Why do all Czechs have an Advent Calendar?
The pre-Christmas season for many people in the Czech Republic begins with the moment when Christmas trees and decorations are lit up in the cities. Every year these are spectacular events that attract hundreds of people. Check out when the Christmas tree in Prague on the Old Town Square is lit up.
Another symbol of Advent in the Czech Republic is the advent calendar which we all remember from our childhood. While there used to be mainly chocolate Advent calendars, today every other company produces them and you can buy an Advent calendar with cosmetics, toys, alcohol, tea or anything else.
Meet Mikuláš: The Czech Inspiration Behind Santa Claus
In some families the advent calendar is carried by Mikuláš, who brings his share of sweets and small gifts on December 5, the eve of his feast day according to the Czech calendar. The character of Mikuláš is based on Saint Nicholas who was the patron of sailors, fishermen, merchants, pharmacists, students and especially children. His current appearance in the Czech Republic is a long white beard, a large crutch and a tall hat. Did you know that he was the inspiration for the creation of the character of Santa Claus?
However, Mikuláš does not visit Czech households alone but with a devil and an angel. When the angel and St. Nicholas distribute gifts, the devils scare naughty children.
Do you know how Baby Jesus Brings Gifts on Czech Christmas Eve? Neither do we
Mikuláš brings sweets on December 5th but who gives presents under the tree in the Czech Republic? It is a Ježíšek (Baby Jesus) who brings presents to Czech children on the evening of December 24th.
This tradition supposedly came to us from Germany where the reformer Martin Luther was bothered by the cult of St. Nicholas and therefore brought an alternative solution – Christkind.
Although the Czech Republic is a mostly atheist country the whole of Christmas is connected with Christian traditions. Baby Jesus is a child who was born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem as the son of God. Therefore at Christmas in the Czech Republic we celebrate the memory of Jesus’ birth.
If you are wondering how a small baby manages to deliver presents to all Czech households in one evening, we do not have a clear answer for you. While in America you will find stories about ultra-fast reindeer and sleighs, in the Czech Republic we simply believe in miracles.
However, we do have one logical tradition associated with Baby Jesus. To find out what gifts children want for Christmas Eve, they write him a letter. The letter is then put out the window before going to bed and if it is gone by the morning, Baby Jesus (or parents) have read it.
What do Czech Christmas decorations look like?
The symbol of Czech Christmas is the Christmas tree whose decoration is a popular Christmas activity. Each household decorates the tree at a different time. Some people decorate it as early as the first Sunday of Advent which is 4 weeks before Christmas Eve while others decorate it until Christmas Eve. In some families Baby Jesus carries the decorated Christmas tree along with gifts.
In Czechia you can hang almost anything on the Christmas tree. Whether it’s colorful baubles, angels, lights, various figures, pine cones, etc. The whole family is used to participating in this activity.
However, handmade decorations with traditional Czech Christmas ornaments made of glass beads or blown and hand-painted glass decorations are popular worldwide. Czech glassmakers and painters made them even for the British King Charles III. or the Belgian monarchs.
The symbol of approaching Christmas is not only the open windows on Advent calendars but also the lit candles on the Advent wreath. This is a decoration symbolizing the four weeks of Advent, i.e. the four Sundays before the birth of Jesus Christ.
Advent wreaths are most often decorated with pine needles and have 4 candles with another candle being lit every Sunday.
How does the Czech celebrate Christmas?
We have already answered the question: what day do Czechs celebrate Christmas? So let’s take a look at what Christmas Eve on December 24th looks like in the Czech Republic.
Will you see the Golden Pig?
According to tradition no food should be eaten on Christmas Day. Fasting is associated with the story that whoever can endure not eating until Christmas Eve dinner will see a golden pig which is a symbol of happiness and abundance.
Christmas Day is also full of other small Czech Christmas traditions that are supposed to bring happiness, health, and love. Some of the most popular include:
- Throwing walnut shells with candles on the water – symbolizes the direction life will take in the coming year.
- Cutting an apple – if a star appears after cutting, it means happiness and health, while a cross warns of misfortune.
- Pouring lead – a tradition that involves pouring molten lead into water and guessing the future from its shape.
- Shoe throwing – unmarried women throw a shoe over their shoulder towards the door. If the toe is pointing towards the door, it means they will get married soon.
Czech Christmas meal: Carp or schnitzel but always with potato salad
In the evening the family gathers for a festive Christmas Eve dinner which consists of a traditional Czech Christmas meal. Fried carp with potato salad should not be missing from the table.
For those who do not eat fish, schnitzels are prepared. Dinner often begins with wafers with honey and garlic or a traditional Czech Christmas soup – fish soup. In the past, the main dish was the so-called “Old Bohemian Kuba”, a meal with grits and mushrooms.
