Christmas traditions in Hungary

(Versión en Español: acá)

- How do they explain to Hungarian children that Baby Jesus brings the presents? How would a baby carry them? If Santa has reindeer, Baby Jesus has any mean of transportation?
These enlightening questions arose the other night (with the help of palinka) talking with two British friends. We were trying to understand some of the new Christmas traditions around us and this thing about Baby Jesus was not really clear. Taking in account our own childhood experiences, this new mythology seems a little bit strange and we assumed that for children might be easier to believe that a fat and bearded guy with eight reindeer carry all the packages and not a baby.
Anyway, you should not worry: in Hungary there is also a St. Nicholas (Mikulas), but his important day is on the 6th of December when he gives chocolates, oranges and tangerines to children who behaved well and a little branch to the mischievous ones.
Here they don´t eat Pannetone but Beigli, a Hungarian pastry full of poppy seeds and szaloncukor. It is common to have some kind of fish for the Christmas dinner and after that they can open the presents. They don´t have to wait until midnight!
New Year’s Eve is a time to be with friends. One important thing: if you want to be sure that your finances are going to be good you should eat lentils. The reason? The shape, similar to coins, represents money. This year I won´t forget to have some!

This post has been entered into the Grantourismo and HomeAway Holiday- Rentals travel blogging competition.