CHRISTMAS IN CZECH

REPUBLIC

CHRISTMAS IN CZECH REPUBLICChristmas is the most Christmas is the most

wonderful time of the year.wonderful time of the year.All children and adults as well All children and adults as well

lookforward to it.lookforward to it.A month before the Christmas A month before the Christmas

madness starts. People are madness starts. People are running from shop to shop, running from shop to shop, trying to get the best presents trying to get the best presents for their family and friends.for their family and friends.

SHOPPING FEVER

Each of four Sundays in Each of four Sundays in Advent the shops are open Advent the shops are open till 3pm so that the people till 3pm so that the people could buy their Christmas could buy their Christmas presents.presents.

In larger towns there is a In larger towns there is a Christmas Market in the Christmas Market in the main square.main square.

Christmas Market in Přerov

BAKING FEVERFEVERIn every household people can´t In every household people can´t

imagine the Christmas without imagine the Christmas without Christmas cakes. And all the Christmas cakes. And all the hosewives want to have the best hosewives want to have the best cakes and a special sweet plaited cakes and a special sweet plaited loaf called „vanocka“.loaf called „vanocka“.

Those, who don´t have time to bake Those, who don´t have time to bake their own their own cakes, can cakes, can have it baked for have it baked for example in our schoolexample in our school

DECEMBER 2424This is the most important This is the most important

day of the whole day of the whole Christmas holidays. All Christmas holidays. All the members of the the members of the family have their duties.family have their duties.

Father locks himself in the Father locks himself in the living room and he is living room and he is decorating the Christmas decorating the Christmas tree and drinking the tree and drinking the homemade egg liquor.homemade egg liquor.

DECEMBER 2424Mother is in the Mother is in the

kitchen from the very kitchen from the very morning, She is morning, She is preparing the festive preparing the festive dinner and in the dinner and in the afternoon she is afternoon she is getting more and getting more and more nervous more nervous because she is not in because she is not in time.time.

DECEMBER 2424There are lots of fairy tales There are lots of fairy tales

for the kids on TV, but they for the kids on TV, but they keep watching one or two keep watching one or two of them.of them.

Then they start to be Then they start to be annoying because they canannoying because they can´t wait till the Jesus comes ´t wait till the Jesus comes to bring them the presents.to bring them the presents.

DECEMBER 2424

In the evening, at about 5 or 6pm, In the evening, at about 5 or 6pm, „all is calm, all is bright“. All are „all is calm, all is bright“. All are sitting at the table, smiling wide sitting at the table, smiling wide and having the dinner.and having the dinner.

It is usually fish soup and then fried It is usually fish soup and then fried carp with potato salad. Some carp with potato salad. Some people are afraid of going to the people are afraid of going to the hospital because of the fish bone in hospital because of the fish bone in the throat and that´s why they the throat and that´s why they have chicken or turkey instead of have chicken or turkey instead of the carp.the carp.

DECEMBER 2424After the dinner the After the dinner the

family goes to the family goes to the Christmas tree, they Christmas tree, they sing carols and then sing carols and then they unwrap the they unwrap the presents.presents.

In our country we In our country we believe that the believe that the presents are brought presents are brought by Baby Jesus.by Baby Jesus.

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

BETHLEHEMBETHLEHEMPeople usually have the small People usually have the small

Bethlehem in their homes as a Bethlehem in their homes as a Christmas decoration. Christmas decoration.

The figures are made of paper, The figures are made of paper, wood or plasteor or many wood or plasteor or many other materials. In churches other materials. In churches you can see big Bethlehems you can see big Bethlehems and in the square there are so and in the square there are so called live pictures of Nativity.called live pictures of Nativity.

CUTTING THE APPLESCUTTING THE APPLES

People cut the apples in half. People cut the apples in half.

If they see the star inside, that If they see the star inside, that means that they will be healthy means that they will be healthy all the next year.all the next year.

The cross inside means the death.The cross inside means the death.

BARBORKABARBORKA

Young girls pick the cherry tree Young girls pick the cherry tree sprigs on the day of St. Barbara sprigs on the day of St. Barbara (December 4).(December 4).

They put them in the vase and if They put them in the vase and if the sprig come into blossom till the sprig come into blossom till Christmas, the girl will get Christmas, the girl will get married next year.married next year.

NUTSHEL BOATSNUTSHEL BOATS

People put small candles into the People put small candles into the nutshels and let them sail in the nutshels and let them sail in the washbasin.washbasin.

Whose boat sails further, that Whose boat sails further, that goes further from home in the goes further from home in the future.future.

THROWING THE SHOETHROWING THE SHOE

Young girls throw the shoe Young girls throw the shoe over their shoulder. over their shoulder.

If the forepart shows to the If the forepart shows to the door, the girl will get married door, the girl will get married and move from homeand move from home

THE GOLDEN PIGTHE GOLDEN PIG

People believe that they will People believe that they will see the golden pig if they see the golden pig if they don´t eat for all the day on don´t eat for all the day on 24 December.24 December.

(After such a long starving (After such a long starving they can see anythingthey can see anything))

NEW YEAR´S EVE

DECEMBER 31DECEMBER 31

We call it Silvestr. It should be We call it Silvestr. It should be the funniest day of the year.the funniest day of the year.

There are lots of comedies and There are lots of comedies and funny sketches on TV.funny sketches on TV.

People usually spend Christmas People usually spend Christmas with the family, but on Silvestr with the family, but on Silvestr they often go to the mountains they often go to the mountains and spend their time with and spend their time with friends.friends.

DECEMBER 31DECEMBER 31

At midnight they At midnight they open the bottle of open the bottle of champagne and champagne and drink to each otherdrink to each other´s health.´s health.

They kiss, hug and They kiss, hug and wish all the best, wish all the best, health, luck and health, luck and happiness to all the happiness to all the New Year.New Year.

NEW YEARS NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONSRESOLUTIONS

People make New Years People make New Years resolutions on the last day of resolutions on the last day of year. Those usually are:year. Those usually are:

• I will be goodI will be good• I will study harderI will study harder• I won´t eat so much chocolateI won´t eat so much chocolate• I will give up smokingI will give up smoking• I will lose weightI will lose weight(But they forget them the next (But they forget them the next

dayday))

MERRY CHRISTMAS

ANDA HAPPY NEW

YEAR