Boss
17-03-2005, 01:33 AM
HOLIDAYS
Holidays, traditions, and important days in the Czech Republic:
January 1 - New Year
On January 1, families have a special lunch to celebrate the New Year. The meal is often a "rizek" or "schnitzel" in German (a breaded pork steak) and potatoes.
March 8 - International Women's Day
On this day, women receive lots of flowers from family members, relatives, friends, and co-workers. For a lot of men, this day is an opportunity to have a few drinks, so it's hard to tell who really celebrates this day.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the main Easter holiday in the Czech Republic. In the morning, boys and men go visiting friends. They carry with them "pomlazkas", braided willow sticks with colourful ribbons tied at the end. They chase and whip with "pomlazkas" female inhabitants of every place they visit. In exchange, they receive coloured eggs from girls and women. Apparently, the symbolism behind this custom is to assure fertility.
In Canada, we only colour a few eggs and buy a chocolate bunny. Quite often we don't have time off on Easter Monday, so this holiday has lost a meaning to our family over the time.
April 30 - Burning of Witches
On the evening of April 30, huge bonfires are burning on hills in the Czech Republic. Youth gathers around and stays late into the night. This is called "The Burning of Witches" and symbolizes the end of winter and invitation of spring. It is probably an ancient pagan tradition. I also witnessed this tradition in Austria.
May 1 - Labour Day
On May 1, there are float parades in cities across the Czech Republic. My memories go back to the communist era when it was mandatory to participate in these parades. There were lots of Czechoslovak and Soviet flags, communist party officials were seated on a tribune decorated in red, with huge pictures of Marxist leaders and a sign "With the Soviet Union Forever" hanging above their heads. As we passed by the tribune, we were supposed to wave with our little paper flags and cheer with enthusiasm. Russian working class songs were screaming from every speaker.
May 5 - Prague Uprising (1945)
Although Berlin was captured and Hitler dead by May 5, German troops were still fighting in Czechoslovakia. The Prague Radio Station was under an attack and called for help. Ordinary citizens rushed with weapons to defend their Radio. That was the beginning of Prague Uprising when Czech citizens took an active part in fighting the remaining German troops until the arrival of the Liberation Army.
May 8 - Liberation Day (1945)
Liberation Day was celebrated until recently on May 9, which was a day when Russians arrived in Prague. The west part of Czechoslovakia was liberated by Americans. I suspect that the change in date for the Liberation Day has something to do with that.
July 5 - Cyril and Methodius (863)
Cyril and Methodius were two brothers born in Thessalonica. They spoke several languages, including the Slavonic language which was only a spoken language. Cyril created a Slavonic alphabet and started to translate the scriptures. Both brothers arrived in Moravia in 863 and established a Church. They are credited for creating the alphabet and for bringing Christianity to the Czech Lands.
July 6 - Jan Hus (1415)
Jan Hus is one of the most important figures in the Czech history. Jan Hus was a Catholic priest and a reformator. He preached in the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague and developed a large following. He was tried for heresy and refused to denounce his statements in exchange for his life. He was burnt at stake in 1415. His last words were, "The truth will prevail." These words are inscribed on the Czech presidential ensign.
The Moravian Church that has spread around the world has its roots in teachings of Jan Hus. Jan Hus is referred to as John Huss in English.
August 21 - Anniversary of Occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact (1968)
You certainly won't find this day in any calendar, but it is important to many people. People were killed, lives of many were changed forever. Many people from Czechoslovakia immigrated to other countries after the invasion.
October 28 - Independence Day (1918)
Czecholovakia was granted independence from the Autro-Hungarian Empire after the World War I on October 28, 1918. The first Czechoslovak president was Tomas Garyk Masaryk.
November 2 - The Day of the Souls
Although nothing on scale compared to the Day of the Dead in Mexico, on this day or the weekend before people remember their dead relatives and attend to their graves.
November 17 - Students' Day (1939)
Students have always played a major role in the fight for democracy and freedom in the Czech Republic. On November 17, 1939, students staged big protests in Prague against the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Jan Opletal paid with his life. Another student's name is written in the Czech history. Jan Palach set himself on fire on January 16, 1969, to protest the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. November 17, 1989, was the beginning of November events in Czechoslovakia or, as it is known, the Velvet Revolution. It started as a legal rally to commemorate the death of Jan Opletal in 1939 but turned into a demonstration demanding democratic reforms.
