Do you know how Albanian Christmas is celebrated? Let’s look at the traditions together and prepare a tasty baklava

Did you know that Christmas, or Christmas, is now a public holiday in this originally atheistic country?

Christmas traditions here are not spectacular, but we have found some that will especially please children!

The festive table is full of delicacies and desserts, mainly represented by the sweet baklava full of nuts, which we will also prepare.

Don’t expect a shopping frenzy in Albania either; people here are more modest and prefer to meet with family.

Come with us to see how Christmas is celebrated in Albania!

When is Christmas celebrated in Albania?

Christmas, or Christmas, is a holiday in Albania that does not have a long tradition. As is known, Albania was an atheistic country for some time, where the celebration of religious holidays completely disappeared. In addition, the communist regime long sought to completely eradicate these customs, which is why the holiday celebration in many households was moved to New Year’s Eve.

Today, the religious distribution of the population is divided between Christians and Muslims. However, it is not an exception that both faiths celebrate Christmas with the same fervor.

Christmas Day in Albania is December 24, the midnight mass is well attended here and thus transports the people to the first Christmas holiday. December 25 is the most important holiday of the year, primarily for reasons of faith.

Traditional Albanian Christmas

You might imagine a fairytale Albanian Christmas full of snow. However, the climate in Albania does not favor snowy landscapes. Apart from the ski resorts in the mountains, the temperatures on the coast often do not fall below 8 degrees.

We encounter classic Albanian Christmas celebrations and decorated shopping malls in the cities, but the locals don’t rush to them as much as they do here. The concept of Christmas is more modest here, which is reflected especially in the more remote parts of the country. Villages often don’t even have street lights, decorations, or Christmas chains, which is uncommon. People also make many ornaments themselves from what is at hand. If you also want to try it, we have great tips for making Christmas decorations!

Coriander

A Christmas carol-like custom involves children knocking on doors with small wooden mallets around the neighborhood. They then announce by singing that the birth of Christ is approaching, for which they will receive a carol—coriander in the form of sweets.

I’m sorry

This tradition would certainly please older siblings eager to tease the younger ones a little. In this tradition, the older children tie a hard-boiled egg to a stick, and the younger ones catch it with their mouths. Since “Per ndjesa” means forgiveness, the younger children have to ask the older ones for forgiveness for their misbehavior during the year, which is also the main meaning of this tradition. Only then do the little raptors get their prey from the hands of their older siblings.

Who brings Christmas presents in Albania?

Both Babagjyshi and Vitit te Ri bring Christmas presents to Albania. No matter how complicated this name sounds, simplify it to Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, who visits our homes at the beginning of December.

The tradition of Santa Claus is also taken over here with his appearance, a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Yet, it is emphasized to the children very early on that this is only an icon, not the mysterious spirit of Christmas.

Listen to the traditional Albanian carol for Babagjyshi and Vitit te Ri.

Rritu e Meso - BABAGJYSHI I VITIT TË RI

What do Albanians eat on Christmas Day?

If you want to sit at a festive table in Albania, do not expect a roast turkey; it is considered a lucrative and expensive ingredient in the country. Christian families serve several courses on Christmas Day, all without red meat. These are usually vegetables, legumes, baked goods, and fish.

Fasting is common throughout the country for the whole week before Christmas.

A trendy part of the festive Albanian dinner is the crispy and sweet baklava, which we will now prepare together.

How to bake festive Albanian baklava?

Baklava is a typical Christmas dessert of the Balkans and is also prepared in Albania. Thanks to the layered dough, prepare a delicious dessert that melts on the tongue with us.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped walnuts (unsalted)
• 2 cups chopped pistachios (salted)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 16 oz filo dough (thin unleavened dough used for making pastries such as baklava and börek in Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines)
• 1 cup of butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• ½ cup honey

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 354°F.
• Grease the bottom and sides of the glass mold with butter.
• Finely chop the nuts, mix them with the cinnamon, and set aside.
• Roll out the phyllo dough and cover it with a damp tea towel while you work to prevent it from drying out.
• Cover the pan with two layers of filo pastry, then brush thoroughly with melted butter. Continue like this until you have a base layer of 8 sheets of dough. Top with 2-3 tablespoons of the nut mixture.
• Layer 2 sheets of dough again, brush with butter, then sprinkle with 2-3 tablespoons of nuts.
• Continue this layering process until everything is used up. Ensure you have 6 sheets of filo dough aside for the top layer and butter for spreading. Nuts are no longer added here, as in the base layer.
• After layering, brush the top with melted butter and cut it into diamond shapes with a sharp knife.
• Bake for about 50 minutes until the surface is golden and crispy.
• While baking, prepare the syrup. Boil the sugar and water; add the vanilla and honey once the sugar dissolves and boil for 20 minutes.
• Immediately after removing the baklava from the oven, pour the syrup over it. Do not leave it uncovered, or it will get wet.

Where to go in Albania for the Christmas atmosphere?

If you are thinking of a trip where you can experience the Albanian Christmas atmosphere directly, head to the capital of Albania, Tirana. Here, you can admire two huge Christmas trees—one on Skanderbeg Square and an even bigger and more spectacular one on Maria Theresa Square.

It’s no secret that the Eastern European metropolis reached for inspiration in the American heart of Christmas – New York. In the adjacent streets, you will have a great time shopping, or you can taste traditional Albanian cuisine.

Beautiful mountains surround Albania, so you can go skiing here after Christmas shopping. Here, you will find some of the best ski routes in the Balkans, among which Bigëll – Dardhë ranks first. If you want to go closer to skiing and fantastic Christmas markets, look at the options for Christmas celebrations in Germany.

As has already been said, the celebration of Christmas in Albania does not have as long a tradition here as in our country, yet nowadays, almost no difference can be perceived.

Now all you have to do is say Merry Christmas or Gezüz Krystalt!