Christmas in the Czech Republic is a time of food, festivity, and age-old superstitions. Though the country has a few customs similar to the ones in the United States, such as decorated trees, Christmas carols, and twinkly lights, there are many unique traditions as well.
For many people in the Czech Republic, December 24 is the most enjoyable day of the Christmas season. This day, known as “Generous Day,” is when Christmas dinner and gift giving takes place. Unlike the popular American tradition, these gifts do not come from Santa Clause but instead come from Baby Jesus, who comes into houses through the windows to leave presents for Czech children.
The most
unique thing about Christmas season in the Czech Republic is all of the customs
and superstitions that are employed to find out what the next year has in
store. Though many of these customs are no longer celebrated or acknowledged,
they are interesting elements of Czech folklore. There are many superstitions
surrounding Christmas dinner, some of which are:
- The table is set for an even number of guests, because an odd number brings bad luck or even death.
- The family can tie a rope around the legs of the dinner table to protect the house from thieves during the coming year.
- Everyone should get up from the table at the same time after dinner because the first person to leave the table will be the first one to die.
There are
also certain plants and foods that have special qualities and are an important
part of Czech Christmas celebrations. These include:
- Garlic – believed to provide strength and protection
- Honey – believed to guard against evil
- Mushrooms – give health and strength
The
foretelling of the future is a major part of Czech customs. This includes
foretelling marriage, and one of the customs calls for an unmarried woman to
throw a shoe over her shoulder towards the door.
If the shoe lands with the toe
pointing toward the door, the woman will marry within a year.
These are
just a few of the unique customs and superstitions surrounding Christmas in the
Czech Republic. Similar to other European countries, the Czech Republic also
has Christmas markets, one in Pilsen and one in the capital city of Prague.
These markets have food, wine, and gifts galore!
Christmas
time in the Czech Republic is full of fun, festivity, and superstition! Though
some of America’s customs are practiced there as well, there are many
traditions that make Czech Christmas one of a kind.
Source: www.myczechrepublic.com
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| Old Town Square Christmas Market in Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Carp is a traditional food served at Christmas dinner in the Czech Republic. Some people keep the carp in the bathtub several days before the dinner as a temporary pet for their children. |
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| A traditional Czech custom, little boats are made by each family member out of empty walnut shells and a burning candle is placed into each shell. The walnuts are then placed in a bowl of water and the ones that float across the length of the bowl mean the owner will have a long and healthy life. If your boat sinks then it will bring you bad luck. |
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