Merry Christmas in Czech. New Year traditions in the Czech Republic: how to celebrate and what to give
For Christmas - in Czech Vánoce - in the Czech Republic they begin to prepare long before December 25th. On the day of St. Andrew, November 30, Prague and thirteen Czech regions are immersed in the magical atmosphere of Advent, waiting for the Messiah. On the streets of cities here and there in large flower pots Christmas trees “grow” with the stars of Bethlehem on their tops, bunches of evergreen mistletoe miraculously appear on the front doors of houses, colored garlands are lit in the windows. In the heart of old Prague, on the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares, souvenir sellers set up their stalls, and the wind carries the alluring aromas of punch, mulled wine, grog, roasted chestnuts and boiled corn through all the nooks and crannies.
On December 4, on the day of St. Barbara, Czechs cut branches from cherry trees - barbors - and put them in the water. Barborkas should bloom by Christmas, which means they should bring good luck. The day on which the first greenery appears on the frozen branches will symbolize the most successful month in the coming year. According to an old tradition, three weeks before Christmas, Czech housewives start baking festive gingerbread cookies (Zázvorky) and vanilla cones (Vanilkové rohlíčky). Today this custom is rarely followed, with cookies being baked at most three or four days before the great feast.
On December 6, on the day of St. Nicholas - Mikulas - the first children's party. Old man Mikulash, with a long gray beard and a staff reminiscent of Russian Santa Claus, walks the streets with a large box of gifts in the company of a devil and an angel and is interested in the behavior of local children. Sweet gifts - sweets (bonbóny), gingerbread (perníčky), nuts (ořechy) - go to diligent and well-mannered children, as well as those who cheer Mikulas with a kind poem or a cheerful song. On Třebíč Square in Karlovy Vary, on this day, traditional fun is held in honor of Mikulas: the city's residents light up Christmas trees and sing carols.
Czechs spend almost a whole week in pre-Christmas fun, and on December 13, on the day of St. Lucy, the protector from witchcraft and charms, young Czechs put on white hoodies, whiten their faces with powder and go out into the street in search of carefree passers-by who can get hold of money or sweets.
A week before Christmas, fishmongers appear on the streets of the Czech Republic and strings of traditional Czechs line up in front of large tubs of water. In these tubs, selected carps are splashing, which were grown in special ponds throughout the year. It is believed that there should not be a single piece of meat on the Czech Christmas table, the traditional Christmas dish of Czech cuisine is fried carp (smažený kapr) with a side dish of potato salad (bramborový salát).
Christmas Eve on December 24 in the Czech Republic is called Generous Evening. On this day, it is also called Bear Christmas, it is customary to feed bears with sweets. For example, residents of the town of Český Krumlov feed the bears that live in the moat.
With the appearance of the first star in the sky in Czech houses, they sit down at the table. One of the good signs of this evening is an even number of guests and the number of dishes prepared is nine. On the Christmas table, you can almost always see Czech pies (koláč), pancakes (lívance), stuffed flour balls (knedlíky), lentil soup. The traditional Czech Christmas alcoholic drink is Becherovka, a herbal liqueur made according to an old Czech recipe. In Karlovy Vary there is a whole museum of Becherovka, visiting which you can learn the history of the drink, the subtleties of its preparation and even taste it. As for Christmas beer, it is brewed in the Czech Republic in limited quantities and sold in bars only as a draft. In Russia, Czech Christmas beer (Pražečka Christmas) can be found in large supermarkets.
For dessert in the Czech Republic, a traditional Christmas cake (vánočka) with almonds and raisins, waffles (oplatky) with honey, cakes (vánoční dortíky), gingerbread and tiny cookies with a diameter of 2-3 cm (cukroví) are served. On Christmas Eve in Czech stores you can buy more than twenty types of this delicacy, sold in large colorful boxes by weight and by the piece.
