Name day is a tradition celebrated in many countries in Central and Eastern Europe. One’s given name is associated with a particular day of the year. The custom originated with the Catholic and Orthodox calendar of saints, where believers, named after a particular saint, would celebrate that saint’s feast day. In many countries, however, there is [...]
Easter is a special time in Russia, with many delicious foods prepared for the joyous occasion. Celebrations are generally later than in the West. This happens because Easter dates are determined by different calendars. The Russian-Orthodox church uses the old Julian calendar, whereas the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches follow the Gregorian calendar. Here are just a [...]
Here is a collection of photos of Hungarian culture and heritage. Enjoy!
Polish people like to eat, drink, socialize, and have fun. If you are fortunate enough to be invited to a local’s house for dinner or even a simple meal, just be sure to bring a healthy appetite! You’ll find plenty of delicious and savory dishes. Here is a list of some traditional Polish foods. Pierogi A dumpling of [...]
There’s no doubt that Hungarians sure love their sweets! Szaloncukor is a type of candy made from fondant that is hung from Christmas trees as decorations in Hungary. The tradition of hanging these candies on the Christmas tree started in the 19th century. It was named Szaloncukor because the tree usually stood in the parlour, the most luxurious [...]
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways in the various countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Commonly most of the regions’ festivities begin with the period of Advent which is four weeks prior to Christmas and the feast of Saint Nicholas on the 6th of December. Although the celebration of the season is shared, each country has [...]
Did you know the custom of decorating a Christmas tree originated in Germany? Although, neither an inventor nor a single town can be identified as the sole origin for the tradition but it’s believed the custom began in 16th century Germany. One legend tells how Martin Luther, a 16th-century Protestant reformer first added candles to [...]
Happy Easter! I just wanted to share another great website for decorated Easter eggs. Made by artist Adriana who is a first generation Ukrainian-American. Her collection features traditional pysanky (Ukrainian styled eggs) including ones made using goose and ostrich eggs. These eggs are available for purchase online. The website also has a section on how to [...]
Decorating Easter eggs is an old tradition throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Many countries like Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and Romania each have their own ways on how eggs are to be decorated and displayed for this significant holiday. Below is a list of links arranged by various countries on how you can create beautiful [...]
