by Tyler, age 10 from Reno, asks Mos Craciun about Romanian Christmas traditions and the Carpathian Mountains.
A Letter to Mos Craciun from Tyler in Reno, Nevada
Dear Mos Craciun, my name is Tyler and I am ten years old. I live in Reno, Nevada, and my teacher told us about castles in Romania, so I have questions for you:
- Do Romanian children leave out treats for you?
- Do you bring presents to every child in Romania?
- Do you come down the chimney?
- Do you come on Christmas Eve in Romania?
- Do you have elves or helpers to make the presents?
- Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
- Do you live at the North Pole, or somewhere else?
- Do you look the same as the American Santa?
- Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
- Your name means Old Man Christmas, is that like Santa Claus?
- Geography: What mountain range curves through central Romania, famous for castles and forests?
- Social Studies: Romania was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. How did that history affect Christmas celebrations there for a time?
Thanks, Tyler
Mos Craciun Writes Back
Do Romanian children leave out treats for you?
Yes, Tyler, Romanian children often leave out cozonac, a sweet braided bread, along with a warm drink for me.
Do you bring presents to every child in Romania?
I try to reach every child in Romania, from busy cities to small mountain villages tucked into the hills.
Do you come down the chimney?
Chimney, yes, same tradition as most other European Santas.
Do you come on Christmas Eve in Romania?
Christmas Eve is my big night, right alongside a festive family dinner and carol singing that goes late into the evening.
Do you have elves or helpers to make the presents?
Yes, a team of helpers assists me with wrapping and preparing gifts throughout the busy weeks before Christmas.
Do you have reindeer to pull your sleigh?
Reindeer, yes, pulling my sleigh over Romania’s forests and mountains.
Do you live at the North Pole, or somewhere else?
My home is often placed at the North Pole in modern stories, similar to the American Santa, though older regional folklore sometimes ties me more closely to the snowy Carpathian Mountains themselves.
Do you look the same as the American Santa?
Quite similar these days, red suit, white beard, and a cheerful laugh, much like the modern American Santa.
Do you wear a red suit like the American Santa?
Yes, a red suit, especially in newer books, cards, and decorations.
Your name means Old Man Christmas, is that like Santa Claus?
That’s right, Mos Craciun does mean Old Man Christmas, and yes, I am considered Romania’s own version of Santa Claus.
Geography: What mountain range curves through central Romania, famous for castles and forests?
The Carpathian Mountains curve through the middle of Romania, famous for dense forests, old castles, and plenty of snowy peaks perfect for sleigh travel.
Social Studies: Romania was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. How did that history affect Christmas celebrations there for a time?
For several decades during the Cold War, Romania’s government limited public religious celebrations, including Christmas, and encouraged New Year’s gift giving instead, with a secular character taking my place for a time. Since the early 1990s, Christmas traditions and my own story have returned fully to Romanian homes.
