE
FEAST. THERE ARE THREE DAYS. ON THE SECOND DAY, THE
ENTIRE FAMILY STAYS TOGETHER. ON THE THIRD DAY, THEY
USUALLY HAVE PARTIES FOR THE CHILDREN.

Submitter comment: SHE WAS BROUGHT UP WITH THIS TRADITION. TODAY, HOWEVER,
CHRISTMAS IS QUITE SIMILAR TO OURS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 09-17-1967