Traditions often tell rich stories of knights & dragons, fairies & elves, along with a variety of different figures that reward or punish based on how nice you’ve been this year. The content of these stories, and the way that they’re told, often reveal more about storytellers than about the characters the stories portray. Just as individuals are tried, tested, and molded by Father Time and the changes he brings, so are cultures, and the tales told within them.
One can often perceive the richness of any culture merely by taking the time to sit and listen to the stories it tells. Czech traditions are no exception to this, and this time of year is saturated with history, customs, and celebration of the valuable inheritances we’ve received from those that came before us. Perhaps by peeking into the traditions still celebrated in the Czech Republic and abroad, one can learn something about the history carved into its roots.
In the Czech Republic, the Christmas-time festivities begin on Christmas Eve with the intimate practice of enjoying a meal together as a family. The holidays start as many often do, with a fasting period. However, this fasting period is traditionally a meatless fast, which plays a crucial role in what dishes are served on this day.
Families traditionally share meatless dishes such as a mushroom and barley dish – houbový kuba – or Czech sweet bread – vánočka – throughout the day. The main attraction of the holiday is served in the evening when a family meal of smažený kapr and bramborový salát is shared. The festive dinner of fried carp and potato salad – respectively – still fall within the parameters of the fasting period because carp have not been historically considered meat.
Christmas Eve and its practices are permeated with history and symbolism. The preparations for dinner traditionally begin well before the main course is served. Naturally, many alternatives have developed as each family celebrates slightly differently. Many families opt to enjoy the still-traditional carp soup; while other families deviate entirely with the wiener schnitzel and other less traditional dishes.
For centuries, various Czech regions have remained reputable for their productive fish farms, particularly carp. Typically the use of carp in traditional Czech dishes was limited by affluent aristocrats. Over the centuries the increasing availability of carp made it possible for more families to ingrain it into the culture.
Although fish farming in the area dates farther back, carp for Christmas became popular around the 17th century; becoming widespread sometime around the 19th century. Its widespread use has developed common practices in preparing holiday dinner, which is where the real fun begins.
Traditionally, families buy live carp a few days before the holidays and keep it in the family bathtub until it’s time to cook it. After an appropriate amount of time has elapsed, the family takes the fish and slices its head off to be prepared. The fish is then soaked in milk to sweeten the meat and dull the fishy smell. The reasoning behind this practice, because carp are bottom-feeders, keeping it in clean bathtub water for a few days would flush out the fish's digestive tract. Others postulate that it was simply a practical way to keep fish fresh until it was time to prepare it, and the practice has stuck from its pre-refrigeration origins.
Regardless of its original purpose, the unique practice holds a special place in many modern Czechs' hearts. Many families have also developed their own traditions instead of what’s described above. Some forego the initial preparations and buy the fish sliced and prepared to make the holiday preparations go smoothly. Other deviations to the carp-in-the-bathtub ritual have seen families release the carp, typically on Christmas day, instead of preparing it for dinner. These families often develop a special relationship with the fish while it stays in their home. The children assign the fish a name, interact with it, and view it almost as a pet.
Accompanying the spectacle is an abundance of opportunities for destiny to show what good fortunes it has in store for next year. One of the more curious ones being the possible appearance of the Golden Pig. The tradition states that if one successfully fasts on Christmas Eve the Golden Pig might present itself to them, as either a projection or hallucination, sometime in the evening. This good omen is often reinforced with other practices: cutting the carp from top to bottom before cooking it, creating a horseshoe shape, and signifying good luck.
Christmas Eve dinner ends with another opportunity to secure one’s good fortune. Once everyone finishes eating, everyone looks under their plates in hopes of finding a carp scale. If one is present, retrieving it and keeping it in one’s wallet throughout the year is said to tip the scales of fortune to one’s favor.
Even in the absence of these good luck markers, there is a surefire way to avoid bad luck. A good way to start would be by setting an even number of plates on the dinner table. Typically the extra plate is added to honor a departed loved one or to welcome an unexpected guest. Failure to do so is said to condemn the family to have bad luck in the following year or to even bring a visit from the Grim Reaper.
Once the table is set the feast begins. At this time no one is allowed to get up from the table until everyone has finished eating. The end of Christmas Eve dinner is marked by a ringing bell, after which everyone gets up at once. This dinner bell also signals to the children that Ježíšek has departed and has left gifts for them under the tree, but more on him later.
It is said that an early death befalls anyone that fails to observe this and rises before anyone else. By no means is this an exhaustive list of the various ways to ensure good fortune and avoid bad fortune. Most families observe only a few of these practices, which don’t often hold the same logical grounding they once did. Although bargaining with these forces isn't typically seen as reliable avenues for producing good luck for the family. They do, however, produce palpable connections within families that practice these traditions together.
The personified figures associated with Christmas celebrations serve a similar role, but they also provide an interesting timeline of cultural developments in Czech regions. One of these figures is Ježíšek or Little Jesus. This figure is the more traditional Czech bearer of gifts that sneaks into homes during Christmas Eve’s dinner celebrations.
The term “Little Jesus” is derived from the term “Christkindl” or Christ Child, coined in the 16th century by Martin Luther. Ježíšek stands as a character separate from the traditional figure of Jesus Christ present in Czech culture. Little Jesus seldom has a visual representation, however, leaving him more as a non-corporeal entity without a detailed backstory like many other figures have. Although Ježíšek could stand on its own as the rough equivalent of the American Santa Claus, the Czech tradition bears the additional figure of Mikuláš.
Mikuláš - commonly known as St. Nicholas - makes his rounds in the company of an angel and a devil on December 6th. Per tradition, children report their behavior, then recite a poem to Mikuláš in exchange for a small treat. Ježíšek and Mikuláš have both stood the test of time, but not without adversity.
During the Communist takeover and rule spanning from the 1950s to the 1980s, Czech traditions and religion stemmed from faced opposition. For the most part, religious institutions and their celebrations were allowed to continue. Although the typical trappings of Christmas were present, there was a strong emphasis on keeping public celebrations very secular and confining church life and religious celebrations in the churches themselves.
Communists attempted to manipulate holiday traditions by introducing Děda Mraz, otherwise known as Grandfather Frost, into the Czech Christmas traditions. The Russian import was introduced as an effort to combat both the religious ties of Ježíšek & Mikuláš and the American ties of Santa Claus. Děda Mraz was not met with open arms by Czech citizens and was never successfully integrated, despite repeated efforts by Czech Communist rulers.
After the 1989 Velvet Revolution, which ended the Czech Communist occupation, a different import would present a threat to Ježíšek & Mikuláš. Businesses seeking to increase sales have taken advantage of the ubiquity and visibility of Santa Claus to boost sales during the holiday season. It presents a bit of confusion for Czech children brought up with the traditional figures, who were then bombarded by Western images of Santa Claus.
Although Santa is commercially accepted and used in much advertising, he has met some resistance from Czech citizens. Organizers of Anti-Santa Claus campaigns view Santa as an alien figure whose use in advertising subverts established Czech traditions. The outcome of this cultural interaction remains to be seen. Still, it seems clear that many Czech citizens value the inheritance of their familial and societal Christmas traditions of figures such as Ježíšek and Mikuláš.
Written by David Dorazco