Hirai Juli
Czech Christmas history
History of Christmas began like a celebration of pagan’s holiday of winter solstice. The church Christmas began
in year 336 in Rome like a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It spreaded out very quickly and to Czech
countries too.
The first Christmas tree
About Christmas trees people knew form Germany, but they didn’t like
German’s traditions, so the tree wasn’t in Czech homes for long time.
Trees made from carton and wood were coming from Germany, but
Czech people didn’t like them. But in 1812 the director of Prague
theatre Jan Karel Liebich decorated the tree for his friends in his castle
in Libeň. People prefered a real tree or branch decorated with sweets,
nuts, gingerbread and dried fruit (apple, pear, etc.). The first candles in
Czech countries appeared in 1860. A tradition of the tree in public
places began after 1st world war and in 1925 in Czech countries. A
decoration was various. Besides food they used glass decoration, that
came from Germany in forties of 19th century. It is specially made in
Jizera’s mountains. A well-known maker of it is in Dvůr Králové nad
Labem too.
The Bethlehem
The first Bethlehem was made by Francisco from Assisi (today’s Italy) in 1223
in Umbria. This was probably a cave with small children, a woman and a man
as Holy family. In Czech countries was made similarly in Prague in 1560 in the
Church of Saint Kliment. In 18th century was this habit broadening to villages
and they decorated it like the tree. Bethlehems were made of many
materials: wood, paper, bread, straw, etc. Many of Bethlehems are made in
the Giant Mountains and Orlice’s mountains. The most famous 120-years-old
Bethlehem is in Třebechovice pod Orebem.
The Christmas Cake
This is traditional sweet bread for Christmas Eve. The first references to it in
Czech countries are in 16th century named „húska“ or „calta“. This could be
baked by special bakers in town. But in 18th century people started baking
Christmas cake at home like today.
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The carp
This is Czech speciality. Meat was very
rare and fish was the matter of surroundings of pools and rich people. In the
beginning of 19th century, when the fish farming became popular, the carp
appeared at many Czech homes. The carp is famous in Europe as a special
Czech meal today, mostly in France.
Gifts
In the biginning of history of Czech Christmas were kids going house-to-house wearing in costumes and singing
Christmas carols. And after that they were given small piece of gingerbread or candy. In 14th century the
church forbade it and replaced songs by christian carols.