sklonjeni u stranu. Majka baca po slami orahe i lešnike, zatim prosti- re nasred kuće šarenu tkanicu i na nju ređa posna jela. Svi se izuvamo i sedamo da večeramo. Kad završi- mo, majka poviče: „Pilići moji, ne ču- jem pijukanje!“ Utom brat i ja počnemo da piju- čemo i razletimo se po slami, pa se takmičimo ko će više lešnika i ora- ha da nakupi. Ko je bio vredniji i brži dobija kolač od šljiva sušen na sun- cu. Ali ne samo za sebe nego da ga podeli sa bratom. ČETVRTA RADOST Božićno jutro počinje odlaskom na Točak. Idemo brat i ja da sa če- sme donesemo vodu za česnicu. Mo- ramo je čuvati, ne smemo piti ni sa česme ni iz bokala. Majka i otac su već pripremili iverčicu od ragasto- va, stari novčić, srce grafitne olovke i palidrvce bez fosforne glave. Maj- ka stavlja česnicu da se peče. Dola- zi polažajnik. Tarka vatru na ognji- štu i, dok lete varnice na sve strane, on glasno govori: „Koliko varnica, toliko parica!“ Kad završi džaranje, polažajnik krene da sedne, a neko mu izmakne stolicu i on padne na leđa. On to, naravno, očekuje, pa se pridiže s po- da smejući se i govoreći: „Gde pa- la ova vreća, tu nek je svaka sreća!“ PETA RADOST Božićni ručak. Lomi se česnica. Svako dobija deo i odmah traži zna- menje. Ko izvuče grafitno srce – do- bro će učiti, palidrvce – čuvaće ognji- šte, iver – staraće se o stoci i belom mrsu, novčić – zarađivaće pare cele godine. Ako baš ne pogodimo, pa re- cimo ja izvučem novčić, otac i ja se prekrstimo, pa ja kažem: „Ja sam sa- mo glasnik, ti si vlasnik!“ I predam ocu paricu. Tako ipak svako dobije ono što mu pripada. Jedva čekamo da majka iznese pršutu, sir i kajmak, da se omrsimo posle božićnog posta. ŠESTA RADOST Sutradan idemo svi u crkvu, da se vidimo s narodom. Ali i da vidimo popa Draga Tucovića. Mene i bra- ta zvao je sestrićima jer je naša ba- ka Jovanka od Tucovića. Obavezno nas povuče za uši, pa kaže: „Sretni mi bili i veliki porasli, sestrići, pili- ći, Ršumovići!“
and walnuts. Whoever gathers the most and the fastest gets a cake made from sundried prunes, but not on- ly for himself, rather to share with his brother. FOURTH JOY Christmas morning starts with us going to the Točak (wheel). My brother and I go to bring water from the tap for the česnica Christmas bread. We must look after the wa- ter and can’t drink from the tap or the jug. Mother and father have al- ready prepared various items: an old coin, the graphite core of a pen- cil and matches without phosphor- ic heads. Mother bakes the česnica bread and then the bearer of the light comes. He fans the fire on the hearth and, as sparks fly in all di- rections, he says loudly: “How many sparks, that much money!” When he finishes with the em- bers, the bearer heads to sit down, but someone pulls his chair out and he falls on his back. He, of course, expects this, so he gets up from the floor laughing and then says: “Where this sack fell, let there be happiness!” FIFTH JOY Christmas lunch. The breaking of the česnica bread. Everyone gets a piece and immediately looks for the symbols inside. Whoever pulls out the graphite core – will learn well; the match – will protect the hearth; the woodchip – will take care of live- stock; the coin – will make money for the whole year. If we don’t get lucky, so for instance I extract the coin, my father and I cross ourselves, then I say, “I’m just the messenger, you’re the owner!”, and give him the coin. Thus in the end everyone gets what belongs to them. We can hardly wait for mother to bring out the cured ham, cheese and curd cream, after the meatless Christmas fast. SIXTH JOY The next day we all go to church, to see the people, but also to see Fa- ther Dragi Tucović. He called me and my brother nephews, because our grandmother Jovanka was a Tucov- ić. It was mandatory for him to tug us by the ears and then say: “Be hap- py for me and grow big, nephews, chicks, Ršumovićs!”
Ršum je pisac, pesnik čuven po poeziji za decu. Objavio je više od 100 knjiga. Dobitnik je mnogih književnih nagrada. Autor je nekoliko udžbenika za osnovnu školu i borac za dečja prava Ršum is a writer and poet renowned for his children’s poetry. He has published more than 100 books and won many literary awards. The author of several textbooks for primary schools, he is a fighter for children’s rights
words: “Good morning, Yule branch! Merry Christmas to you, and to us with you”. Then my father asks me which side is to the east. I show him and he starts chop- ping from that side. He catches the first chip with his hand, so it does not fall to the ground. He hands it to me, saying: “This woodchip, give it to your mother to put in a milk bowl, so she can catch cream as thick as that chip”. When he has chopped enough, he moves to the other side, to now chop from the west so the Yule branch falls to the eastern side. But before it falls fa- ther catches it again, then carries it home on his shoulder, holding it with a gloved hand. - The Yule branch must not be touched with bare hands – he notes. THIRD JOY In the evening father scatters straw around the house. Chairs and tables are placed to the side. Mother throws walnuts and hazelnuts over the straw, then spreads a colourful cloth in the middle of the house and arranges meatless Lenten dishes on it. We all take off our shoes and sit to eat. When we finish, mother yells out, “My little chicks, I do not hear chirping!” With that my brother and I start chirping and flying through the straw, before competing to see who can gather the most hazelnuts
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