Do you wish to do Christmas in a Czech way? Below you can find tips on various Christmas traditions Czechs like to keep or food they eat on Christmas day. If you read carefully, you may also find out a little secret of mine!
Christmas season traditions

From end of November, you will run into Christmas markets in big cities, as well as small villages. These are placed where one can soak in the Christmas atmosphere by tasting various Christmas goodies, listening to Christmas concerts or buying little presents. Many Czechs also spend one of the December's weekends by traveling abroad to see the markets in one of our neighbours - the most famous cities for Christmas markets are Vienna, Salzburg, Dresden, Krakow, Berlin or Nurnberg.
Families also DYI their own Christmas wreaths so it's ready for the first Advent Sunday (those less crafty can surely buy one at the above mentioned Christmas markets, or any florist). The Christmas wreath should have 4 candles, each of which symbolizing something connected to Christmas - the first one is for Hope, the second symbolizes Peace, the third Friendship and the last one Love. Lighting the last one also means that Christmas day is coming soon!

A thing you will surely see in every Christmas market is mistletoe. These twigs are sold in various colours as well as in its natural green. The twigs are meant to bring love and good to people. The tradition says you should not buy one, but it should be gifted in order to bring good luck to the household. Kissing under the mistletoe should bring the couple a lot of love in the upcoming year.
One of the biggest Christmas symbols are surely Christmas trees. The traditions differ here family to family; some prefer live one, some artificial; some leave the decorating for Christmas day, whilst the dinner is cooking, others prefer standing one up at the beginning of the month to enjoy for a longer period of time. (I am surely in the second group :)) One thing is for sure, they usually leave the house on January 6 - the Three Kings Day.

Christmas cookies surely add up to the Christmas atmosphere. Families or groups of friends traditionally meet to bake some Christmas goodies. Those who do not like their kitchen getting messy usually lean to buying it instead. As a child, I remember my grandma used to have a big box, with lines of different colourful types of cookies in her pantry, where we would sneak in at night to steal some. There is a running joke every year, where mums/grandmas complain about people eating the cookies before Christmas day, and not then not eating it at all after the Christmas day. The most typical types are soft Gingerbreads, Beehives, Vanilla Crescent Cookies, Rum balls or Linzer cookies.
On December 5, kids are expecting the visit from the St Nicolaus, with the good Angel and scary Devil. Adults dressed up as these creatures walk to households with children, who receive a small gift once they recite a poem. Well behaved children don't have anything to worry about, but naughty children can be taken away by the Devil - that's at least what parents say to their children when they are not behaving nicely. Angel represents the good and protects the children from the devil, who is trying to scare them a bit. Nicolaus usually has a book of sins and by reading them aloud it makes the child remember all the times it misbehaved. Parents nowadays do not let this trio to their house as it may be a traumatizing event for the child.
December 24 - Christmas Day

The Christmas day starts in different ways in each families. Some start decorating the Christmas tree, others take things slow by enjoying a piece of Vánočka (sweet braided bread that is supposed to resemble the little baby Jesus' swaddle blanket) and washing it down with hot cocoa or eggnog. Many people believe in fasting tradition, which say that you should not eat anything at all up until dinner in order to see the golden pig.

During the day, everyone watches Christmas movies and fairy tales - most traditionally Popelka (the Czech version from 1973, of course!). Those who do not believe in the golden pig have themselves a lunch which is usually wine sausage or a variety of nibbles, but the brave ones are waiting till the evening (to see the Golden Pig).

In case there is a cross or a worm, it may mean an illness or a death. Some people also like reading their future from pouring lead into water. The shape of the resulting cast is then observed and one guesses what it could mean. Girls also throw their shoes across their shoulders - if the shoe is pointing towards the door, it means that the girl will get married and will leave the house. Last but not least, a fish scale is placed under plates to ensure money and abundance. Such can then be carried in one's wallet too. One should definitely not do any laundry - washing clothes or hanging them may bring bad luck or even death in the family.
The Christmas dinner is usually served after it gets dark. Per the tradition, there is always one extra seat at the table in case an unannounced guest shows up. It also bring a bad luck if someone stands up and leaves the table during the dinner, which is why everything should be located nearby for an easy reach and grab. The traditional dinner consists of fish soup, followed by fried carp with potato salad. These may be altered or completely swapped per everyone's preferences - me as I am terrified of a fish bone getting stuck in my throat usually eat salmon or chicken Schnitzel. We also always make yellow pea soup instead of the fish one.

After dinner, carols are usually sang to make the kids even more excited about what's to come. The highlight of the evening is of course the bell from the Baby Jesus announcing "he has been" and there are gifts under the tree to unwrap! In my childhood, we screamed Thank you, baby Jesus out of the window, after discovering he has visited our house, but not many of my friends have heard of this, so let's keep it our secret.
At midnight, people usually go to the church so see a midnight mass and greet all the neighbours.
December 25
This day is considered a bit less festive than the 24th. Families usually visit their relatives or invite them over for a festive lunch, which is either leftovers, or those who still have strength to cook again often serve duck with cabbage and dumplings.

I wish you all very Merry Christmas, full of love and laughter. May your immigration be smooth, clerks at the Ministry nice and visa outcomes successful throughout the year! :)
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