tradition {kolache making}

I feel very lucky to be part of a family that has nurtured family traditions.  Traditions that have real and important meaning to us and our relationships.  While we have  varying traditions throughout the year, we enact several special ones as we prepare for the holidays.

One of these special traditions is the gathering of the cousins -- all nine, ranging from wee to teen -- to make kolache.  Kolache from our Slovak family tradition is more commonly known as nut rolls.  But that isn't wholly accurate because the fillings can range from poppyseed, to apricot, to other fruits and cheeses.

So early each December we gather at Nonnie and Poppy's house.  This day is unlike any other gathering at their home, which often is connected to a birthday or another celebration.

This day is different.

It stretches ahead of us with only the kolache rolls to make.  The kids know a long day of play awaits.  The furnace is intentionally set a bit higher, warming the house to help the rolls raise for baking.

And we all take turns around the wooden dining room table.  The same table that has been the center of family meals, from early in my childhood.

We take turns using the taught technique of short rolling strokes to stretch the dough, which thankfully is made by my Mom a day prior, into long rectangles.

The carefully measured filling is spooned and spread onto the flat dough and then oh so gently all of it is rolled together into a long skinny form. 

In reality the Aunties do most of the rolling. 

But each cousin is encouraged to help with at least one of the 18 rolls, and most do, some kids lasting longer than others at the technique that have been passed down through several generations.

At the very least small ones flitter around the room, sneaking bits of the nut filling, sweetened with condensed milk or greedily licking up the spoons used for the poppyseed filling.

And then they return to their chasing games and dress up and watching Christmas movies snuggled up together in the reading room.

This year held a pretty awesome snowball fight, with kids coming in soaking wet and cold.

By early evening the rolling was done.  Baking was underway and families were bundling back up to head to our own homes.


And in just over a week those rolls will be sliced and displayed on Christmas plates.  They will be eaten and enjoyed, and kids will be sneaking entire pieces before dessert time.