The Slovak Replublic Traditions

        The Slovak Republic is located in Central Europe and thier traditional Christmas greeting is, "Vasele Vianoce A stastkivy Novy Rok." Cecorations on a Traditional Christmas Tree are onaments that are colored to represent the national colors of the Solvokia flag.  A tradition the Slovak Republic holds is buying nuts, poppyseeds, and flour all necessary for holiday baking.  Another tradition is St. Nicholas (known as Mikulas in this country)  visits homes on December 6 and gives candies, chocolates, nuts, and speacial fruits.  If they were bad, they would get coal.  The presents would be put in their shoes or given to them if he were to come in the house.  In the slovak Republic, duruing Christmas time, it is time for them to reconciliate.  Families, friends, and neighbors also return borrowed items to thier owner. Christmas Eve morning the women clean the whole house, paint the floor under the table whitewash, and chain the chair legs together to symblize families being tied together in unity.  On Christmas Eve (Vilija) the mother puts a white tablecloth opver the table to symlify Baby Jesus swaddling in cloth.  On the middle of the table, the mother places a round loaf of bread to symbolize Jesus being the Bread of Life.  Next to the round bread sits a candle which symbolizes the star of Bethlehem.  The father of the household carries in clean straw and spreads it around the floor of his house. This symbolizes the the straw of the manger.  The family washes their hands and faces in a well or stream before eating the supper made.  These things are done in rememberance of the story that the shepherds washed themselves before going to see Baby Jesus laying in the manger.