E A S T E R
The first Monday after the first spring full moon
Easter is Christian tradition, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. A celebration is full of fun in Czech Republic. Many traditions are kept especially in villages, and different regions may have their own Easter traditions and customs.
I think that every family colours the Easter eggs. In the Czech Republic people know a lot of decoration techniques. The eggs can be boiled or concave.
The boys braid the willow twigs, the Easter rod (pomlázka) from pomladit = make younger. On Easter Monday they walk to girl’s homes and say some short poems and spank girls, as a reward the boys get some eggs and sweets
However, after the noon the custom is opposite, girls drench boys with water or perfume.
The Days before Easter are called Ugly Wednesday, Green Thursday, Good Friday and White Saturday
Traditional food is Easter cake (mazanec). It is made from dough with almonds and raisins.
April fool’s day
1st of April
On that day, you are allowed to pull jokes and pranks. It’s very popular among children. The origin of this tradition probably dates back to the 16th century, when the Julian calendar changed to Georgian. According to the old one the New Year started on April 1st and those who did not accept or forgot the change were called ,,April Fools”.
The Burning of the Witches
April 30th
On the evening of April 30th, Czech people build a bonfire and prepare an effigy of the witch. They thought that if they made something that looked like a witch and burned it, they could finally get rid of the cold weather. As soon as it's dark, the effigy of the witch is brought out Then it is thrown into the bonfire. Nowadays It is a day , when a lot of people go back to the villages and they meet their friends and distant relatives.
MAY 1st
May 1st is the day of people in love, it is the Czech version of the st. Valentine´s day, but without the legend about the priest. This day relates to Karel Hynek Mácha, the Czech Romantic. In Prague's Petřín Park there is his statue. People in love go to Petřín and the tradition says that boys have to kiss girls under the blooming cherry-tree. May 1st is a national holiday in the Czech Republic, because it is the Labour day (den práce)
The Day of Slavic Missionaries Cyril and Methodius
July 5th
The two Byzantine Greek brothers Cyril and Methodius are very important for Czech history. They brought Christianity to the Great Moravian Empire in the year 863 and created the Slavonic language and alphabet called hlaholice (the Glagolitic alphabet). They translated the Bible and contributed to the spread of Christianity and the Old Slavonic Language
The day of John Huss
July 6th
Jan Hus was a significant Czech religious reformer who was burned as misbeliever in 1415 in Constance. His death sparked off the Hussite movement and wars in the 15th century.
Saint Nicholas Day
December 5th
In evening of December 5th a lot of people are dressed like St.Nicholas, who walks with the Angel, who represents the Good, and with the Devil representing the Evil
All three characters walk in the streets, stopping children and asking them if they were good in the past year. Most kids say yes and sing a song or recite a short poem. They are then rewarded with sweets, other treats.
Naughty children/Bad kids are put into the Devil's sack and taken to hell, or only get a sack of potatoes or coal. The eve of St. Nicholas is especially fun in Prague. Parents bring their children to the Old Town Square, usually. but somewhere, the three characters visit people's homes.
The St. Nicholas tradition is probably from 4th century and it is based on Greek bishop named Nicholas who is said to have left a gift of money on the windowsill to three poor girls to enable them to get married
Christmas
December 24 (Christmas Eve)
On December 24 it is Adam and Eva's name day.
The Christmas tree is decorated with traditional Czech Christmas ornaments in many households and preparations are made for the most festive dinner of the year. On Christmas Eve people do a lot of custom, for example:
Golden piglet- this tradition says that if Czechs don’t eat all day, they see a gold piglet.
Pouring lead- The lead is poured into water and people foretell future according to the shape of cold lead.
Cutting apples – when people cut the apples in half and the pip looks like a star, they will have lucky year. If it is looks like cross the year will be miserable.
Shoe – girls throw the shoe and if the toe of the shoe faces the door the girl gets married in coming up year.
Christmas Dinner
The Dinner consists of carp, somewhere schnitzels, and potato salad. It is sometimes preceded by mushroom and fish soup. Some families keep their carp in their bath for several days as a temporary pet for their children. The Dinner can be ended with a dessert, such as apple strudel. A traditional Christmas bread called Christmas cake/vánočka and everyone bakes Christmas sweets.
After dinner, in some families people around the table may sing Christmas carols before moving to the Christmas trees. Presents are placed under the tree. Czech children believe that Christmas gifts are brought by Baby Jesus, who comes into the room through the window to leave the presents there. Unlike Santa Claus, Baby Jesus is abstract figure and no one knows where he lives. Czech children write their wishes and the letters are put behind windows for baby Jesus a few weeks before Christmas.
Midnight-Mass
Some people attend the midnight mass at a local church on Christmas Eve
December 25
A lot of families stay at home and relax or visit relatives and friends.
New Year’s Eve
The celebration of New Year’s Eve in the Czech Republic is very similar to other courtiers. A lot of people go to the mountains and celebrate this day with snow. At midnight people let of fireworks and they open champagne wines
January 1st
New Year’s Day, a lot of people make their own New Year’s resolution about something in their lives.
But I think that most of the people don’t keep it.
Three kings day
The Three king’s day is a day memorates coming of three kings to Bethlehem.
Some people are dressed like the three kings go to our homes with some moneyboxes and people contribute to charity. The kings write letters K+M+B. Many people think that it is symbols of kings names but probably it is symbols of ,,Christus mansionem benedicat": ,,Christ bless this house"
The Czechs have a lot of national days:
1. leden – Day of renewal of independence of Czech state
28. září – Day of Czech statehood
28. říjen – Day of rise of independent Czech state
17. listopad – Day of fight for freedom and democracy
8. březen – International day of women
12. Březen – Day of entry into NATO
27. Červen – Day of victims of communism
11. Listopad – Day of old soldiers
there are a lot of festive pageantry on these days.
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