The Czech Christmas tradition is itself inseparably associated with the Christian tradition and pagan rituals, ancient local customs and the influence of other countries. Hear are some of the most common Christmas and Advent traditions followed in the Czech Republic.
Advent wreathOne of the most common symbols of the pre-Christmas period is the Advent wreath. It is generally made by tying together evergreen branches, which are then decorated with ribbons, pinecones and other trinkets. Around the wreath are placed four candles, each representing one of the four weeks of the Advent period. In this way, Christians await the coming of their Savior. This year, the first day of Advent is December 2. Every Sunday a new candle is lit, so that by the end of Advent all four candles are burning. For Christians, this light is a symbol of the coming of Jesus Christ; however the tradition is also kept by those who are simply looking forward to Christmas.
Advent calendars
Children impatient for the coming of Christmas are generally given an advent calendar to count off the days to the most anticipated day of the year. Every day one of 24 small windows is opened, behind which children find a small reward, usually a piece of chocolate. Advent calendars are traditionally opened on December 1st, but not always. The Advent period begins on fourth Sundays before Christmas Eve Day.
Barborky
Unmarried women might be interested in the tradition associated with the feast day of St. Barbora. According to tradition, on this day a young woman cuts off a twig from a cherry tree and puts it in water. If it blooms by Christmas Eve, the girl will marry within a year.
St. Nicholas, the angel and the devil
The feast of St. Nicholas (or sv. Mikuláše) is enthusiastically celebrated in the Czech Republic. On the eve of the feast day, December 5th, St. Nicholas comes to visit children with both a devil and an angel to accompany him.
Cookies and Christmas cake
Czech Christmas is certainly the sweetest time of year. Bakers literally try to out do each other with vanilla roles, gingerbread, snow kisses and dozens of other types of Christmas cookies. Family recipes are passed down through generations, so its no wonder that these Christmas goodies are not only lovely to look at but also melt in one’s mouth.
An essential element of the holiday table is vánočka, a sweet bread of braided dough, which is decorated with raisins and almonds.
Nativity scenes
Recreating the biblical scene of the manger at Bethlehem where the baby Jesus was born on a bed of straw is one of the oldest Czech traditions. Throughout the republic, the nativity scene is created in varying sizes and from various materials: using wood, paper, ceramics as well as gingerbread and even butter. In the center of the nativity scene is the baby Jesus in his crèche, surrounded by the Virgin Mary and St. Josef. Above the manger floats an angel carrying a ribbon with the words “Glory to God in the Highest”. Other characters in the scene include the shepherds and their flock of sheep, to whom the birth was foretold, as well as the three wise men bearing gifts. Some people personalize their nativity scenes by adding characters, buildings and trees from their own surroundings.
The world’s largest mechanical nativity scene, called the Krýzovy Nativity scene is in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is made up of more than 13 sets figures, more than 130 of which are mobile. The scene is made of wood, fabric and leather materials. Townsman Tomáš Krýza (1838 - 1918) worked on the nativity scene for more than sixty years. It is now housed at the museum at Jindřichův Hradec. Another exceptional treasure is the Baroque-styled natural nativity scene by Matyáš Bernard Braun, which was created from 1723 to 1733. It is made up of a group of reliefs set out from a cliff wall and statues made from enormous stone blocks. The work’s central scene is a collection is called a nativity scene. The sculptures are scattered around the countryside around Kuks.
The Christmas tree
It is almost impossible to imagine Christmas without a Christmas tree, despite the fact that this tradition is relatively new to the Czech lands. Christmas trees were originally put up in the homes of burghers and aristocrats at the beginning of the 19th century. Later, the practice became common in the second half of the century. In the countryside, the custom came from hanging a tree top-down above the banquet table. Initially the tree was decorated with red apples, nuts and other decorations made from straw or sugar. In the 19th century it became common to use decorations made from glass. Pine is the tree most often used, but other evergreens are also used. The Christmas tree is decorated on either Christmas Eve Day (December 24th) or the day before. It is usually taken down at the feast of the Three Kings (January 6th). Since the 1920s, Christmas trees have been erected in public squares in Czech towns and cities. Today, the best known Christmas tree is on Prague’s Old Town Square.
Mistletoe
Another traditional “Christmas plant” is mistletoe. People most often hang its green or silver- and gold-painted twigs from chandeliers or in doorframes. The reason for this is that a man has the right to kiss any woman or girl he catches underneath the mistletoe. It is also said that “he who kisses beneath the mistletoe, will fall in love with the other” and their love will make the mistletoe eternally green. True or not, giving mistletoe as a gift is considered good luck and it is common to bring a sprig of mistletoe on a Christmas visit.
Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve (December 24th) families gather at home to decorate the Christmas tree and prepare dinner. Many people choose to fast until evening. Children impatient for their dinner are told that if they are able to wait until the evening meal, they will see a golden pig. After dark, when the first star emerges in the night sky, the family sits down to dinner together. Traditionally, Czechs enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner of fish soup and fried carp with potato salad. It is bad luck to get up from the table before everyone is finished. It is also considered unlucky to set the table for an odd number of guests.
