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SLOVAK TRADITIONS OHMMM...HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
ur children attended school at St. Bernard’s in Eureka, California.
Our family starts the Christmas meal by eating On Christmas Eve, we would attend mass at St. Bernard’s Church.
oplatky, a wafer with a Nativity scene embossed on At about 5 p.m., the children would perform their part in the annual
it. You can eat them plain or with honey. The men Christmas Pageant. When the program was finished, we would come home to
of the family usually drink a shot of plum brandy see that Santa had brought presents and put them under the tree, even though
called slivovitz. Home brewed is the best. After din- our children knew they were not there before we left. Even after they were
ner, we have a desert roll called koláče or rozek. It older there was always the wonder if Santa really had come while we were at
is rolled dough filled with a poppy seed, apricot or church. Hmmm...how did that happen?
nut mix. My daughter has expanded the flavors to
strawberry, cherry with chocolate chips, blueberry After the presents were opened and enjoyed, we would go
and raspberry. By the Christmas tree we sing, to the kitchen to see that we had picked Dungeness
“Povedzte nám,” a Slovak carol which I was taught crab atop salad with garlic bread for dinner. It
in grade school by the nuns at St. Stephen’s School was such a great tradition for us every year,
in Streator, IL. We have passed the song down for and has become one which our children
four generations and can sing it in English as well. continue with their own children.
We thank the good Lord for the
John Ftacek wonderful crab on the Pacific
Coast and pray that Dungeness
crabs will be available for genera-
tions to come.
Jack and Sandy Hall
CHRISTMAS CHEER PARTY
Ten years ago, Judy and I decided to invite neighbors
who didn’t have family visiting them on Christmas
day over for some cheer. About 14 people showed up.
Last year, we had over 80 neighbors and friends stop
by for our now-annual Christmas Cheer Party. This
year we may go over 100.
Bob & Judy Herwig
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG DECEMBER 2016 SUNRAYS | 51