December 6 - St. Nicholas
On the evening of December 6, children receive sweets from St. Nicholas. He arrives in a priestly robe and a hat, accompanied by an angel and a devil. The devil tries to scare the kids and there's sometimes a piece of coal from him in the bag with sweets, especially if a child wasn't always good during the past year. A similar tradition exists in other European countries. St. Nicholas was a priest in Turkey in the ancient times.
December 24 - Christmas Day
The main Christmas celebration in the Czech culture takes place on December 24. The tree is decorated and a special dinner is prepared. A traditional Czech Christmas meal consists of a fish soup with vegetables and croutons, fried breaded carp (a fish) fillets, and a potato salad. Carp is raised for this occasion in ponds around Trebon in Southern Bohemia. They are sold live just before Christmas. Some people choose to have them killed in the store, but many bring them home alive and keep them in their bathtubs until it's time to make supper. This was a fun time for us kids watching the carp floating in our bathtub. There was also a lot of excitement and yelling when the slippery carp tried to escape our father's hands just before the kill. After dinner, everyone gathers around a sparkling Christmas tree and presents are unwrapped. It the Czech tradition it is said that the Christmas tree and presents are brought by baby Jesus. Santa Claus is not part of Czech culture, although lately he's been seen in department stores and in advertising.
December 25 and 26 - Christmas Holidays
Time to rest and visit relatives and friends.
December 31 - Silvestr
There are a lot of celebrations going on during this night as in other places in the world.
People in the Czech Republic celebrate not only birthdays, but also namedays. Every Czech name is assigned one day in the calendar. Name days are like birthdays on a smaller scale.
Czech traditions are a combination of Christian and pagan traditions. An example of a Christian tradition is Christmas and the children's belief that the Christmas tree and presents are brought by baby Jesus. Also, the breaded carp fillets for dinner on Christmas Eve symbolize Christianity; the ancient symbol of Christianity was fish. A lot of traditional Czech Christmas carols are about baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Most people in the Czech Republic are not religious, though. An example of a pagan tradition is "The Burning of Witches."
Since the Velvet Revolution, the Czech culture has been exposed to American influences. Santa Claus has been seen in Czech department stores and advertising, and Czech kids have started to celebrate Halloween. Mothers's Day is also a new holiday in the Czech Republic. Hopefully, these new traditions and holidays will co-exist along the traditional Czech ones. It would be a pity to see some of them disappear.
Holidays, traditions, and important days in the Czech Republic:
January 1 - New Year
On January 1, families have a special lunch to celebrate the New Year. The meal is often a "rizek" or "schnitzel" in German (a breaded pork steak) and potatoes.
March 8 - International Women's Day
On this day, women receive lots of flowers from family members, relatives, friends, and co-workers. For a lot of men, this day is an opportunity to have a few drinks, so it's hard to tell who really celebrates this day.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the main Easter holiday in the Czech Republic. In the morning, boys and men go visiting friends. They carry with them "pomlazkas", braided willow sticks with colourful ribbons tied at the end. They chase and whip with "pomlazkas" female inhabitants of every place they visit. In exchange, they receive coloured eggs from girls and women. Apparently, the symbolism behind this custom is to assure fertility.
In Canada, we only colour a few eggs and buy a chocolate bunny. Quite often we don't have time off on Easter Monday, so this holiday has lost a meaning to our family over the time.
April 30 - Burning of Witches
On the evening of April 30, huge bonfires are burning on hills in the Czech Republic. Youth gathers around and stays late into the night. This is called "The Burning of Witches" and symbolizes the end of winter and invitation of spring. It is probably an ancient pagan tradition. I also witnessed this tradition in Austria.
May 1 - Labour Day
On May 1, there are float parades in cities across the Czech Republic. My memories go back to the communist era when it was mandatory to participate in these parades. There were lots of Czechoslovak and Soviet flags, communist party officials were seated on a tribune decorated in red, with huge pictures of Marxist leaders and a sign "With the Soviet Union Forever" hanging above their heads. As we passed by the tribune, we were supposed to wave with our little paper flags and cheer with enthusiasm. Russian working class songs were screaming from every speaker.
May 5 - Prague Uprising (1945)
Although Berlin was captured and Hitler dead by May 5, German troops were still fighting in Czechoslovakia. The Prague Radio Station was under an attack and called for help. Ordinary citizens rushed with weapons to defend their Radio. That was the beginning of Prague Uprising when Czech citizens took an active part in fighting the remaining German troops until the arrival of the Liberation Army.
