YSU’s Sulskis, Dimitrov compare Christmas in America, home countries

By Joe Scalzo | December 24, 2010 at 12:10a.m.

Youngstown State senior Vytas Sulskis grew up in Vilnius, Lithuania, the country’s capital and largest city. Its average temperature in December ranges from 23 to 31 degrees. Winters are Youngstownian and Christmases are Bing Crosbian.

Then, as a teenager, Sulskis moved to Florida, to attend high school at The Rock, a private Christian school in Gainesville, where the average temperature in December is 69 with an average low of 46.

Sulskis found himself as a stranger in a strange land, adjusting to things like 80-degree weather. And “Home Alone” broadcast in, well, English. And outdoor Christmas lights.

Lots and lots of Christmas lights.

“I couldn’t believe how people decorated their houses,” he said. “How much time and effort they put in to make the house all nice and flashy. Some even had the music matching the lights.

“I was like, ‘Wow, they really take this stuff serious.’”

Sulskis is one of two foreign-born basketball players at YSU — Penguin senior guard Bojana Dimitrov, a native of Serbia, is the other — and because they play a winter sport, neither has been able to return to their home countries for Christmas since coming to America.

So, as he does every year, Sulskis flew to Florida on Wednesday to celebrate with his friends and family from Gainesville.

In Lithuania, Christmas Eve is actually more important than Christmas. Family members gather for traditional dinner known as Kucios, which consists of 12 meatless dishes. (The 12 dishes stand for the 12 apostles.)

“You have to have 12 of them to have a good year,” Sulskis said.

Each year, his parents send him chocolate — “There’s really good chocolate over there,” he said — but Lithuanians don’t have stockings.

“That was another thing surprising to me,” he said. “They take stockings seriously here.”

Many Lithuanian traditions are similar to those in America, however. Santa Claus is basically the same guy, Sulskis said, and he grew up watching American Christmas movies, albeit dubbed in his own language. He and Dimitrov both listed “Elf” as their favorite Christmas movie, which could be because they identify with Buddy’s struggle to adapt to being in a new country with different holiday customs.

Or it could be something simpler.

“Will Ferrell is a funny actor,” Sulskis said by way of explanation.

Dimitrov will spend Christmas in Youngstown for the first time after spending the past few years in Sallisaw, Okla., where she attended junior college. As a Greek Orthodox, Dimitrov celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7, since her denomination follows the Julian calendar. New Year’s Eve is also a big deal.

“Since I’m in America, I don’t have a problem celebrating American Christmas, too,” she said, laughing. “Now I get two.”

Dimitrov didn’t move to America until four years ago and was surprised to discover things like Christmas trees and Christmas music, two things Serbia doesn’t have that she’s learned to enjoy. (Serbia does have snow, although it’s a little warmer than here.)

“Now when we’re all singing those Christmas songs, I start feeling like it’s Christmas and it’s kind of cool and different,” she said.

Santa Claus usually gives presents on New Year’s Day, although, as Dimitrov said, “Santa Claus is not so generous in Serbia. I was really happy when I got a few things, like a new basketball or basketball shoes.”

While it’s difficult to spend Christmas away from home, Dimitrov will still be able to see them thanks to Skype, the online video telephone service.

“I miss them very much,” she said. “Even though I won’t be there, I will kind of see them and not see them. I’m thankful for that.”