On Christmas night in the Czech Republic, three masses are celebrated, which are a symbol of the birth of Christ in the bosom of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and in the soul of every believer. At the time of worship, the Czech streets are empty. The Basilica of St. George in Prague, the Bethlehem Chapel, the Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious are filled with Czechs of all ages. Everywhere - both in houses and on the streets of cities, you can see the so-called Betlems, models of a manger with figures of a born savior and the Virgin Mary, surrounded by shepherds and angels, donkeys, camels and other animals. Once upon a time, each Czech family she made her own model of a manger out of wood, straw, paper and clay. Today, more and more professional artists are engaged in the manufacture of Bethlems, exhibiting their works in churches and on city squares. Such exhibitions are akin to puppet theatrical performances that tell about the main miracle of Christmas - smart puppets move and sing, and in some places you can see live donkeys and ponies decorously carrying happy children along the winter sidewalks. In the Czech Republic, a whole cult of the baby Jesus has been created - here he is affectionately called Ezhishka (Ezulatko), depicted as a festively dressed ruddy doll. The Jezulatka Museum in Prague displays dresses made for the baby Jesus by queens and princesses from all over the world.
On the first day of Christmas, December 25, on the embankments of the Vltava - on this river are the cities of Cesky Krumlov, Ceské Budějovice, Prague - people come with aquariums, buckets, pots and bags filled with water. This tradition appeared relatively recently, but every year more and more kind-hearted Czechs bring carps to the river, which should have been a Christmas dinner. The fish that have spent Christmas evening in bathtubs and basins on tables and have already received names are solemnly released into the cold waters of the river.
The Czech Christmas tale does not end there. On December 26, on the day of St. Stepan, it is customary for Czechs to inspect betlems and carol; on the day of John the Evangelist, on December 27, a rite of purification of wine takes place, and on December 31, along with the New Year in the Czech Republic, the day of St. Sylvester comes, on which it is customary to visit relatives and give gifts.
Cheerful uproar on the streets of Prague and thirteen Czech regions does not stop for a minute. The lights are still burning in the windows of the houses, the bouquets of mistletoe on the front doors glisten with gold wrapping paper, spruces, firs and pines growing in huge flower pots still look just as fresh and fabulous, and over the roofs of red brick covered with white snow, the wind blows new force spreads alluring smells of fried sausages and glazed gingerbread, aromas of punch, grog and mulled wine.
Recipes
Christmas punch
Ingredients:
200 ml rum 
100 g raisins
½ l strong black tea
½ l red wine
a few slices of lemon
2 pieces whole cinnamon
4 things. dried cloves
Cooking:
Soak raisins for a few hours in rum. Then bring the mixed tea, red wine, lemon slices, cinnamon pieces and dried cloves to a boil. Pour rum with raisins soaked in it into thick glass glasses, pour a slightly cooled drink of tea and wine on top, after removing the spices.
Christmas gingerbread cookies
Ingredients:
225 g flour 
90 g butter
90 g sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp ground ginger
ground cinnamon, cloves on the tip of a knife
1 sachet of baking powder or 1 tsp. soda slaked in vinegar
Cooking:
Whisk softened butter with sugar. Beat the egg separately, add ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, whipped butter with sugar, baking powder or soda slaked in vinegar, flour. Knead the dough and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Place the chilled dough on a floured work surface and roll out to 3mm thick. Using various molds, cut out cookies, put them on a baking sheet, the bottom of which is pre-covered with baking paper, and put in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Vanilla crescents (horns)
Ingredients:
280 g flour
200 butter
80 g powdered sugar
vanilla sugar
100 g ground walnuts
Cooking:
Sift flour, vanilla sugar and powdered sugar, ground walnuts in a deep bowl. Gradually stir in softened butter, knead the dough, wrap it in food foil and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes. From the cooled dough, form small crescent-shaped bagels, put on a baking sheet, the bottom of which is pre-lined with baking paper, and bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees until the bagels are browned. Sprinkle the finished cookies with powdered sugar.