Christmas carp
In the time leading up to Christmas, bulky tanks full of carp can be seen on the streets of all Czech towns and cities. Most of the fish are transported around the republic from the famous ponds in Southern Bohemia.
In most homes, carp, covered in flour, egg and breadcrumbs, is fried in oil. A traditional Christmas appetizer is carp cooked “blue” with vegetables and butter. A common tradition associated with the fish states that anyone who puts a scale under his or her dinner plate will have enough money in the upcoming year. Another similar tradition says that putting a fish scale in one’s wallet achieves the same result. Sometimes, the carp is given a reprieve and is returned to the pond by children on Christmas Eve Day.
Ježíšek
After Christmas Eve dinner, the moment all Czech children have been looking forward to the entire year arrives. The family gathers around the Christmas tree, under which is a collection of wrapped presents. According to tradition, these were put here silently by the Ježíšek, or little baby Jesus. In contrast to Santa Clause, the baby Jesus has no visual representation. Additionally, how he arrives in children’s homes is also a mystery. In Czech, Ježíšek is a diminutive form of Jesus Christ. Children send a letter to Ježíšek before Christmas, telling him what they would like to find underneath the Christmas tree. In the Czech lands, it was originally St. Nicholas who distributed the presents, but in the 19th century the German tradition of the little baby Jesus was adopted by the Czechs. Czech children take advantage of both traditions as presents are given by both Ježíšek or St. Nicholas.
Christmas Eve magic
From time immemorial, Christmas Eve has been a time when the line between the earthly and the celestial has been distorted. During this time it is possible to see into the future and even influence it. While the bits of magic associated with ensuring a plentiful harvest has been practically lost in modern times, there still exists a tradition associated with determining marriage, health and happiness.
After dinner on Christmas Eve, every person present at the table cuts an apple in half, crosswise, across the stem. Anyone whose apple core shows a five-pointed star is considered lucky and can expect health and happiness the next year. If the core has four points, its owner can expect illness. And if, instead of a five-pointed star, the core shows a cross, the owner should expect the worst. One’s fate can be helped by selecting a large, healthy-looking apple. A similar tradition is practiced using walnuts. The person who finds a healthy core in four walnuts can also expect to be healthy for the next year.
The pouring of lead
The most demanding, but very telling Czech Christmas tradition is the pouring lead. A piece of lead is melted over a flame our fire and is then immediately poured out into a plate of water. The shape that the lead forms while it hardens is thought to determine the fate of the person who poured it. Single women use this opportunity to deduce the face or initials of the person they are destined to marry. It is also possible to find an answer to a previously asked question in the shape of the lead.
Floating walnuts
A poetic custom, which enthralls both children and adults, involves making small boats out of walnut shells. Several walnuts are opened and their empty half-shells are filled with a small candle – this is best done with the help of dripping wax. Once the candle has been lit, the little boat is put into a large bowl or sink full of water. The journey the walnut takes is said to foretell the future of its owner. If the candle burns for a long time, its owner can expect a long and happy life. If the walnut boat in question stays close to the edge of the bowl, then its owner will stay at home.
Which way is the shoe pointing?
On Christmas Eve Day, an unmarried woman can foretell her future and find out whether she can expect to be married in the next year by throwing a shoe over her shoulder. If the shoe lands with the heel pointing to the door, she will remain at home. If on the other hand, the toe of the shoe is pointing to the door, indicating that she will be leaving her parents’ home, she can expect to be married.
The tradition of caroling has been practiced in the Czech lands since the Middle Ages and even up until recently has been a popular custom in the countryside. Carolers sing carols as they walk around a building. For their good wishes they receive something in return from those they are caroling. The main time to go out caroling is between Christmas Eve and the feast of the Three Kings (i.e. December 24 to January 6). The tradition of Christmas caroling is associated with the feast of St. Stephen on December 24. The carol of St. Stephen goes “What are you carrying in the jug? I am carrying, carrying a carol, I fell here on the ice, I also know children, who don’t go out caroling”.
New Year
It is often said that “how you spend New Year is how you’ll spend the rest of the year”. For that reason it is advisable to avoid all kinds of arguments as well as unpleasant work on New Year’s Day. For lunch, Czechs will often eat lentils or soup with small peas. According to tradition, by eating these foods, a person can ensure a good financial situation for the entire year. On the other hand, it is not recommended to serve rabbit or chicken on New Year’s Day, so as to be sure that one’s good luck doesn’t hop or fly away.
Three Kings
The January 6th sees boys dressed up as the three kings out caroling and wishing people well. The initials K+B+M are written in chalk above the entrance to people’s homes, signifying the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, or Christ bless this home. Many charitable collections are also taken up on this day. The feast of the Three Kings ends the Christmas season and marks the day when people take down their Christmas trees and put away their nativity scenes until next year.
Opinion poll
What would you appreciate most about the pages?
Did you know...
KALININGRAD
The Russian city of Kaliningrad (former Königsberg) on the Baltic seaside was established by Czech king Přemysl Otakar II as "Kralovec" during one of his campaigns.