May 8 - Liberation Day (1945)
Liberation Day was celebrated until recently on May 9, which was a day when Russians arrived in Prague. The west part of Czechoslovakia was liberated by Americans. I suspect that the change in date for the Liberation Day has something to do with that.
July 5 - Cyril and Methodius (863)
Cyril and Methodius were two brothers born in Thessalonica. They spoke several languages, including the Slavonic language which was only a spoken language. Cyril created a Slavonic alphabet and started to translate the scriptures. Both brothers arrived in Moravia in 863 and established a Church. They are credited for creating the alphabet and for bringing Christianity to the Czech Lands.
July 6 - Jan Hus (1415)
Jan Hus is one of the most important figures in the Czech history. Jan Hus was a Catholic priest and a reformator. He preached in the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague and developed a large following. He was tried for heresy and refused to denounce his statements in exchange for his life. He was burnt at stake in 1415. His last words were, "The truth will prevail." These words are inscribed on the Czech presidential ensign.
The Moravian Church that has spread around the world has its roots in teachings of Jan Hus. Jan Hus is referred to as John Huss in English.
August 21 - Anniversary of Occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact (1968)
You certainly won't find this day in any calendar, but it is important to many people. People were killed, lives of many were changed forever. Many people from Czechoslovakia immigrated to other countries after the invasion.
October 28 - Independence Day (1918)
Czecholovakia was granted independence from the Autro-Hungarian Empire after the World War I on October 28, 1918. The first Czechoslovak president was Tomas Garyk Masaryk.
November 2 - The Day of the Souls
Although nothing on scale compared to the Day of the Dead in Mexico, on this day or the weekend before people remember their dead relatives and attend to their graves.
November 17 - Students' Day (1939)
Students have always played a major role in the fight for democracy and freedom in the Czech Republic. On November 17, 1939, students staged big protests in Prague against the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Jan Opletal paid with his life. Another student's name is written in the Czech history. Jan Palach set himself on fire on January 16, 1969, to protest the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. November 17, 1989, was the beginning of November events in Czechoslovakia or, as it is known, the Velvet Revolution. It started as a legal rally to commemorate the death of Jan Opletal in 1939 but turned into a demonstration demanding democratic reforms.
December 6 - St. Nicholas
On the evening of December 6, children receive sweets from St. Nicholas. He arrives in a priestly robe and a hat, accompanied by an angel and a devil. The devil tries to scare the kids and there's sometimes a piece of coal from him in the bag with sweets, especially if a child wasn't always good during the past year. A similar tradition exists in other European countries. St. Nicholas was a priest in Turkey in the ancient times.
December 24 - Christmas Day
The main Christmas celebration in the Czech culture takes place on December 24. The tree is decorated and a special dinner is prepared. A traditional Czech Christmas meal consists of a fish soup with vegetables and croutons, fried breaded carp (a fish) fillets, and a potato salad. Carp is raised for this occasion in ponds around Trebon in Southern Bohemia. They are sold live just before Christmas. Some people choose to have them killed in the store, but many bring them home alive and keep them in their bathtubs until it's time to make supper. This was a fun time for us kids watching the carp floating in our bathtub. There was also a lot of excitement and yelling when the slippery carp tried to escape our father's hands just before the kill. After dinner, everyone gathers around a sparkling Christmas tree and presents are unwrapped. It the Czech tradition it is said that the Christmas tree and presents are brought by baby Jesus. Santa Claus is not part of Czech culture, although lately he's been seen in department stores and in advertising.
December 25 and 26 - Christmas Holidays
Time to rest and visit relatives and friends.
December 31 - Silvestr
There are a lot of celebrations going on during this night as in other places in the world.
People in the Czech Republic celebrate not only birthdays, but also namedays. Every Czech name is assigned one day in the calendar. Name days are like birthdays on a smaller scale.
Czech traditions are a combination of Christian and pagan traditions. An example of a Christian tradition is Christmas and the children's belief that the Christmas tree and presents are brought by baby Jesus. Also, the breaded carp fillets for dinner on Christmas Eve symbolize Christianity; the ancient symbol of Christianity was fish. A lot of traditional Czech Christmas carols are about baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Most people in the Czech Republic are not religious, though. An example of a pagan tradition is "The Burning of Witches."
Since the Velvet Revolution, the Czech culture has been exposed to American influences. Santa Claus has been seen in Czech department stores and advertising, and Czech kids have started to celebrate Halloween. Mothers's Day is also a new holiday in the Czech Republic. Hopefully, these new traditions and holidays will co-exist along the traditional Czech ones. It would be a pity to see some of them disappear.