Joyful Christmas is celebrated in almost all countries around the world! The period and process depend on cultural and religious customs. Who gives presents on Christmas Eve in the Czech Republic? One of the traditional symbols of Czech Christmas is Ježíšek, in English “Christ Child”, who brings Christmas presents and places them for children under the Christmas tree.
Day 17 of Advent: Foretelling the Future
If someone told you that there is a famous poem about Christmas Eve you’d probably think that it must be some warm story about a beautiful snowy Christmas. If that’s the case then I have to disappoint you. The poem “Christmas Eve” (“Štědrý den” in Czech) was written by K. J. Erben, and it’s a dark tale about foretelling the future on Christmas eve. But don’t worry, the actual tradition is much less gloomy.
Obligations of British Citizens after Brexit
At the beginning of 2021, the United Kingdom officially withdrew from the European Union, which for many British citizens living in the Czech Republic brings several new restrictions and obligations. Forgetting about Brexit could mean deportation from the territory of the Czech Republic. If any of you have British citizenship, we encourage you to pay attention to the following content.
Day 16 of Advent: Christmas Cake Vánočka
There are no proper advent evenings without Christmas special dishes. Do you know what is really common to prepare in the Czech Republic? A special plaited bread called Vánočka that you can eat with butter or jam on it or just on its own!
Coronavirus in Czechia: Returning to PES Level 4
On Friday, December 18, the Czech Republic will once again return to level 4 of the PES system, which means that restrictions will be tightened. This was decided by the House of Commons on December 14; shortly after the restrictions were initially released. Despite that, stores will remain open. Some politicians and experts are worried that Czechs will actually have to spend this Christmas on level 5 of the PES system.
Day 15 of Advent: Gingerbread Man Recipe
Gingerbread men, how could anyone refuse these cute little guys during Christmas! They are not only cute and adorable but also easy to make! Even if you’re not a fan of eating them, you can still enjoy their smiles and have some fun!
Coronavirus in Czechia: Drinking Outdoors Banned, State of Emergency Extended
The Czech House of Commons approved another extension of the state of emergency – this time until December 23. Besides that, drinking outdoors is prohibited as the government wants to stop crowds of people consuming food and beverages from gathering at Christmas markets and on streets. This, however, doesn’t affect only stalls at the markets but also dispensing windows.
Day 14 of Advent: Good King Wenceslas
As some of you surely know, “Good King Wenceslas” is a popular British Victorian carol. Whether you have already known this fact or just now learnt about it, you are probably wondering what it has to do with Czech Christmas. Truth be told, this carol is not sung in the Czech Republic, yet there is a significant connection to the country’s history.
Day 13 of Advent: Christmas Trees
It cannot be the right Christmas without Christmas trees! But if I ask you why, can you tell the story behind? Do you know what kinds of trees are used as Christmas trees? Do you prefer real trees or plastic ones? And most importantly, do you know where to get one?
Day 12 of Advent: Narodil se Kristus Pán
There are many beautiful Czech carols but only very few of them have such an interesting story behind them as the carol Narodil se Kristus Pán. To be honest, it is usually because most of them are folk carols which means that their (hi)story is difficult to trace. Narodil se Kristus Pán is, however, an exception to this rule. There are actually some facts about this particular song that even Czechs are often completely unaware of.