Here they are again, after a year. Christmas. Many people, not only in the Czech Republic, consider it the most beautiful holiday of the year. And although we live in a globalized world, Christmas traditions and customs can vary greatly across different parts of the world. Some may even surprise you. For instance, in Japan, people enjoy fried chicken at Christmas, Hawaiians roast a Christmas pig, and in Caracas, Venezuela, people go to early morning mass on roller skates. In Greenland, men serve women on Christmas Eve (a custom that many women in other parts of the world would surely welcome). If you’re studying or working in the Czech Republic and have decided to spend this Christmas here, you might find some local customs a bit unusual. But experiencing a true Czech Christmas and tasting the traditional dishes is definitely worth it!
What you’ll read about in this article:
Who brings presents in the Czech Republic and what the Christmas table looks like.
How Czechs spend their Christmas holidays.
The golden pig? Unseen but beloved
In Czech households, presents are given out on the evening of December 24th, Christmas Eve. The gift-bringer is Ježíšek (Baby Jesus). He has a lot on his plate, as he is also expected in Slovakia, Austria, and southern Germany. How Ježíšek looks is best known to children, who will gladly describe him in detail. Just keep in mind that their answers will most likely differ.
Before Ježíšek places the gifts under the tree, Czechs look out for the golden pig. According to tradition, anyone who refrains from eating meat on Christmas Eve until dinner will see the golden pig. As you might guess, despite all efforts, no one has ever seen it. And those who claim otherwise often have crumbs from a Christmas sausage on their lips.
Now to the menu. Christmas sausage is often served for lunch on Christmas Eve. Breakfast typically includes vánočka (a sweet braided bread) and Christmas cookies. The most anticipated meal of the day is Christmas dinner, usually consisting of fried carp with potato salad. Fish soup is also a common part of the meal.
However, carp isn’t everyone’s favorite. It has a specific smell and lots of bones. So it is often replaced by pork or chicken schnitzel, or more “accessible” types of fish, such as salmon or tuna. As for the potato salad, it’s a staple that rarely gets omitted. Debates about what should or shouldn’t go into the salad are a favorite topic at Christmas gatherings. Should you include sausage? How about peas? What? Beetroot? These discussions can get heated. Every family has its own recipe, and it is, of course, the best one. Properly prepared, chilled on the balcony in a large bowl, with the so-called testing spoon at hand. There can never be too much potato salad.
From fairy tale to fairy tale
If you turn on any Czech TV channel on Christmas Eve, or on the first or second day of Christmas (December 25th and 26th), you might think there’s been a technical glitch. Fairy tales are on every channel! Morning, noon, and night. And adults watch them as if spellbound. The public broadcaster releases a new Christmas fairy tale every year, and audiences eagerly await to see how it’s received. Then, they passionately discuss on social media whether it was a success or a flop, with the same enthusiasm they have for defending their version of potato salad.
For reference: the most-watched Christmas fairy tale in the Czech Republic was Angel of the Lord 2, which was viewed by over 3 million people on Christmas Eve in 2017. In a country with a population of 10 million, that’s an astonishing figure.
Czech Christmas is about more than just gifts and good food
Christmas in the Czech Republic is primarily about a sense of togetherness, family warmth, and reconnecting with loved ones. It’s a time when the world slows down, and we slow down with it. In the past, people would even leave one seat at the Christmas table empty, just in case an unexpected guest arrived. Who knows? Maybe that seat is waiting for you.
Merry Christmas!
