Catholics celebrate Christmas on 25 December and the Orthodox on 7 January, because they follow the Julian calendar. The customs are still alike: on Christmas Eve the household gathers around the fire and the table.
How is it celebrated?
- The badnjak is a young oak cut on the morning of Christmas Eve and put on the fire in the evening. In towns people now use an oak branch.
- When the badnjak is brought in, straw is spread on the floor, and in the Bay of Kotor walnuts are scattered over it.
- The first guest on Christmas Day, the polaznik, stirs the fire and wishes the house health and plenty.
- In Croatian homes wheat is sown on St Lucy's Day, 13 December, and by Christmas it has grown to decorate the table.
The greeting differs, the wish is the same: peace, health and a full house.