Christmas gingerbread
Ingredients:
650 g flour
250 g powdered sugar
50 g melted butter
100 g liquid honey
3 eggs
1 tsp cocoa
1 tsp salt
2 tsp a mixture of ground cloves, allspice, cinnamon and a pinch of ginger
For glaze:
150 g powdered sugar
1 protein
1 tsp starch
A few drops lemon juice
Cooking: 
Mix melted butter with honey, add eggs, cocoa, salt, seasoning mixture to the cooled mixture. Sift flour and icing sugar on the board, add the previously obtained mixture, knead the dough and leave under the film for 24 hours. The next day, roll out a 0.5 cm thick layer of dough and cut out gingerbread cookies using various molds. If the dough seems too tight to you, hold it for a while in a water bath. Spread the gingerbread on a greased baking sheet and bake until cooked at a temperature of 160-190 degrees.
Decorate the cooled gingerbread with icing made from powdered sugar, whipped with protein, lemon juice and starch.
Christmas carp baked in the oven with sage
Ingredients:
1 carp
120 g butter
125 g cream
Cooking: 
Gut and clean the fish from scales, divide the carcass into two parts, pepper, salt and sprinkle with sage. Melt 80 g of butter on a baking sheet, put the carp, pour the remaining melted butter on top of the fish. Bake fish in the oven high temperature, periodically watering the carp with fish broth or water. Put the finished fish on a dish and cover with a lid. Mix the juice left after cooking the fish with cream, bring to a boil and pour over the carp.
Brambor (potato) salad
Ingredients:
300 g potatoes
juice and zest of 1 lime
50 ml olive oil
10 g fresh grated ginger
green onion
ground white pepper
Cooking:
Peel potatoes, cut into 1cm cubes and boil in salted boiling water. Rinse cooked potatoes cold water and transfer to a bowl. For dressing, combine lime zest and juice, ginger, finely chopped green onion, ground white pepper and olive oil. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and refrigerate. The salad can be served with sour cream with chopped mint.
Lebanese (pancakes)
Ingredients:
½ l warm milk
500 g flour
2 eggs
30 g yeast
60 g sugar
10 g lemon peel
100 g marmalade 
80 g cottage cheese
salt
Cooking:
Prepare yeast dough in the sponge method with yeast, sugar, milk, flour, a pinch of salt, lemon zest and eggs.
Lubricate the pan with melted fat and fry small pancakes on it until golden color. Lubricate the finished pancakes with marmalade, sprinkle with cottage cheese. Lebanese can be served with sour cream or whipped cream.
Fruit dumplings
Ingredients:
250 g cottage cheese
1 egg
2 tbsp decoys
ground crackers 
pieces of any fruit or dried apricots
cinnamon
powdered sugar
vanilla sugar
melted butter
Cooking:
Knead the dough from cottage cheese, eggs, semolina and 1 tbsp. ground crackers. Form cakes with a diameter of 5 cm and 0.5 cm thick, put pieces of fresh fruit or dried apricots in the center of the cakes, sprinkle with cinnamon and close the cakes well, giving them the shape of balls with stuffing inside. Boil dumplings in boiling salted water, sprinkle with toasted breadcrumbs, powdered sugar and vanilla sugar, pour melted butter.
Christmas tub
Ingredients:
1 kg flour 
¼ l milk
80 g yeast
200 g powdered sugar
2 eggs
250 g butter
vanilla sugar
zest of 1 lemon
almond
raisin
salt
Cooking:
To prepare a Christmas Vanochka, mix a dough of milk, yeast and a small amount of sugar. Mix flour, powdered sugar, vanilla sugar, grated lemon zest, a pinch of salt, 1 egg and softened butter. Add the resulting mixture, chopped almonds and raisins (to taste) to the finished dough, knead the dough and leave to rise for 3 hours. The dough must be “kneaded” twice and allowed to rise again. Weave the risen dough into braids, transfer to a greased baking sheet, brush with beaten egg, sprinkle with chopped almonds, pierce in several places with a wooden stick and let stand for another 15 minutes. Bake the pie for 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 175 degrees, then reduce the temperature to 150 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes. The readiness of the dough is determined by a wooden stick: pierce the dough in the “thickest” area and if the stick remains dry, the cake is ready.
Czechs know a lot about holidays and fun. A common misconception that the Czech Republic is a country of exclusively ancient castles and ancient traditions is confusing. Undoubtedly, the Czech Republic has a rich historical heritage and there are indeed many echoes of the Middle Ages in this country. But this does not prevent the Czech Republic from arranging grandiose festivities.
