Preparing for Christmas Day in Cristian
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Cristian (called Noscht, Nâer?t in the Saxon dialect, Neustadt, Neustadt in Burzenland in German, Keresztényfalva in Hungarian) is a commune from Brasov County, Romania, situated at 9 km distance from Brasov City, on the road leading to Bran (DN 73 highway). The commune is only made up of Cristian village and it is bordered by Ghimbav town on the North, Brasov City on the East and Rasnov town on the West.
Tourist Attractions
Tourists come in Cristian because they are attracted by the Saxon Fortified Church, the Orthodox Church, the secular oak trees nature reserve and the cultural events organized both by the local Romanian people and the German community. The biggest artistic event takes place on the occasion of the Days of Cristian when the entire village gathers and it ends with a folk show performed by the local youth.
?The Days of Cristian is a celebration which makes both tourists and locals happy because it includes a diploma award ceremony for ?The Best Householder?, ?The Best Cook?, and an Excellence Diploma for ?The Cleanest and the Most Ecological Citizen?. Tourists can also enjoy a folk costume parade and a special show with famous bands,? said Mr. Dragos Serafim, the Mayor of Cristian.
The Christmas Holiday
Masses dedicated to the Nativity are organized both at the Evangelic and the Orthodox Churches. Each householder prepares carefully for the coming of Santa Claus on Christmas` Eve. Because of so many symbols, the Christmas holiday marks a series of events and other rituals symbolizing the world?s regeneration. On Christmas there is a fir tree in each family?s house from Cristian, adorned with globes of different colors, small angels, stars and candles, replaced nowadays by tinsel and light installation, no matter if they are Romanians, Hungarians or Saxons. All the members of the family receive gifts as a token of appreciation from the loved ones.
Carols
The young people from Cristian are famous in the entire County for the Men?s Group ceremony, which has been established many years ago by the ancestor book. The young people gather at the beginning of the Christmas fasting period (November15th) and choose their bailiff and a host. It is in this host?s house that the lads will learn carols until the Christmas Day. The younger ones also learn here the dances to be performed during the holidays and at the Ball of Zoritori. Going from house to house to sing carols begins on Christmas Eve and lasts until the next morning on Christmas Day. The group of men first starts singing at the host?s house and then at the Priest?s house and the Mayor?s and then the entire village. The carol singers are rewarded with food and money that they will use to organize the Ball of Zoritori.
