The Star Carol *Steaua 

Children make a star using coloured paper and then they put in its middle a Jesus icon. Many of children decorate their star using tinsel. 
The Star Carol is a tradition during the 3 days of Romanian Christmas. It announces the Jesus born. The children sing holding the star in the hand. 

"The star has appeared on high, 
Like a big secret in the sky, 
The star is bright, 
May all your wishes turn out right…" 

Raluca Antonache, School 10 Focsani, Romania 


 

Winter Holidays Carols 

All Christmas traditions are an important chapter in the Romanian children' folklore. The carols are a sort of invocation in verse, sung by children on the evenings of Winter Holidays. These folk creation were born long ago… 

"Do you receive the pretty star, 
Pretty and so very bright? 
It has appeared on the Earth 
Just like God thought it would be right, 
And it could be seen on high, 
Just like me did, in the sky." 

Before the "Star Carols" on the Christmas Eve, children used to sing the following introduction: 

"Good morning, Christmas Eve, 
Do you give us some gifts, do you?" 
The host was giving them nuts, apples, pears, and even coins. 
The children also sing a carol related to the "myth of the eternal return: 
"Great' the night of present night 
And it's not the present night 
But the night of Christmas Eve, 
Christmas Eve of the old times 
When the Holy Son was born, 
Holy Son on this good Earth…" 

"Rain is warm and bathes Him, 
Snow keeps falling, doesn't touch Him…" 

The Romanian carols have an inner universe in which it can depict one of the Romanian nation's spiritual dimensions, its insight into time and space.  Petru Dumitru School 10 Focsani, Romania


  

 

Winter Customs