New Year- one of the largest holidays in the republic. On the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares, music thunders all night, local and visiting groups dance, Czechs, together with the guests of the capital, drink champagne and mulled wine under the Orla chimes. On the Charles Bridge, people make wishes and admire the most beautiful and large-scale fireworks in Europe. Restaurant ships twinkle with lights on the Vltava. Christmas story continues until morning.
New Year in the Czech Republic is celebrated only on December 31st. On January 1, Czechs celebrate another holiday - the Day of the Restoration of Independence.It would be surprising if the old New Year traditions were not preserved in the Czech Republic. After all, even New Year's Eve in the republic is called "Sylvester" in honor of the old legend about the Pope Saint Sylvester. For the New Year in the Czech Republic, it has long been customary to give gifts and send greeting cards. IN new year's eve Czechs did not work, but rested with their families. Since that time, almost nothing has changed: on the eve of Sylvester, the Czechs do not work, give each other gifts and have fun with family and friends. A charming tradition with postcards has also been preserved. Only now it has acquired a more modern look and now pictures of congratulations are sent electronically.
In the Czech Republic, however, as well as around the world, the New Year is celebrated with fireworks, dances, songs and endless delicacies. Another specifically Czech old tradition, which has come down to us - lentils or soup with small cereals on the table on New Year's Eve. It is believed that so next year there will be a lot of money. If you are a fan of real fun, beautiful scenery, hearty food and a warm atmosphere, then celebrating the New Year in the Czech Republic is one of the best options.
New Year traditions
We have already found out that the Czechs are great connoisseurs of fun and large-scale holidays, and they are also crazy about all sorts of old legends and customs. Now let's find out what New Year's traditions are present in the modern life of the Czechs. So what do the Czechs do for the New Year:
- Decorating the Christmas tree. On the central streets of the cities of the republic, Christmas trees are put up at the beginning of winter. But in houses, Christmas trees are always decorated on December 24: for Christmas, but Christmas trees remain symbols for the New Year. Many Czechs put a nativity scene (betlémek) under the Christmas tree - a set of figurines depicting biblical scenes - they symbolize the birth of Christ. As a rule, nativity scenes are made of wood. Some are made of paper and painted by hand.
Nativity scene - figurines depicting biblical scenes. They are placed under the tree.
The first nativity scene in the country appeared in 1560 in the Church of St. Clement in Prague.- Collect more money in the New Year. Filling all the pockets of clothes with money on the eve of the holiday is an interesting and slightly strange custom. Thus, the Czechs "call" a comfortable life for the next year.
- Don't meet Santa Claus! Instead of Santa Claus, other characters similar to him come to the Czechs. Saint Mikulas visits children on December 5 together with the devil and the angel. The guys tell Mikulash about how they behaved this year. If the child was obedient, the angel gives him a gift, and if he behaved badly, the devil punishes him with a bag of coal and ash. Also in the Czech Republic, the baby Christ comes to children and leaves gifts for them under the tree. And the kids never see him.
Mikulas, the Devil and the Angel are traditional characters for Christmas in the Czech Republic.
According to ancient legends, Saint Mikulas was a bishop in Turkey. He was the patron and keeper of children, as well as sailors and ferrymen. Mikulash died on December 6, 350.- Send postcards. Postcards are an immortal tradition that Czechs have been following for centuries. On New Year's Eve (or a few days before the holiday), locals send each other postcards with beautiful or funny pictures, joint photos And good wishes. Often in such postcards, Czechs combine Christmas and New Year wishes.
- Celebrating the New Year in the mountains. Not so long ago in the Czech Republic it became extremely popular to celebrate the New Year in the mountains. Families and groups of friends rent a house there for 3-4 days. New Year holidays Czechs and guests of the country fell in love with the mountains because of the magnificent landscapes and many entertainments. What is worth only one snowboarding or skiing! In addition, ski resorts offer a fun New Year's program.
