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Less than 17 percent consider Christmas and New Year celebration to be overrated, most of the subjects appreciated this is the’ richest in tradition’ time of the year. 45.7 per cent of the interviewed said they have been fasting most of the Lenten time and an even higher percentage (74.9 per cent) have included going to church as part of their holiday ritual. Over 80 per cent consider this time of the year highlights better than any other celebration the real Romanian traditions and values, and said they consider themselves traditionalists. However, three quarters of the respondents claim modern times are not really at odds with some of these customs, appreciating the younger generation would no longer keep rituals and customs alive.

Among the best loved traditions of Christmas, caroling is valued by 93 per cent of the interviewed; other traditions are sacrificing the pig and star caroling. A percentage of 77 per cent said they still keep most of these practices and have taught their children about them.

An overwhelming percentage of Romanians (90.5 per cent) are very generous with the offering of Christmas gifts, the study shows. A third of the subjects indicated they have allotted between RON 400 and 450 for Christmas gifts, while only 14 per cent say the maximum amount they can afford is RON 100. Recession however lowered the gift budget this year, the same study shows, as 67 per cent of the people say they were compelled to lower it by 30 per cent. 98 per cent of the interviewed have indicated their gifts go to close family relatives and less than a quarter are looking to offer Christmas offerings to office colleagues.

As far as charity work only 21 per cent usually give away money or clothes to the underprivileged. As far as special dinner and family gatherings, over 80 per cent usually prepare a menu for Christmas. About 65 per cent usually put on their table the traditional Romanian dishes, an overwhelming 88 percent prepare pork dishes and the traditional ‘sarmale’ while 79 percent consider “cozonac” cannot miss any Christmas table.

And, to prove that much hasn’t changed from previous years, only 30 percent of the interviewed are in the habit of buying these products from the market, the rest have it homemade. Another beautiful habit any Romanian apparently keeps is having a well decorated Christmas tree in the house, only 10 per cent have said they have given up this tradition. Half of the subjects are still buying natural fir trees and only 2.5 percent of them have said they would rather have a tree planted in front of their house which they get to adorn with the latest fashion Christmas decoration.

Put together by the Institute of Evaluation and Strategy, the poll was conducted on a sample of 1,100 people between December 13 and 15.