[KTOG]

Slovak Christmas Eve > *


a soup of tart quality, usually made of sauerkraut brine and dried mushrooms, continues the exodus theme of recalling the bitterness of slavery-life without Christ.

Fish is generally used, as Catholics in Eastern Europe observed a strict fast on the vigil of Christmas. Next come "opekance-pupacky-bobalky" which generally are sweet, raised dough or may be a biscuit type dough sweetened with honey and sprinkled with a pleasant preparation of poppy seed. The use of poppy seed recalls a pagan tradition in which poppy seed was strewn at the portal in order that the evil spirits might be occupied with picking up each morsel and thus would not enter the house.

"Pirohy" are generally enjoyed at the Christmas Eve supper. They are dough pockets, pastry filled with fillings of sweet cabbage, sauerkraut, lekvar, prunes, or potatoes and cheese and boiled.

"Pagace" is also enjoyed at the dinner, also called "Slovak Pizza." It is thin raised dough baked either in a single or double layer filled with sweet cabbage or mashed potatoes. After baking, it is brushed with butter and cut in pie wedges. In addition, "lokse" a potato pancake type of specialty is also enjoyed.

Other foods eaten include dried prunes, apples, nuts, and St. John's bread known as "Carob." The meal concludes with the traditional Slovak pastry, known as "Kolace" or strudel-like rolls which are filled with walnuts, poppy seed, lekvar (prune butter) or cheese. Red wine completes the evening's feasting.