Moldovan Catholics also celebrate Christmas on December 25, after having gone to Eve Mass on the previous day. At the beginning of service, the bishop places a baby Jesus statue in an improvised manger – a symbol of the Savior’s Birth, and at the end of service, people exchange congratulations and unleavened bread, call “oplatki” – a Polish tradition.
With a few exceptions, Christmas is a common holiday, for both catholic and orthodox Christians, tells Mihai Balan, priest at the “Divine Providence” roman-catholic cathedral in Chisinau. “The main message during this season is to be kinder to one another. Charity acts happen, food and clothes are given out to the less fortunate. Because, in the end, that is what God does – He shares with humanity, by sending us His Son,” he mentions.
Catholics like the orthodox, fast before Christmas. In the Catholic tradition, this is known as the Season of Advent and it lasts four weeks. It is a joyful fast. Alimentary restrictions are held on Fridays only, when believers should abstain from eating meat. The Holy Mass during that is held in this period is called “Rorate.” It starts at seven in the morning, and is an exclusively candlelit service. “This symbolizes that the humankind been living in sin, and light came into the world through the coming of Christ,” says Mihai Balan.
On Christmas, churches are decorated with a manger. “We improvise the barn where Jesus was born, using hay straws, populated by the statues of Joseph, Mary, the Magi and the shepherds; a representation that helps us understand better what had occurred on that night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Our faith also needs external props like these to fuel our emotions,” explains the priest.
On December 31, Catholics gather for Mass, to thank God for all the blessings of the previous year. “Traditions and customs, such as Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, carols – are of human heritage, and aren’t necessarily religious. These are worldly holidays, but that doesn’t mean that the church is against them,” added the priest.
There are over 20 thousand Roman-Catholic Christians in Moldova.
