December

The Christmas and New Year’s holiday season is a time that everyone awaits with special joy: children, because of the presents they expect to receive (from the three good men: St. Nicholas, Father Christmas and Grandfather Frost); adults, because they know they will bring people joy with their gifts, for giving is indeed a rewarding experience. Above all, Christmas is a family holiday. All rejoice at that time and not only during the midnight mass but also elsewhere Holy Night is sung to calm the mind and heart.
The Advent season is also the time for making nativity scenes, a popular winter hobby in Slovenia, although it is a relatively young tradition. The first documented nativity scene in Slovene was made in 1644 by the Jesuits in Ljubljana, but none of the original figurines have been preserved. Nowadays, in rural and urban areas alike, people create nativity scenes in their homes, where they are set in the corner of the home’s living area, commonly known as bohkov kot or 'God’s corner'. In recent times, live nativity scenes have become increasingly popular: they are set in natural environments, with actors, sheep and cattle. The best-known living nativity scene is at Postojna Cave. Those staying in the capital may well enjoy the nativity scene at the Franciscan Church on Prešeren Square, which appears to be Ljubljana’s favourite nativity scene, attracting the most visitors each year.
One of the most enduring Christmas traditions is the Christmas tree, the decoration of which has undergone many changes. Actually, the Christmas tree that we know today only came to Slovenia after the First World War. Before that, people in cities and the countryside used to embellish the trees with chains, flowers and wreaths made of coloured paper; added to this were apples, walnuts and hazelnuts. In the corners of the living room, they also hung up straw braids decorated with produce such as beans and corn. Nowadays, homemade decorations are a rarity.
Decorations may be an integral part of the celebration, yet Christmas time is foremost a time of gift giving. Interestingly, gift giving in Slovenia has a tradition that is less than seven decades old, and even that mostly in urban areas; in the countryside, they only gave symbolic gifts such as walnuts or hazelnuts. However, giving presents ultimately is not as important as spending time with people we love.


 

Buhteljni

50 dag plain flour
2 dag fresh yeast
10 dag butter
2 dcl milk
5 dag sugar or a tablespoon of honey
2 eggs
salt
jam or marmalade for filling
icing sugar for sprinkling

 

Dough
Place the flour in a large bowl and make a hole in the centre. Crumble the yeast into a cup; add two spoons of flour, a spoon of sugar and half a decilitre of warm milk. Pour the mixture into the center of the flour and wait until the yeast rises. Then knead the ingredients into smooth dough. Leave in a warm place to rise.

 

Roll out the dough about half a centimetre thick and cut into squares (approximately 7 x 7 cm). In the centre of each square place a teaspoon of jam. Pinch together the corners of each square to cover the jam. Dip each buhtelj in melted butter and place them on a baking tray, so that they are touching each other. Place the tray in a warm place to rise again. Bake them in a moderate oven until golden brown. When baked, leave to cool slightly then sprinkle with icing sugar.