HISTORY OF VALENTINE´S DAY

It is celebrated on February 14. Valentine's

Day is not an American event, as you might

think! Valentinus was a Roman priest, a

doctor who secretly engaged Christian

couples. For that reason he was executed on

February 14 in the 269.

Did you know?

Approximately 150

million Valentine´s Day

cards are exchanged

annually, making

Valentine´s Day the 2nd

most popular card-sending

holiday after Christmas. ♥

Typical gifts that Slovaks give for Valentine's Day:

flowers (especially roses)

chocolate (in shape of a heart)

Valentine's Day card ( "valentínky")

romantic dinner

Some people think that this is commercial holiday.

But it's nice opportunity to show someone we love them.

In Slovakia, on February 14 Slovak Red Cross organize Valentine drop of blood. Its aim is to

motivate young people to donate blood.

Christians begin Easter celebration on Green Thursday. Good Friday is a state holiday

in Slovakia. On Good Friday Christians commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. Then

on Easter Sunday then celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; however,

not only Christians celebrate Easter.

All Saints' Day

This day has already started to form BC. Especially Celts who also lived in Slovakia, celebrated

this day. During the night of 31. October to 1. November they parted with summer which be-

longs to the goddess of life and they welcomed master of death Samhain who ruled the winter.

The Celts believed that the souls of the

dead are returning to earth and they

choose the body in which they live for 1

year. People were afraid and they brought

them different sacrifices.

They also believed that in this night the boundary

between the worlds of the living and the worlds of

dead is so thin that to make contact with solus of

dead is easily. For this Celts wanted to win souls

of dead over and to banish evil demons. Celts

prepared different gifts and sweets.

Christians began to celebrate this day only in 837 when Pope Gregory IV. said that the day of

Samhain also belongs to the dead in the Christian Church. This day began to call All Saints' Day

at 10.-11. century.

The Protestant Church has called this day Halloween since the 16th century.

This day became tradition in Slovakia. People visit graves of

their dead relations and fire candles, lay wreaths, remem-ber them and pray for them.

Christmas in Slovakia

In Slovakia, Christmas celebrations begin with Advent. Advent starts on 1.12.

Slovaks also celebrate St. Nicholas' day on the 6th December. In Slovakia he is

known as sv. Mikulas. He comes in the evening of the 5th December and gives

presents to good children. Young children place their shoes near the door so sv.

Mikulas can fill them with sweets and fruit. With Mikulas are going angel and

devil.

During Advent, there are lots of preparations to be made for Christmas. This

includes cleaning the house, baking, shopping and buying the Christmas Tree.

Carps are also sold on the streets from big tanks (carp is eaten in the main

Christmas meal).

Slovak Christmas Trees are decorated with coloured lights, fruits, hand-made

decorations made of wood, baked goods made with honey in the form of

Angels and other religious symbols and sweets.

Christmas Trees are kept until January 6th, Feast of the Three Kings

In some Slovak families, the head of the household traces the sign of the cross

on the foreheads of the children in honey. This is a wish for a sweet New Year

as well as a sweet disposition.

Christmas gifts are brought to children by the Baby Jesus. Family gifts are put

under the Christmas Tree.

We also cut an apple before dinner. If the seeds inside are shaped as a star, all

members of the family would be healthy and well, but it they are shaped as a

cross, there would be a loss in the family.

Christmas dinner begins with Oplatky small bread wafers and a blessing.

We also eat ,,opekance’’ – small pieces of dough with poppy seed and honey.

We eat a carp with potato salad.

We eat 'Kapustnica'. Kapustnica is a thick cabbage soup with sausage, meat,

dried mushrooms and cream. Every family has its own recipe.

During the supper, no one is permitted to leave the table so it is thought that

someone would not be present there during the coming year.

After dinner, a parent rings the bell and everyone rush towards the tree to find

presents from a little Jesus.

People also put the carp scale or some under the table for the luck and wealth.

So and after the Christmas supper the whole family goes to unpack the

Christmas presents which are under the decorated Christmas tree.

A tradition of launching lit candles in walnut shell boats has also been

preserved. Each person must construct his or her boat alone. The builder of the

boat asks a question (e.g. about employment, health, relationships, etc.), then

launches the boat and follows its fate.

The typical sweets for our Christmas are ”medovniky” . It is something like

honey cookies. Then we decorate it.

Some of the families set one extra plate on the table for all the loved who are not

among us anymore or for an unexpected guest.