Czech Christmas Customs »
Posted By gamahuche 9 months, 3 weeks ago in FamilySome curious and unusual pagan customs pervade in the celebration of Christmas in one of the "new" European democracies with an old history.
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
Its a family event, simple in form, with modest presents, and a curious mix! The story describes what happens on the day, though no one family does ALL the things which are listed.
Some preparations - e.g. making the cookies - start early in December [sampling a few in anticipation is permitted!] and the celebratory cycle starts on the 5th December and runs through Advent.
The 5th is St Mikulas [Nicholas] Day and an impressive event! 3 Friends adopt the roles and costumes of the Saint, a devil and an angel and proceed around the neighbourhood enquiring about the behaviour of the children. [They announce their arrival at a house with a thunderous knocking and the devil is a very scary character!] The good children are rewarded with sweets, the bad ones with a spanking but this is omitted these days!!]
Though I'm not a practicing Christian, a special end to Christmas eve for me is ringing the Cathedral bells for Midnight Mass. I'll try especially hard today to make them audible to you!
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GHOSTWHOWALKS9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you and may you ring the bells as no other ever has.
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mcgrievysr9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks, G. Merry Christmas. Count me in for "pub night". I'll pass on the carp. :-)
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
Its true its on the eve of Christmas day but it IS the celebration. Tomorrow is nothing special at all. Some people will eat a simple barley dish.
Its in line with many Czech holidays which are celebrated the day before - its almost like people don't have faith that if they wait for the day it will actually happen - a way to forestall disappointment, if you like.
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canadianrancher579 months, 3 weeks ago
I always enjoy reading of others customs and celebrations, at first it would seem like it would be confusing but we all learn in time. In NOrth America it seems that Christmas is changing from when I was small I wonder if it is the same where you are.
Best wishes to you, your family and friends.
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
Consumerism engages many people - not surprisingly given the deprivations and drabness that existed for so long under Communism.
But in things like this people cling very firmly to tradition and I can't imagine it ever disappearing.
Favourite activities include picking mushrooms, which is akin to a spiritual practice and can only be achieved successfully with a quietened mind and something akin to an altered state of consciousness.
Friday night is pub night, when friends meet, often the same group of people for decades, drink a few beers and discuss.. In Communist times the pub was a safe haven - it was too noisy to be overheard by listening devices and the closed circle of friends usually guaranteed safety.
Thanks for the good wishes - warmly reciprocated!
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Spadecaller9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks Gama
"No lights should be lit in the house before the first star comes out. After it does, dinner is served." LOL
With all do respect, how is the food prepared in the dark?
The intricacies in observing the Czech Christmas Holiday are quite interesting to hear about; but I must admit I'm feeling especailly grateful for being Jewish in America especially at this moment. (no offense intended)
Nonetheless, I can appeciate some of the social closeness that your holiday can bring, as it does for many of us. It is also probably one of the most lonely times for some.
Regarding the mushrooms... & the "altered state of consciousness", do they contain hallucinogenic properties?
With that in mind, I can see you ringing the bells and having a most intense spiritual experience.
I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday.
When I hear the church bells tomorrow, I will be thinking of you grooving to the "good vibrations".
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you Spade!
Well it is possible to Jewish in Czech too, despite the efforts of a certain demented Austrian "cousin" with a silly little moustache.
As far as the preparation of the food is concerned it can all be done during the day. But this is not one of the precepts that my gf's family follow, nor do we cut the apples - by some versions of that story if the cut goes against you it indicates the imminent approach of death. Sounds a bit like golf!?
Re the mushrooms - we do have psilocybin mushrooms here and interesting historic tales of groups of young girls having psychedelic visions in one of the areas where they grow.
The mushroom cult is about edible mushrooms which grow in extraordinary profusion. I just saw a TV programme about the village where the biggest variety of mushrooms grows - this is prime-time stuff! - and they found there 31 varieties of boletus mushrooms alone! The woods are an "outdoor church" - only some 10% worship indoors.
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earthlingerer9 months, 3 weeks ago
Right now it's too cold for any good edible mushrooms to grow there, but the pilocybin mushrooms that grow native to Czech Rep. aren't nearly as strong as the ones in the US.
But now growing psilocybin mushrooms and using them (like cannabis) is legal in Czech Republic. You can get pretty much the best in the world there now, and as soon as the Dutch ban goes into effect, you will see the turn there in the manifestation of "Prague-sterdam", only on a country-wide scale, not concentrated in Prague.
BTW, not all Boletus are very good, or even good.
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greenmac9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks GAM... I wish you all the best this season and the coming year
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jordan119 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you for sharing this. I've saved it for my grandchildren. The best to you and yours this season, and in the coming year.