- Believe in lucky number. 9 is considered a lucky number for the New Year in the Czech Republic. That is why the Czechs try to cook 9 festive dishes and gather 9 guests at the table
- Watching TV. Surprisingly, the Czechs, just like us, love to watch Alexander Row's fairy tale "Morozko" on New Year's Eve. But the president's congratulations are broadcast only at noon on January 1.
- Eating traditional sweets. Traditional New Year's sweets in the Czech Republic - gingerbread, buns and vanilla cones. Not a single family can do without these delicacies, but they all bake them according to their own recipe.
Gingerbread is a must for New Year's Eve in the Czech Republic
- Celebrate with a big group. If earlier most Czechs celebrated the New Year in family circle, now it is customary to celebrate in a large company. It can be relatives, friends, colleagues and just strangers on the main square of the city.
- Prepare for festive table special dishes. On New Year's Eve, there must be carp and lentils on the table, symbolizing happiness and good luck. Selling carps is another well-established custom. Karpov in the Czech Republic start selling a few days before Christmas. Despite the fact that carp is considered a Christmas dish, they are sold on the streets and in shops almost until the New Year. It is also customary to serve pork dishes on New Year's Eve. But Czechs do not eat chicken, duck or turkey for the New Year.
Lentil soup is a New Year dish in the Czech Republic. Lentils symbolize prosperity, happiness and good luck.
Gifts for the New Year: what and where to buy
At the Czech Christmas and New Year's markets you can find a wide variety of souvenirs and gifts. In addition, Czech presentations will cost quite a budget. So, what can you buy at the New Year's fairs in the Czech Republic:
- Famous Czech Christmas decorations real blown glass. In assortment great amount bright and extraordinary glass figurines in the form of people, animals, flowers and fairy-tale characters.
- Christmas decorations made of glass beads (small glass beads). It was in the Czech Republic that such Christmas decorations first appeared in the city of Ponikla in the 19th century.
Blown glass balloons - thin handmade real master.
The old tradition has been preserved to this day and Ratius has become its successor. The company tries to adhere to a unique technology for making jewelry. Now Ratius Christmas decorations are popular all over the world.
- Candlestick houses are another charming Christmas decoration. Handicrafts are made of red clay in the form of miniature Czech houses. There is a candle inside the souvenirs, and aromatic oil can be poured into the chimney of the house. Thus, you get a full-fledged aroma lamp. If you want to please and pleasantly surprise your loved ones, then such a house is a great option.
- Puppets are also traditional Czech toys. They are handmade and sold in souvenir shops, toy stores and street fairs.
House-candlestick - a traditional gift for the New Year in the Czech Republic.
If you don’t have much time for shopping and you don’t want to linger at fairs, we recommend visiting the most popular shopping centers in the capital:
- "Palladium" - a huge shopping center is located on Republic Square. This shopping center has more than 100 stores with a variety of gift items, Christmas decorations glass and traditional souvenirs.
- Obchodní dům Kotva is a small but cozy shopping center right in front of Palladium. Here are several fashion stores with clothes and shoes, as well as many small souvenir shops.
- Nový Smíchov is a popular shopping center, which is located near the historical part of the city (address: Plzeňská 8, 150 00 Praha 5-Anděl). Here you will find a large assortment of gifts made of glass, crystal, wood.
Palladium and Kotva are located close to each other in the center of Prague. Near them there are other supermarkets and shops where you can choose gifts. And it is worth buying gifts during Christmas and New Year. Moreover, they are held not only in shopping centers, but also in individual branded stores.
Now you know that:
- The Czech Republic is famous not only for its rich historical heritage, but also for large-scale and fun festivities.
- Czechs still adhere to many old New Year traditions. For example, they send each other postcards.
- Santa Claus does not come to the Czechs.
- New Year in the Czech Republic is usually celebrated in a big company, unlike family holiday- Christmas.
- From the Czech Republic, you can bring interesting and unique gifts for the New Year (behm glass toys, candlestick houses).
- Buy Christmas gifts and presentations in the Czech Republic can be at street fairs or in shopping centers.
New Year's mood and gifts that you have always dreamed of!
New Year - Elena Patlatia and Monika Chevelova in the studio. The topic of today's lesson is New Year - New rock
Monica, Russia recently celebrated the old New Year, let's try to figure out the calendar - calendar.
