The Moldova lies between Ukraine and Romania, and is a country that was part of the Soviet Union. Christmas celebrations as Moldovans know them today were therefore banned before the end of the USSR. Nelly Vranceanu, painter installed in Périgord for fifteen years, thus told us his memories and his traditions of the festivals in his country of origin.
The traditions
Christmas was not celebrated, only the New Year was celebrated. It is the “Cold Father” who brought the children’s gifts, accompanied by “Floconette”, a young girl in white to bring a little magic to the children all the same. Today, Orthodox Moldovans celebrate Christmas on January 6, and it is indeed Santa Claus who brings the gifts!
In Moldova, poetry, sharing, creation are on the holiday program, with many Christmas carols, choirs, and also to celebrate the New Year, there are many theatrical scenes that are prepared by children, or theater groups, accompanied by music, beautiful costumes and lots of rhythm!
The kitchen
Sharing is also found, of course, in the kitchen, with stuffed dishes, to share, such as this recipe that Nelly shared with us: small eggplant rolls stuffed with walnuts:
_C_ Cut the eggplant lengthwise into slices 4-5mm thick. Brush them with oil, salt and pepper on both sides. Place them on the baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Set the oven to the temperature of 180 degrees, fan-assisted if possible. Bake. Subsequently: take walnut kernels well free from the shell. Crush them with a rolling pin, or you can use ground almonds instead of nuts to prepare the stuffing. You add a spoonful of mayonnaise. Add a little finely grated garlic to the stuffing. Mix well. When the eggplants start to be golden, take them out and let them cool. Then put at the end of the eggplant slice (still cut into two parts) a little nut paste, (on the wider part). Roll it down slightly during the rotary movement to obtain a rosebud shape at the end, and voila! You can serve them as a starter!