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HannibalBarca9 months, 3 weeks ago
Some very interesting customs, would like to hear how they started
Already sit facing the door, never have your back there
Like the extra plate idea
Not sure why tying the legs of your table up prevents thieves, must be a custom that came about before Christmas eve, when drinking was allowed
Happy Holidays my friend
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
The no-drinking rule is somewhat in abeyance these days too! But no huge drinking happens. A couple of glasses of wine or a couple of beers.
I like the extra plate!
But above all I like the golden pig and always fast till the proper time arrives in hopes of seeing him - and of course he mustn't be an intoxicated delusion!
Happy holidays to you and yours too, HB!
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
This is an odd one indeed! I woke up this morning thinking that this seems to offer an odd way to "create reality" [or destiny!] by ENSURING who enters the house first.. I picture a dozen poor guys shivering outside and hoping that a woman arrives soon because their hosts want a daughter!
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palamaComment removed: User banned.
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blinkers9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks gama, good idea to post this, despite your busy schedule -- you're posting from the home of "Good King Wenceslas" though, so it's not at all surprising that the Christmas spirit is upon you.
Have a fine time this festive season, and greetings to one and all!
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cowboygrandpa9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you gama.
That was an enlightening and interesting story. Sounds like the women folk are busy as all get out. Do the single women still throw their shoes over their shoulders at the door to see if they will get married?
Sounds like you have a wonderful time with the family and friends. You know I think I can ear those bells ringing now.
Enjoy and have a Very Merry Christmas and a Bountiful and Joyous New Year.
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lvrofwolves9 months, 3 weeks ago
Love reading about other countries Christmas customs, and that some people still follow them. It's very interesting, thanks for sharing Gamahuche :-)
I'll have to pass on the carp...maybe it's different in your country, but in America, carp is well.....
Please pass the apple strudel to me tho YUM!
The 5th is St Mikulas [Nicholas] Day, LOVE those traditions, especially in Austria where they have Krampus, with usually St Nick and a bunch of Krampus with their hairy costumes and giant goat horns and bells running around beating people with switches,they carry tourches,set off fire crackers, sometimes flame throwers, play special drums and horns marching around, scaring people...looks like a combo Christmas/Halloween
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQka-Y-Vy5g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZCkdSjEHBg
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
Carp in the US IS a problem. I was able to get it occasionally but usually the story was that it was too polluted and not for sale. Here the most part are farmed in huge man-made ponds which date from the 16th C - an amazing engineering feat of the time, around a town called Trebon on S. Bohemia. They are drained each year and the fish are kept in tanks to allow the mud to be removed. They are then transported to the rest of the country and sold on market squares, sometimes butchered on the spot, sometimes sold alive and brought home to the bath-tub - whence they sometimes escape ritual death because kids prevail on their parents to bring them back to a pond..
Time to run! Still have to decorate the tree at home and run up to family duties at the in-laws!
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Amazing19 months, 3 weeks ago
I thought this bit was interesting: "He who fasts all day until dinner will see the golden piglet on the wall."
What golden piglet?
Thank you very much for this. My father, an immigrant from Finland, always gave us an orange for Christmas. He said it was a sign of good fortune in the year to come. Therefore, we could always count on an orange in our Christmas stockings.
May you all be merry this season, and have plenty of love to spread around to all.
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Dionys9 months, 3 weeks ago
Nearly all the faith traditions are chock full of "pagan" symbolism, ritual, practice and mythology. It adds spice to an often othertimes bland meal.
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RussianThreats9 months, 3 weeks ago
Very enlightening, gamahuche! Thanks for the submission.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday to all!
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sumptuousdigs9 months, 3 weeks ago
Gamahuche, what a gift you have made to the rest of us. Sharing these traditions and customs is something personal and much appreciated by me. Thank you, and the best to you and yours.
I've a personal variation of the 'shoe' tradition.
When in a heated argument I'd stand in the doorway. If a shoe was flung by my fair lady, I'd duck out of the house and not return for hours.
Upon returning, I would put my hat on my hand and poke it through the doorway, to see if the other shoe would drop.
The results would determine if I'd returned too soon.
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texangelwings9 months, 3 weeks ago
gamahuche, Thank you so much! Good article!
Some really great comments above!
The customs of other countries are very interesting. As a history buff, I am always fascinated about how other people celebrate their Holidays.
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Searchbeam9 months, 3 weeks ago
Gama,
Thank you so much for taking time to post such a wonderful article. Czech Republic does have really interesting customs and conventions.
This post and your related comments here make a wonderful gift to our community here, for which I am very grateful!
Enjoy the day!
Best Christmas wishes to you, your "gf" and your families.
BTW, I don't think any religious figure such as a priest would have wandered around the pub at that time. So I think you are safe. Besides, you were there with your gf, so nobody can read anything different in it.
LOL!
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getreal19 months, 3 weeks ago
I guess we will try these superstitions next year to see if life gets better. Merry Christmas
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memestryker9 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks for sharing this, G. I love to see how different cultures created various legends and practices that have remained as part of the ancient tradition! Happy Xmas and New Year!
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kileycochran8 months ago
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