The Cruel Xmas Tradition of Pig Slaughtering
Although cruel, the tradition of pig slaughtering is ancient and not many Romanians are happy to let it go. But the tradition is not a symbol of cruelty - it’s purpose is not “entertainment.” This is the way our ancestors used to sacrifice pigs to feed their families at Christmas.
However, it is somehow strange that people who enjoy light chose to celebrate the birth of Christ with such a dark sacrifice.
This Christmas, as the Christmas before, I will be in Germany - in Schweich, a nice little town on the Mosel.
For the past six years the longing for the Romanian traditions and spirit kept me somehow away from the simple joys of the Xmas. Germany is so different. Many traditions are similar - the Christmas tree is still a Christmas tree. The mulled whine tastes as good here as it tastes at home. But that’s about it. Somehow… there’s no real joy here. Not even at the Trier Xmas Market, so famous in the region…
Families get together, eat together, sing together. But the Christmas carols don’t have the beauty of a Romanian carol.
The traditional Christmas food in Germany is somehow plain. There’s nothing really special about it. Romania has its Christmas traditions that sometimes remind of pagan rituals: the pig slaughtering is cruel, yet it’s been a Christmas tradition for as far as I can remember.
As a child I was so scared every time I heard the screams of the dieing animals. Now I doubt I can ever watch another pig slaughtering without crying for the poor innocent animals that die to make our Christmas table reacher.
I remember my grandma sharing a tear for the dieing animals each Christmas. Things I couldn’t understand back then come back to me now and I cannot help but wonder: is this a tradition we should actually keep? Romanians are not cruel people. This tradition finds its roots back in the illo tempore - in ancient times no one really recalls.
Image credit Raluca Nicula.
With the admittance of Romania in the EU the slaughtering needs to go. Yet the EU will let Romania continue slaughtering pigs for Xmas in the traditional way. The reasoning behind this is simple: if killing bulls in the arena for entertainment purposes is legal, why should the Romanian tradition go, when its purpose is not as cruel as the corrida?
Modern, less cruel methods to sacrifice the animals have to replace it. And it will take time till they will find their way in all the Romanian villages and be accepted by the Romanian peasants who inherited this method from their ancestors.
Well, although a cruel tradition, I do miss being there when all my family gathered together to prepare the traditional pork food. The whole pig slaughtering ritual is special not because of the way the pig is actually sacrificed, but because of what follows after. All the members of the family work together to prepare the food for the Christmas meal.
The pigs are slaughtered on December 20th, the feast of St. Ignatius. Legends say that the pigs actually dream their death - that could explain why in the night preceding their sacrifice all the pigs in the village scream.
Image credit Milan.tobik
After the sacrifice, there are only four days left to prepare the meat, make sausages, melt the fat and so on. Each day ends with a little feast. This is what I miss: being home, at my grandma’s and preparing that food with all my family. Sitting by the fire and singing, telling stories, praying together, listening to my grandma’s voice blessing our meal.
10 Comments
Mig,
Darlin, they does dis awl ovah dee United States too. Why, I wuddnt noo how to act if my forefathers culdnt kill porky for Christmas.
Cruelty not exclusive to old countries either, just so everyone knows.
You should see what we do to gerbils in the States
Kinda makes one feel bad for old porky never the less.
Always,
Phil
Thank you for this heads up, Phil… I’d hate to see people coming here and hammering Romanians for their cruelty towards porkies you know. The tradition is not exclusive to Romania, btw - countries in the Eastern European block have it as well and as far as I know it is pretty common in Mexico (and other Latino countries) as well.
As long as the pigs are slaughtered in a humane manner, I don’t see how this should be considered a cruel act. It would seem the meat would all be eaten, so it’s not as though the animal is solely used for a ritual, it’s not going to waste.
Pigs are a common source of meat for most parts of the Western world, and they’re not an endangered creature.
That being said, I don’t think that I would be able to eat the meat after watching it being slaughtered. I have a difficult time as it is being able to eat meat unless it’s disguised to a degree so that it doesn’t appear as a slab of their flesh sitting on my dinner plate
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I have difficulties eating eggs as well, after watching one of PETA’s documentaries on how chickens are bred in Germany… but I still do… only summer finds me as a committed veggie. Winters I need my proteins.
About meat… I love pork! And turkey (since Phil is cooking)
You guys are so cute! You may not believe this, but I have known some evil little pigs in my time. Some of them deserved the firing squad for sure.
Porky (regardless of his or her temperament) is one of my favorite meats. Nothing like a ham (or Turkey) sandwich. Actually the images of the Romanians snuffing out the piggies look human compared to the way South Georgia rednecks do it.
Poor little pigs, I am like you guys and cannot eat the stuff if I think about it to much. (I wonder if there is any Turkey left) surely their demise was not as graphic is these images!
I’ve watched the pig being fattened for the slaughter in Romania, and then have enjoyed the wonderful Christmas meal — but thank goodness I never got to see the actual slaughter; would have changed everything, I’m sure!
Great post, Mihaela! But looking forward to some postings on more cheerful Romanian Christmas traditions!
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And they will follow, Kathy!
Hi, Mig
I found today your site, btw a great one, and I’m happy to find someone proud to be .ro
We publish a similar blog,
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I’ve inserted a link to your site, please do the same with ours if you find it interesting (unde-s multi, puterea creste…)
Greetings, Adrian
Much meat will be eaten over Christmas the world over. Cows, pigs and turkeys will be killed, evil and innocent (I wonder if an evil pig tastes different?). In Australia as well as turkey, beef, ham and pork seafood will also be on the menu for many.
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i am enjoying your website. My family is living in Braila, Romania. Do you have any recommendations of places we must see in this region? Keep posting. I am enjoying learning about your traditions. It is much easier for me to understand in English than through a translator. Yes, I want to know about the true Romanian. Thank you.