For “breaking fast” people start preparing since St. Nicholas’ Day. The man of the house catches several sparrows, the woman puts them in hot water, takes off the feathers and rubs salt on. Then she puts them on a string of hemp and hangs it in a cold place under the roof to dry. For Christmas the sparrows become so dry like dried mackerel. On coming back from church, the mistress of the house breaks the string and gives a piece of the dried birds to all members of the family. She gives the birds’ wings to the girls and the drumsticks to the boys, after which kids can sit at the table and eat of all the meat dishes.