Did you know, this year’s Advent and Christmas time, from December 11, 2020, Slovenian tree will decorate the Vatican Square?
Decorating the Christmas tree is not a proper Slovenian tradition, however, since we have majority of Slovenia’s territory covered with woods - also spruce trees - the habit was soon accepted among Slovenians as well.
Generally, Slovenians were quite poor people; there were not many possibilities for breadwinners. Many of them had to migrate even across the ocean to find the better life. Anyway, those who stayed here, even though poor, wanted to cheer up their lives this or the other way. Advent and Christmas time were great occasions.
In our area, in December, days are shorter, it can be already cold and the best is to stay at home near pleasant fireplace. Until the end of 60-ties there was, no TV and very often neighbors gathered at someone’s home and socialized. They sang numerous popular folk songs and listened to fascinating stories: elderly sharing stories from their youth or men who came back from the “big world far away” usually selling Slovenian woodenware. Many of them we gladly share with you in person or even on one of our online experiences.
While singing and socializing, they took an opportunity for creativity as well: together they made many handmade crafts. Christmas tree, which they usually cut in their own forest, they decorated with ornaments made of material around them: cute little angels were made of dry leaves of field corn, carved little decorations were made of thin layers of linden wood or numerous fragile ornaments made of straw. Grain straw was generally very popular byproduct. It was excellent for making straw hats, people needed in hot summer days…
However, this is already another story…
Merry Christmas and prosperous new-year dear friends,
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