Lena, you will probably be surprised, but initially the New Year was celebrated on March 1st - 1. brezna On this day, the Roman consuls took office.
Where did the first of January come from then?
In 153 BC the consuls took office on the 1st of January - 1. ledna, and Gaius Julius Caesar adopted the first of January as the beginning of the calendar. The so-called Julian calendar - juliansky calendar- acted until 1582, after which the pope - papez Gregory 13 reformed it, and the Gregorian calendar appeared - gregorianský calendar.
However, not everyone accepted the Gregorian calendar.
Yes, for example, the Orthodox Church - pravoslavna circev The Julian calendar was never abandoned. In principle, we can say that in the Middle Ages the New Year was celebrated in different countries in different days. For example, in France they adhered to the ancient Roman calendar - starorimsky calendar and celebrated the New Year on March 1st. In other countries, March 19 was considered the beginning of the year, according to estimates, this is the day of the creation of the world - stvoreni sveta. In the Czech Republic, even before the 17th century, the New Year was celebrated on December 25 - based on the winter solstice - zimni slunovrat. Only in the 17th century the beginning of the secular year was established - občansky rok on January 1st.
Monica, but there is something mystical about saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year.
That's right, some stories can only take place on New Year's Eve, remember?
In connection with the mysticism of the end and beginning of the year, there are many superstitions - povera. People, for example, believe that how they celebrate the new year is how they will spend the whole year. This is reflected in the Czech proverb Jak na Nový rok, tak po celý rok- As for the New Year, so for the whole year. Therefore, people tried to avoid quarrels hadka and carried money in their pockets. If as the first guest - host a child came to the house - ditE or a young woman mlada žena or a man muž, then in this house there will be happiness all year. However, the old woman stara žena brought bad luck into the house - smula.
Monika, we didn't talk about how the New Year is celebrated in the Czech Republic.
děda Mraz we do not have. However, the Russian "Morozko" - "Mrazik" still visits Czech houses, as the Russian fairy tale "Morozko" is very popular in the Czech Republic, which is usually shown on television on December 31 or January 1st.
New rock unlike Christmas, it is not a family holiday, it is a holiday of fun. At midnight - about pulnoci champagne flows everywhere sampanské, people throw confetti at each other - confetti, explosions of firecrackers are heard - petardy, and in all corners of the Czech Republic there are huge fireworks - ohňostroj.
In Czech, Christmas is called Vanoce. The Czechs have been preparing for it since December 4 - the day of St. Barbara. Many people put branches of cherry trees in the water, as a kind of divination. If the branch turns green by Christmas, all plans for the new year will certainly come true.
December 6, on the day of St. Nicholas, mummers walk around Prague: the Bishop in a tiara with a staff, Mikulas, an Angel and the Devil. They ask the children if they behaved well, and then treat them with sweets.
In a couple of weeks, Christmas covers all of Prague. Everywhere there are Christmas concerts, sales, festivities. And even on the quietest outskirts you can see posters "Vesele Vanoce!" ("Merry Christmas!"). Owners of shops and restaurants consider it their duty to decorate the doors of establishments with a Christmas tree. Betlems appear, images of the Bethlehem manger where Jesus was born.
On the squares of Prague, in churches and even in the windows of houses, compositions with a baby, Mary, and the Magi appear. The townspeople do their best, the figurines are made of wood, straw, gingerbread and paper. The biggest betlem is placed on the Old Town Square. Reality is given by live sheep. And if in Italy the figurine of the Christ Child appears in the manger only after Christmas midnight, then the Czechs put the baby right away.
The Old Town and Wenceslas Square turn into huge holiday bazaars for Christmas. Rows with souvenirs appear: candles, ceramic toys, copper bells, wooden dolls and musical Santa Clauses, jester's hats.
Almost all souvenirs are Chinese, except for candlesticks, which are forged immediately at the customer's place.
