Since 1972 my 12 trips to the Czech Republic gave me many opportunities to hear my
aunts and uncles tell about their Christmas traditions, and how papa used to be the
"ring leader" in sneaking cookies that were put away in boxes, and stored on top
of hard to reach cabinets to make sure that no one started eating on them too soon.
Saint Barbara's Day, December 4, just two days before Saint Nicholas Day, December 6 was
celebrated by a group called, "Barbara Girls". They were dressed in white
with their faces covered with veils. They carried bells, rods and bundles of dried
apples. They went from house to house giving the children apples and reminding them
to be good. Christmas holidays begin with "Saint Nicholas" day on December
6.
Legend of Saint Nicholas dates back to the third century. On December 6, Saint Nicholas visits all homes that have children. He wears a bishop's robe and a traditional mitre hat. He is the patron saint for children. He descends from heaven on a golden cord, and has a report on all of the children's behavior. He is accompanied by an angel dressed in white. Waiting down on earth is a black devil with horns called "Cert" holding a whip and rattling a chain. Saint Nicholas reads the names of the good children and the bad children. The angel gives the good children fruit and candy and the devil reaches in the burlap bag and gives the bad children black coal and potatoes. However, the bad children beg for forgiveness and Saint Nicholas tells the angel to give these children some fruit and candy. Everyone is happy.
Officially, the Christmas holiday begins with Saint Nicholas day on December 6, and ends on "Tri Kralu" (Three Kings) on January 6. In villages, a group of boys dressed in long white robes and wearing paper crowns, visit homes. Using white chalk that has been blessed by a priest, they write the initials "K+M+B" (Kaspar, Melchoir, and Balthazar) and the year. This is a remembrance of the "Three Wise Men" who visited the Christ Child. This is done as a blessing to the home. Although Czechs celebrate both Christmas Eve (Stedry Vecer) and Christmas Day (Boze Hod) most of the celebrations take place on Christmas Eve. The one tradition that every household seems to maintain is serving carp (fish) on Christmas Eve.
Families go into the streets and buy the carp. They are in huge wooden barrels filled with water and the live carps are swimming about. Usually the carp was taken home and allowed to swim in the family tub for several days before it was killed. This was done to shed the muddy taste with frequent changing of water. Children playing with the carp, grew attached to it and it became their pet and they could not bear to see it killed. So the carp was returned to the pond or river and another was purchased. Also the children were glad to have the carp in the tub, because they didn't have to take a bath.
The Christmas Eve menu consisted of carp, potato salad, fish soup, bread pudding, cookies and "Vanocka" a bread like loaf with raisins, candied fruit and nuts inside. The dough is interbraided in the loaf. There were no pecans in the Czech Republic so walnuts were used.
Traditionally, the table cloth is laid over clean straw, or some straw was put on the floor beneath the table. A reminder that Christ was bedded upon straw in a manger, called Bethlehem. An even number of plates had to be set on the table even if it meant that a neighbor had to be invited-this meant good luck. During the meal on Christmas Eve, only the mother (hospodyne) could arise from the table. After a prayer, the mother would share an "Oplatky," a sweet round large wafer, six inches in diameter. The oplatky had an imprinted logo. These used to be baked in a monastery by nuns. The mother would begin by breaking a piece off and passing pieces for others to eat. This was a symbol of forgiveness.
A chain was laid on the floor, surrounding the table during the meal. This would help keep the family together for the coming year. A small portion of food was given to each animal in the household so that there would be an abundance of food throughout the year. It was believed, especially by the religious people that if you fasted (not eating) all day on Christmas Eve, you would see a golden pig on the stove that night. Many started to fast in the morning, but broke down. It was difficult with all the goodies in the kitchen. Some sneaked a nibble, but the pig sees it! So no one yet has seen the golden pig.
The tree is usually cut down in the forest and secretly brought into the house and hidden in the cellar. No one was suppose to see it until after the Christmas Eve dinner. Decorations were all handmade. An angel was placed on the tree top, signifying the angel who appeared to Mary, asking her to be the mother of Jesus. A star was used by some, it signified the guiding star that led the wise men to Bethlehem. Every decoration on the tree was significant to something such as the popcorn strung on strings that encircled the tree signified the rope that Joseph held, leading the donkey to Bethlehem. Some trees were decorated primarily with handmade straw ornaments, cookies made in shapes of angels, stars, doves and animals. Some trees were suspended from the ceiling on a rope.
It was called a swinging tree. We had one of those in our home. When the tree was found swinging, that was evidence that some of the younger children snatched a goodie off the tree.
Other decorations were handmade multicolored chains made of construction paper, walnuts wrapped in silver or gold paper, gingerbread cookies (Pernicky), apples, oranges, and multicolored hard candy. There were small candles in clips with holders called "zabky' (little frogs) because they resembled little frogs. These candles were lit and prayers were recited.
In the Czech Republic, children believed in the magic "Jezisek" (Baby Jesus). He was their holiday hero who brought them gifts - to them Santa Clause was just some fat man in a big red suit that's too big for him.
In the streets you would see groups singing Christmas carols and three little boys dressed as "Three Kings" walking though the village with one playing the trumpet. For this they received goodies. Then a band would pass through the village playing religious songs. As they went from house to house, a candle was lit, so that at the end of the musical journey, all the homes had a candle lit in the window.
Incense was burned to keep the evil spirits away. For good luck, herdsman would take a fir twig to each home. These were stuck on the picture frame of a Saint. Shooting a gun on Christmas Eve drives away bad luck. To this day, fireworks are used on Christmas Eve.
Fortunes were told on Christmas Eve, as each member of the family cracked 12 walnuts, each representing a month. If a spoiled one was found, that person would become ill. If it was the third walnut, then the illness would be in the third month. Young ladies would peel apples and as the peeling fell to the ground, it formed the initial of her future husband. At Christmas, witches wandered through villages, casting spells and evil mischief. That's why people carried glass canes filled with multicolored candies to distract the witches. They believed that witches became so interested in sorting the colorful candy, that the evil spells were forgotten.
Cutting an apple in half was another custom. If you see the core the form of a star, you would be in good health the coming year. Young unmarried girls stood in a room with backs to the door, pulled off a shoe and tossed it over their shoulder, If it landed with the toes pointing to the door, she would be married soon.
Bones left from Christmas Eve meal were buried under the fruit trees in the orchard to assure a plentiful crop. Young girls would stand under a lilac tree waiting for a dog to bark. From the direction of where the dog bark came from is where her future husband was.
Attending Midnight Mass was a must. Many people would walk long distances to get there. Along the way they sang Christmas carols. The shepherds could be heard playing bag pipes on the mountain side where sheep were grazing.
On entering a home there was a nativity scene under the Christmas tree, and a plate of fruit and coins signifying prosperity and blessings. The word Christmas is derived from medial "Christmas Masse" (Mass of Christ). This is a feast commemorating the birth of Christ, observed annually on December 25. The Christmas Day menu included goose, duck, vegetables, potatoes, and desserts, such as kolaces. New Year's Eve (Silvestr) for many Czechs, was a low key affair, celebrated with family and friends in some Hospda (Club) or weekend cottage or just in their home, proposing pripitek (toast) cheers to health (na zdravi) and eating chlebicky (small open face sandwiches) and popping champagne at midnight.
On New Year's Eve, no one ate poultry or any other feather source food, keeping their good luck from flying away with the old year. On New Year's Day the menu was ham or pork and always lentil beans. The beans symbolized good fortune in the coming year.
To all mankind, the spirit of Christmas is joy, love, peace of giving, and sharing.
Please send comments to Kathy Horak Smith