Slovak Christmas is more than just a course. It is an experience of the magical world of Christmas that the heart of Europe still offers, and a connection to our ancestors - both recent and ancient.

We are living through very challenging times. The global pandemic and lock down has not been easy. But every coin has two sides. While there is a lot of uncertainty, in the chaos lies an opportunity to connect to something eternal, true and genuine - the spirit of Christmas. We are invited to distance ourselves from the usual hustle and bustle of commercial Christmas and reconnect with the authentic purpose of the holiday.

The many joyful, mindful, sentimental and sacred traditions that Slovaks keep alive today stem from the bygone world of their ancestors. A people that faced many hardships in the last one thousand years of their history. Perhaps this is how and why they were able to retain a sense of what Christmas is all about - gratitude, togetherness, stillness, reflection, peace, sharing and caring.

Yes, we love the busy Christmas markets, beautifully decorated shopping malls and elaborate gifts, but Christmas is so much more than that and we now have a chance to revive the real essence of the most loved holiday in Europe.

We know many of us are struggling during these trying and insecure times, and it is for this reason we poured our all our love and compassion into this course. These very customs have been soothing us for centuries, through wars, disasters and crises. They were carried over into faraway lands by those who decided to leave Slovakia behind in search of a better life, and kept alive as a precious umbilical cord to the essence of who we are.

It is also in respect of those that came before us, that we are able to share the timeless and profound wisdoms in this course. We inherited those practices and rituals from our grandmothers and great grandmothers.

It is our hope that it will bring happiness, solace and peace to your family.