Bohemian crystal, beer mugs, plates, cups with views of the city, author's photographs and paintings, T-shirts, puppets and puppets are brought from Prague as souvenirs. wooden Toys. All this can be found and bought in the area of st. Celetna and the Golden Cross in the Old Town, where there is a whole pedestrian zone with shops, boutiques, stalls and benches.
New Year's sales start earlier every year, already in October you can see the "sleva" signs. By the way, be careful with your money, they say Prague is a paradise for pickpockets. In the metro you can see posters: under the photo with a mountain of wallets there is an inscription: “Thank you for our rich Christmas!” signed: "Union of Pickpockets of the Czech Republic".
The smell of mulled wine hovers on the streets of Prague these days. Grog, mulled wine and punch are sold throughout the city.
The main Czech Christmas tradition. A few days before December 24, vats appear on Prague streets and crossroads, in which “carps” splash - large fish up to 1 m long
America has turkey. In Russia - Olivier salad. A in the Czech Republic, Christmas is unimaginable without… fish. Every family is sure to prepare Christmas carp for the table. They are grown in special ponds, and then sold alive in aquariums and tubs in stores, at Christmas markets and just on the streets.
Main course
Many buy carp a couple of days before the holiday and let the temporary pet splash in the bath. There are thousands of recipes for cooking carp, from simple frying to marinating in beer.
Czech fried carp for Christmas is the same tradition as our Olivier for the New Year. I ate a river carp on Christmas evening - you can be calm: well-being will be with you all year. They say that fish bones should not be thrown away, but buried in your garden to preserve well-being. To make money, you need to put the scales of the eaten carp in your wallet.
In parallel with the tradition of eating carp, there is another one: after the holiday, unharmed fish can be peacefully and solemnly released into the river. However, the idea of eating carp is incomparably more popular.
The Czech Republic is not the only country where carps are eaten at Christmas. This custom is also in Germany, Austria, Slovakia. But such a fish boom is nowhere else to be found, besides, the Czech carp has become a kind of quality mark for neighboring states, where the Czechs export fish.
According to Christian tradition, you can sit down at the table no earlier than the first star appears in the sky. Until that time, only sauerkraut soup can be eaten. If everything is done correctly, then in the evening you can see the mysterious golden pig ( zlate prasatko).
On Christmas Eve or "Generous Evening" everyone gathers as a family at a large table. "Karpa" is eaten with potato salad, on the table there are always fried chestnuts, sausages in sauce, bread with raisins woven from nine strips, painted gingerbread, dumplings, nut "hornet nests". They sit down at the table with the first star, because whoever fasted before Christmas, a golden pig will come to him and bring doubly happiness.
Alcohol is not allowed on Christmas Eve. The number of people at the table during dinner must be even.
You can’t get up from the table before the end of the meal: according to legend, the first person to get up after Christmas dinner is the first person present to die. That is why everyone had to rise at the same time.
And if you sit at the table with your back to the door or with your shoelaces tied, this is guaranteed to lead thieves into the house.
The Christmas feast is full of old signs. For example, an even number of guests should be present at the table, in extreme cases, an empty plate with cutlery should be placed.
For good luck, a carp scale is placed under each plate, sometimes a small coin is added to it. It happens that the scales are hidden in a wallet and carried with them all year round. During a gala dinner, it is considered bad luck to get up from the table, the hostess should have everything at hand.
Young people who want to get married next year should sit on a corner during a solemn feast, and a girl, in order to get married, needs to cut a piece of butter from a new briquette during a festive dinner, then she will get a husband with a peaceful character.
If, during the Christmas treat, one of the guests suddenly rang in the ear, it means that they will talk well about that person throughout the year. When you go to a friend's house for Christmas dinner, don't go back for a forgotten walking stick or shoes, otherwise you will have to fail all year.
On December 24, before sitting down to the table, in Prague it is customary to go with children to the banks of the Vltava, where sellers are already waiting for them. They also sell live carps, but not for the fish to be eaten. Here the tradition was born to release the purchase into the river. Children especially like this entertainment. Maybe that's why the Czechs call Christmas Eve the Generous Day.
To stay healthy all next year, on the morning of December 24, you need to wash yourself in a cold stream.
