Badnjak (Croatian)

Badnjak (Croatian pronunciation:

Roman Catholic Croats is December 24. The cutting, preparation, bringing in, and laying on the fire are surrounded by elaborate religious rituals, with many regional variations. The log is kept burning throughout Christmas Day

.

With increased urbanization and migrations to cities, the badnjak tradition has recently been limited to more rural areas, as many urban homes do not have a hearth or fireplace, increasing the risk of a fire hazard, along with the fact that it is near impossible to cut one's own log in the city. Instead, some may choose to have a symbolic log kept in the home.

Etymology

The term badnjak comes from the old Slavic words bodar or badar, which means "to be awake" (bdjeti).

Christ

on Christmas Day. The term badnjak lends itself to the literal meaning of Christmas Eve, with Badnji Dan meaning Christmas Eve Day, and Badnja Večer meaning Christmas Eve night.

Origins

There are many interpretations for the meaning of the badnjak, but scholars agree that it is a remnant of

old Slavic religion, where Christians began referring to the celebration of Christmas as the Feast of Lights.^[2] They interpret the badnjak as an incarnation of the spirit of vegetation, and as a divinity who dies by burning to be reborn, to whom sacrifices and prayers were offered for the fertility of fields, the health and happiness of the family, in which the rekindling of the hearth-fire symbolizes its importance and center of family life throughout many generations.^[3] In some parts, some people focus more on the cult of their dead, where they equate the burning fire to their departed family members.^[4]

Preparation

Among Croats of the Roman Catholic faith, Christmas Eve begins on December 24. Early in the morning, traditionally before dawn, the father or another male of the household goes into the forest to chop a piece of log, usually from an

Sign of the Cross and would then cut it. When the father arrives back home with the badnjak, he announces "May Jesus and Mary be praised! I wish you a good Christmas Eve" (Faljen Isus i Marija! Dobro Vam došla Badnja Večer), and the family replies "Today and always."^[5] The greeting can differ slightly among different regions; in Slavonia for example, the father would say, May Jesus be praised! I wish you a good Christmas Eve and Adam and Eve [feast day] (Faljen Isus! Čestita vam badnja večer i Adam i Eva). In the Croatian Catholic calendar, December 24 is the feast day of Adam and Eve

. The log is placed on the porch and is not brought into the house until the evening.

When evening comes, the badnjak log is placed in the hearth. In

rakija

is sprinkled on the badnjak, a family member toasts: "Drink to your health" (Pij u tvoje zdravlje) believing if they don't then ill fortune will come to them. The log is usually allowed to burn all night into Christmas Day, and family members often take turns all night ensuring the log does not go out.

The Badnjak must last all evening and in many regions, it is burned again. In certain regions, it is re-lit in the New Year on the Feast of The Three Kings and sometimes it stays by the hearth until Lent, where it serves as a special log upon which other logs are placed. In the villages, the ashes or charred fragments of the badnjak are scattered in the fields to assure a fruitful crop.

Celebration

Much like other European countries, Croatia has specific traditional celebrations that go along with the felling and lighting of the badnjak. The day is spent in preparation for Christmas, with the home being decorated and the feast for the next day being prepared, and all chores must be done before the ringing of the church bells and the lighting of the badnjak. The

ivy and evergreen wreaths, which are seen as a symbol of the strength of life in the middle of winter. Nativity scenes

are usually present in every Christian home, and are generally kept under the tree or in another prominent location.

Another old tradition is sowing

St. Lucy's day), which will grow until Christmas and is then used to decorate the table on Christmas. The wheat is trimmed and usually wrapped with a red, white, and blue ribbon of the Croatian tricolour. Most Croats put candles or other objects such as apples in the middle of the wheat, with candles symbolizing the birth of Christ. A bundle of straw

is brought into the house by the head of the family, who greets the home with a Christmas wish, and the straw is then spread under the table and throughout the house, symbolizing the birth of Christ in the manger. Families usually sit on the straw after dinner when gathered around the badnjak.

Throughout the day, the woman of the house prepares the Christmas meal, which usually consists of many courses and desserts. Traditional foods include lamb, roasted pig,

makovnjača, Bishop's bread, and gugelhupf

.

Since Christmas Eve is a fasting day, the family only has a small meal at dinnertime. For Badnjak supper, baklar (

almonds

) are always kept at home and eaten throughout the Christmas season.

References

^ http://www.zupa-svkriz.hr/duhovnost/krozgodinu/hrvatski_bozic1.htm Archived 2010-01-07 at the Wayback Machine Zupa Sv. Kriza: PRIČA O NAŠEM HRVATSKOM BOŽIĆU
^ Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, by Ace Collins; p. 191
^ Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan, by Clement A. Miles, p.252-253
^ http://www.kbf-st.hr/Casopisi/CUS_2008_1.htm#DRVO_BADNJAK_U_KR%C5%A0%C4%86ANSKOJ_TRADICIJSKOJ_KULTURI_Marko_Dragi%C4%87,_Split Archived 2009-03-02 at the Wayback Machine Katolicki bogoslovni fakultet-Split, Marko Dragić: DRVO BADNJAK U KRŠĆANSKOJ TRADICIJSKOJ KULTURI
^ The Magnificat Advent Companion by James Monti
^ Christmas customs and traditions, their history and significance, Clement A. Miles, p. 252
^ The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, y G. Q. Bowler

External links

Croatian Badnjak (in Croatian)
Božić u Hrvata Archived 2013-12-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Croatian)

[1] ttp://www.zupa-svkriz.hr/duhovnost/krozgodinu/hrvatski_bozic1.htm Archived 2010-01-07 at the Wayback Machine Zupa Sv. Kriza: PRIČA O NAŠEM HRVATSKOM BOŽIĆU

[2] Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, by Ace Collins; p. 191

[3] Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan, by Clement A. Miles, p.252-253

[4] ttp://www.kbf-st.hr/Casopisi/CUS_2008_1.htm#DRVO_BADNJAK_U_KR%C5%A0%C4%86ANSKOJ_TRADICIJSKOJ_KULTURI_Marko_Dragi%C4%87,_Split Archived 2009-03-02 at the Wayback Machine Katolicki bogoslovni fakultet-Split, Marko Dragić: DRVO BADNJAK U KRŠĆANSKOJ TRADICIJSKOJ KULTURI

[5] The Magnificat Advent Companion by James Monti

[6] Christmas customs and traditions, their history and significance, Clement A. Miles, p. 252

[7] The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, y G. Q. Bowler

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