The Christmas Elders
This in the Romanian tradition represents the hand given alms, meaning the gifts made and brought to other houses as offerings for the people who have passed away in those families.
This is done both on Christmas Eve and on the next day.
In some parts, in Ardeal, on Christmas Eve the poor are given knot-shaped bread with a candle attached to it.
In Moldova alms are given to neighbors and relatives, flat cakes and foods blessed by the priest.
In Oltenia the women go to the cemetery where they incense the graves of their dead; when they return home they take out the baked knot-shaped breads and put them on the table. On each bread a candle or an egg is put after which the breads are given to the neighbors.
In Bucovina, on Christmas a glass of water and knot-shaped bread is left on the table because it’s thought that the souls of the dead return on this day and taste the bread and drink some water.