On the same day, on Christmas Eve in the Czech Republic - Bear Christmas, Czechs traditionally feed bears with sweets. Bears live in the fortress moat in Cesky Krumlov.
And the next day, according to tradition, a goose is baked and various cookies are baked. Its baking becomes a whole ritual in which all households take part.
On December 25, exactly at midnight, the Orloi clock opens on the tower of the town hall. With the crow of a mechanical rooster, the bells of Prague churches beat. Three masses are held on Christmas: a symbol of the birth of Christ in the bosom of the Father, in the womb of the Mother of God and the soul of believers. Most of the people in the Basilica of St. George, Church of the Virgin Mary the Victorious, Bethlehem Chapel. A place in the church should be taken in advance, the sculpture “Ezulatko”, or the Infant Jesus, is kept here.
December 26 in the Czech Republic is called St. Stepana, the day of revelry caroling. There is a funny custom, on this day negligent men are chased out of the house. Previously, they were really put out of the house, but now they just put a bundle next to the bed as a hint.
On December 27, the day of John the Evangelist, in the Czech Republic, according to tradition, a rite of purification of wine takes place.
After the ringing of bells, Prague plunges into silence! From December 24, many companies do not work, everything stops working at lunchtime - clubs, museums, restaurants and supermarkets, and around 18:00 city transport operates in standby mode. After that, on the street you can meet only policemen, tourists and taxis who came to Prague for a Christmas fairy tale.
Life goes back to normal on December 27, with the opening of shops, transport also begins to run. Closer to the New Year, there are more visitors to the city than citizens; the locals leave Prague for the Christmas week.
The Czech Republic preserves nature even at Christmas. Fluffy Christmas trees, miniature pines and even royal firs are sold here exclusively in pots. Trees in decorated vessels are placed all over Prague: in squares, at the entrances to hotels, shops, restaurants and near every entrance.
The Czech Republic is the only country in the world where at Christmas you can not only eat, but also “listen to Fish”. In this case, Jakub Jan Ryba is a famous Czech composer, author of the Christmas Mass.
Fortune-telling is inextricably linked with the Czech Christmas holidays. On Christmas Eve, the owner put a glass under the table and poured some water into it, if the water decreased after dinner, it means that next year it would be dry, and if there was more water, they believed that the year would be rainy.
The harvest was predicted by the stars. If on Christmas Eve the sky was dotted with stars, then this meant that the chickens would lay many eggs, and the harvest would be rich.
A Czech girl on Christmas Eve ate an apple, standing on the threshold of her house, and if a man walked past the house first, this meant that she would get married in the New Year. In addition, the girl threw a shoe over her head to the door: if the toe of the shoe pointed to the door, then this year she would get married.
Often fate was predicted from dreams at Christmas. For example, a girl before going to bed, lying in bed, had to hold her hand over her head, as if she was sowing, and say: “I sow, I sow flax, come, my dear, here, before broad daylight.” In which direction the girl sowed, she had to turn in that direction. Whoever appears in a dream will become a husband.
A person who does not eat the whole Generous Day may see a golden pig in the evening (you see, from hunger), which will mark a happy and profitable next year!
And what else?
Usually served with carp potato salad or potatoes fried with garlic and sometimes with mushrooms. Some families also like to serve fish soup. Dinner ends dessert, however, not necessarily traditionally Czech, it can be apple strudel.
Czech bread vanocka once also considered exclusively for Christmas, but has become so popular that it can be bought at any time of the year. However, this does not prevent you from treating yourself to them on a holiday.
Christmas for Czechs, like for most Europeans, is a quiet and family holiday. On a festive night, children receive gifts, but not from Santa Claus or the pagan brothers of Santa Claus, but directly from baby Jesus ( Jezišek).
Unlike other Christmas entities, he does not have any external special signs, but it is known that he enters the house through the window, and you can write letters to him, like all other colleagues. On the last day, it was once customary to sing caroli and share food with the poor, but now on Christmas days the towns freeze, everyone spends time with relatives and friends, and it is probably more correct to consider this day as another refectory in the festive series.
Prague is a city that is beautiful in its own way at any time of the year. But only winter will make you feel like a hero of a real fairy tale.
