If you are spending the Christmas and New Year holidays in Slovenia, in addition to taking a stroll down the beautifully decorated streets of Slovenian cities and among the inviting holiday market stalls, be sure to also enjoy some of the traditional events.

During this time, Slovenian children are looking forward to the visit of at least one of the three good men, many of them of Saint Nicholas, but more and more also of Father Frost or Santa Claus. Christmas wreaths are hung on the doors or advent wreaths placed on the tables and many Slovenians set up nativity scenes and decorate Christmas trees in their homes.

In Slovenia no Christmas holiday is complete without the traditional potica cake. Of all the holiday breads, the most magical powers were once attributed to those made for Christmas. Each member of the family, including the animals, received a piece, for it brought good fortune to the house, health to parents, rapid growth to children, and a husband for girls, while also fattening livestock, driving evil spirits from the house and protecting the homestead from lightning and thieves. Special powers were held by the ceremonial bread of Štajerska, known as kuc or krhljak (fruit bread). The Christmas bread of the Bela Krajina, Dolenjska and Notranjska regions was beautifully decorated with dough Nativity scenes and animals.

More about traditional events during Christmas and New Year holidays in Slovenia you can read at slovenia.si