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Kathleen and 'Matusha' walking home from market

December, 1999:

With the holidays here (for Romanians, that's Christmas, New Years, and the anniversary of the Revolution from Dec. 21st till Christmas).

Christmas means killing the pig and harvesting all that delicious meat.

We had a much warmer December than normal, so folks took advantage of the snow free weather.

Vasile makes an axe handle.

Even global warming eventually gives way to the cold of winter. Kathleen gets her hands warmed by two sisters Maria and Ileana.

   

   

   

With a week to go to, we got our White Christmas.

Some events wait not for the timing of human or nature.

A newborn calf comes into the world and is soon taught how to drink from a bucket.

Another funeral in the village. (Sirbi, Jud. Maramures)

The villagers switched from horse drawn cart to sleigh.

Here the family TV goes to get repaired.

But for us, snow meant the van wouldn't travel. Just to get in our compound, even the grandma leant a hand pushing.

So we were glad when we finally found some chains in a store. But they were meant for a large truck, so we had to take them to one of the village blacksmiths.

We finally realized a toy sleigh would work much better.

Petru and the his cousin cut the length down to size,

then we hitched a ride for our sleigh from a passing horse drawn carriage.

And now snow is no obstacle at all...
except for the wandering snowmen.

Christmas preparations include making a wide variety of special cakes. Ileana cracks open walnuts that had fallen from her tree.

And another Ileana entertains an unexpected, imbibing guest.

Dressing the tree, which they call a 'brad.'

And a visit from the 'Christmas Phantom.' This is a tradition intended to scare the bejeebers out of the kids in the village.

Finally, it's Christmas day, and time for Carols.

Christmas singing here is like a combination of Caroling and Trick or Treat. Once they finish a single song, the kids come in for some special Christmas cakes and money.

If you ask them, the old women will get together and sing.

Ladies comparing Christmas notes after church.

Walking home from Christmas services.

After Christmas services, there's the Christmas dance.

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