Just like in many other countries, Christmas holds the title of the most beloved holiday season in the Czech Republic. Czech Christmas intertwines with numerous folk traditions, many of which contemporary Czechs still actively follow. Join me in exploring Czech Christmas!
➜ Advent
Advent, the month-long season leading up to Christmas, derives its name from the Latin word "adventus," meaning "arrival. It's a unique time dedicated to anticipating the coming of the Baby Jesus and preparing for the Christmas festivities.
Four Sundays before Christmas Eve, Czech families make or buy wreaths with four candles. Each week, they light an additional candle on the wreath, marking the countdown to Christmas.
➜ Christmas Tree
The Czech tradition of Christmas trees (vánoční stromeček) started in Germany in 1570, with the first tree in Bremen. But it took 200 more years for this custom to become popular across all social groups in the Czech Republic.
These trees, whether real or artificial, are significant. They often come from nearby forests and adorn town squares, marketplaces, and nativity scenes, sometimes with goats or sheep. Some places even let visitors interact with and pet these animals, making the Christmas markets more thrilling!
At home, trees tend to be smaller and decorated with ornaments, fringe, and sometimes comet-shaped decorations at the top. On December 24, families gather around these trees, eagerly awaiting Ježíšek and unwrapping presents.
➜ Christmas Eve Dinner
After the first star appears in the sky, the whole family gathers and eats Christmas Eve dinner.
The Czech traditional meal is a fried carp with potato salad, and you can see fish stalls in the Czech towns in December where you can buy one. However, some people nowadays prefer eating schnitzel (řízek) or wine sausage (vinná klobása) instead.
Check out more Czech Christmas recipes.
The Christmas Eve dinner has its own customs, for example, setting an extra place for unexpected guests. During the meal, no one leaves the table until everyone has finished eating.
Underneath the plate, a fish scale is placed for luck or money for a prosperous new year.
➜ Vánočka or Houska Bread
Vánočka is a traditional sweet Christmas bread with raisins and almonds, braided in three layers. Get my proven recipe for Vánočka bread!
In the past, Vánočka held symbolic significance and was considered a ritual dish. For instance, during Christmas, a landowner would give Vánočka to their workers as a reward for their year-long dedication and good work.
Vánočka is usually baked the day before Christmas Eve and is served for holiday breakfast.
Interestingly, many Americans with Czech roots know vánočka as Houska. This was indeed the term used for vánočka in some Czech regions in the past.
Here is what we Czechs call houska these days.
➜ Fortune-Telling
Czechs believe that Christmas Eve holds a magical power to predict the future. To glimpse into what's ahead, they turn to various traditional methods, including melting lead, floating candles in walnut shells on water, throwing a shoe towards the door, or slicing apples.
Melting lead
Lead is a soft metal with a low melting point. Czechs melt a small piece of lead on a spoon and pour it into a bowl of water. In an effort to foretell the future, they try to interpret the shape that the lead has formed.
Floating candles in walnut shells
The Czechs used halves of walnut shells to craft candles. They poured wax halfway into the shells and inserted a wick. Each family member had one of these candles for Christmas.
Once lit, these burning candles were placed in a bowl of water. If the floating candles remained together, it meant the entire family would stay united in the upcoming year.
However, if one candle separated from the others, it signified someone leaving the family, typically for work or marriage.
Throwing a shoe towards the door
Mostly single girls observed this custom. On Christmas Eve, they would take off one of their shoes, turn their back to the door, and throw the shoe behind them. If the shoe pointed towards the door when it landed, it meant the girl would get married in the following year!
Slicing apples
On Christmas Eve, when the family gathered around the tree, the father always sliced an apple for each person.
If a cross shape appeared inside, that person was to be cautious; they might face misfortune in the new year. However, if a star-shaped pattern appeared, the following year was expected to bring luck and good health.
➜ Czech Christmas Cookies
It would be hard to imagine Christmas without delicious food. Czechs have a unique tradition: baking Christmas sweets!
These are perfect little treats baked in various shapes and flavors. Czech women start baking a month before Christmas so that on Christmas Eve, they can place a tray of sweets on the festive table.
While some include a few basic types of treats, some Czech women bake more than twenty different kinds.
Some of traditional Czech Christmas sweets:
- Linzer cookies (linecké cukroví)
- Vanilla crescents (vanilkové rohlíčky)
- Walnut-shaped cookies (ořechy)
Or browse the category Czech cukroví
➜ Mistletoe
Another widespread custom is mistletoe. A sprig of mistletoe is part of Christmas decoration; it's hung in a way that allows people to walk beneath it or kiss underneath it.
The kiss under the mistletoe is believed to bring love throughout the upcoming year. If you give mistletoe to someone, it's thought to protect them from illnesses and bring luck into their home.
You might also like: New Year’s Eve Traditions in the Czech Republic
➜ Little Jesus (Ježíšek)
Ježíšek, also known as Little Jesus in Czech, is the figure responsible for delivering Christmas presents. This mythical persona is said to be invisible and remains unrepresented in any depictions.
Following Czech customs, Little Jesus arrives in the evening of December 24. The family convenes but exits the room where the Christmas tree stands, ensuring not to disturb Ježíšek.
After Ježíšek has finished placing the gifts beneath the tree, a bell rings, signaling everyone to return and commence unwrapping the presents.
➜ Christmas Eve Fasting
The fasting tradition traces its roots to the Celtic era, when the Czech people followed pagan customs. During the winter solstice festivities, fasting was observed.
Legend has it that anyone who abstained from food until the first star appeared in the sky was said to receive a special reward: a vision of a golden pig.
But why a pig, you ask? In Celtic lore, the pig symbolized wealth and prosperity.
➜ Christmas Day Vigil
On Christmas night, a vigil takes place at the church. It's not only attended by Christians but also by Czechs who don't follow any particular religion.
Traditionally, Jakub Jan Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass is performed and sung. Ryba, both composer and lyricist, penned this song in 1796.
Clearly, Czech Christmas traditions are vibrant and deeply rooted. To experience these customs firsthand, visit the Czech Republic during the Christmas season or simply join a Czech community elsewhere!
Lorraine wilson
Everything sounds delicious.I have visited CZ often and at Christmas. It is so beautiful. I love the markets in the square in Prague. My son lives there with wife, Petra and they have a beautiful daughter…spent six weeks there this summer and hope to go back soon….
Petra Kupská
Ahoj Lorraine, thank you very much for your lovely comment. I agree Prague is beautiful, even more so at Christmas time. It's wonderful that your family lives in Prague and that you have the opportunity to visit them often. I was also in Prague a few days ago; I'm sending you a view across the Vltava River to Prague Castle ????
Lorraine Batren
Hi I was wondering what celeriac was in English? I want to make svickova. I like your recipe and want to try it.
Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com
Zdravim Lorraine, thank you for your comment. What we call celer in Czech would be celeriac in English. I hope you will like the recipe, please let me know afterwards! 🙂