There is no Christmas without traditional Czech sweets or cookies and get ready, we have more than 50 types. Very popular is “štóla”, a cake with baked dried fruit and nuts, powdered with sugar. The traditional Christmas fancy bread is used to have its special place under the Christmas tree, which is then eaten with butter, honey or jam.
All these dishes are consumed with mulled wine with cloves and cinnamon.
When does Baby Jesus come?
Unlike in some other countries, gifts are unwrapped in the Czech Republic on Christmas Eve. However, first you have to wait until everyone at the table has finished eating before you can get up.
After dinner a bell rings signaling that Baby Jesus has brought gifts. For children this moment is the highlight of the day full of excitement and anticipation.
After the gifts are unwrapped, there is free entertainment. Some families sing Czech Christmas carols or watch traditional Czech fairy tales on TV. The most popular one is Three Nuts for Cinderella.
Attend a Christmas Midnight Mass on Czech Christmas Day
Czech Christmas Day usually ends with a Christmas midnight mass which is a Christian service. The most famous one in the Czech Republic is held in Prague at St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle but you can go to any church, even in smaller towns.
What to do in Prague on Christmas Day
If you are spending Christmas Day in Prague, you will definitely have something to look forward to and you will not be bored. In the charming capital of the Czech Republic, every little corner traditionally breathes out the festive atmosphere at Christmas.
Traditionally the most popular are Christmas markets in Old Town Square which are open even on Christmas Day. In many places Prague also hosts a rich cultural program. Among the performers there are folk ensembles but also modern musicians, children’s entertainment and various competitions.
If you’d like to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner in Prague, there are plenty of restaurants offering this special experience. However, it’s important to book your table in advance to secure your spot.
Who wants to experience the true Czech midnight mass, there are many opportunities offered. As we have already mentioned, it will be held at St. Vitus Cathedral in Hradčany in Prague but also at the Church of St. Benedict or the St.Thomas’s Church in Lesser Town (there will be a bilingual mass, Czech-English).
Read more about the Top Things to Do in Prague During Christmas and December.
Useful Vocabulary for Czech Christmas
Are you going to the Czech Republic for Christmas markets? We have prepared for you a pocket Czech-English dictionary of basic terms and phrases so you do not feel lost in the streets of Prague or another Czech city.
- “Svařák” (mulled wine) – traditional hot wine, often with added spices and cinnamon stick or orange or lemon peel. This is a standard offer on the markets which is warming up even in the freezing winter.
- “Punč” (Punch) –another version of a hot drink without which Christmas would not be Czech. The combination of black tea, clove, cinnamon, red wine and domestic rum with small chopped pieces of fruit will make the winter truly unforgettable.
- “Klobása” (Sausage) – without this smoked delicacy made of pork, markets would not be considered to be complete. One has to traditionally order a spoonful of mustard and the top is paired with sliced onion rings.
- “Pečené kaštany” (Roasted maroons) – an excellent delicacy, suitable for every gourmet. Raw horse chestnuts or maroons are cut, cooked in water and roasted in the oven. The result is a crunchy heavenly snack, which disappears from the bag with the speed of light.
- “Zelňačka” (Cabbage soup) – very old Bohemian soup, traditionally cooked with red pepper, cabbage, poultry bouillon, and potatoes. There are many different variants, they differ from region to region, people get used to adding sausage or smoked ham as well. The taste is still excellent.
- “Trdelník” (Chimney cake) – a traditional cake filled with cinnamon or nuts and powdered with sugar. An ideal sweet finish for a Christmas walk.
- “Zima” (Winter) – the word for the last season of the year but also the condition when the temperature is low and the person is cold. Then it is ideal to warm up with some hot drinks from the offer of stalls in the Christmas markets!
- “Je mi zima” (I am cold) – a statement that you hear relatively often in Christmas markets. The one who says it aloud probably does not cope with the cold weather so well.
- “Led” (Ice) – or a solid state of water. The slippery surface on the ground which is created by frosting the leaks sometimes forces us to be an amateur dancer (just to not fall).
- “Vánoce” (Christmas) – probably the most popular holiday in the Czech Republic. Primarily, we mean Christmas Day – December 24, but it is also used to define the period from December 24 to 25.
“Silvestr” (New Year’s Eve) – the name of Silvestr (man) that appears in the Czech calendar on the last day of the year. Traditionally, it leads to festive celebrations, starting at midnight. New Year’s welcome goes hand-in-hand with sipping champagne, colorful fireworks, and great and lively entertainment. Check out what to do and where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Prague.
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