#Czech Christmas

[theelfmaiden]

Christmas is time of fortune telling. People light up candles in walnut shell boats and let water tell them of their families' fate.

Regardless of what water will foretell for next year, I wish all families and people stricken with sadness this Christmas good fortune, stronger bonds and peace in their hearts.

❤️

(A lil doodle 🤗 for everyone 🌟 a pro spolužáky z fildy UK od přírody UK 🙏)

[hana-loves-bumblebees]

Reblogujte pokud si myslíte, že těsto na cukroví chutná stejně dobře nebo lépe než hotový produkt, snažím se něco dokázat

[mist-the-wannabe-linguist]

Dunno how to put it properly into words but lately I find myself thinking more about that particular innocence of fairy tales, for lack of better word. Where a traveller in the middle of a field comes across an old woman with a scythe who is very clearly Death, but he treats her as any other auntie from the village. Or meeting a strange green-skinned man by the lake and sharing your loaf of bread with him when he asks because even though he's clearly not human, your mother's last words before you left home were to be kind to everyone. Where the old man in the forest rewards you for your help with nothing but a dove feather, and when you accept even such a seemingly useless reward with gratitude, on your way home you learn that it's turned to solid gold. Where supernatural beings never harm a person directly and every action against humans is a test of character, and every supernatural punishment is the result of a person bringing on their own demise through their own actions they could have avoided had they changed their ways. Where the hero wins for no other reason than that they were a good person. I don't have the braincells to describe this better right now but I wish modern fairy tales did this more instead of trying to be fantasy action movies.

[beatrixacs]

Baking of Christmas cookies done :)

[allthingseurope]

Prague, Czech Republic (by Daniyar)

[water1oggedcorpse]

This could be us but

[pagan-stitches]

WIP

[periodcostumefantasylover]

Cinderellas wedding dress in Three Wishes For Cinderella

[half-a-life]

"Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood."

George Orwell, 1984

View

Prague, Czech Republic 🇨🇿

[valerieandherweekofwonderz]

Krtek o Vánocích / The Little Mole and Christmas (1975) dir. by Zdeněk Miler.

[wgm-beautiful-world]

P R A G U E

[agelessphotography]

Man with Kitten on Christmas Eve, London, Markéta Luskačová, 1975

[ghost-orion]

from a christmas-celebrating czech, here are some christmas traditions families sometimes keep which are not often noted in foreign sources, not very detailed or not closely explained:

families get together on the 24th of december. the gifts are hidden in the room with the christmas tree. (or, if there's nobody who believes in ježíšek and the traditions are just a formality, the gifts are set under the tree.)

usually the host cooks the christmas feast. the traditional food is fish soup, potato salad and breaded and fried carp. that's less and popular today as the consumption of christmas carp has a similar history the the american thanksgiving turkey (just too much fuckin carp dude), usually there are many options to choose from when it comes to meat, be it different fish, chicken and pork schnitzel, or meatless being breaded mushrooms or cheese, and common substitutes for potato salad is creamy mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes.

the rest of the family either helps or hangs out, watching christmas czech, czechoslovak, soviet or foreign (usually english, american or german) movies, eating christmas treats and cookies (cukroví).

when everybody sits down at the table for christmas dinner, it is prohibited to get up up until the bell rings. if the feast is too big to fit on the table, there are smaller tables set up around the big one, or only the host can get up. this rule is very amusing to parents (or patient people) because you can hold the whole table hostage while the children are So Desperate For The Gifts Uncle Come On!!! Why Have You Been Eating That Single Piece Of Fish For 4 Minutes 18 Seconds Now

after the food, traditionally one of the plates has a carp scale hidden under it, and the person who finds it will have great luck. today it's more symbolic, again, so either all the children/young couples find a carp scale, or everyone finds one, or of there's no carp served, there's usually coins hidden there.

the christmas tree is usually set up in the living room or just a different room from where the dinner is set. the idea is that while you're eating, "little jesus" can come and bring your presents and put them under the christmas tree. when he leaves, he rings a little bell, meaning you can get up and go get your gifts.

this is an illusion usually kept up by the host getting up to carry the empty plates into the kitchen. while they're away, they go to the living room where the gifts are hidden around, and place them under the tree. then they ring the bell and run back to the dining space, saying the he left just as they came in.

unless children who still believe in ježíšek ("little jesus") are present at the christmas table, it's usually just kept symbolically, and there's not that much emphasis on keeping the magic alive- for example ringing the bell at the table, or leaving without the bell.

when everybody is sat around the tree, the youngest usually fetches the gifts to everyone. (if they're too young to read, they bring it to someone who reads the tag for them.) it depends on the family, but sometimes everybody waits for all the gifts to be distributed to open the gifts, sometimes they open the gifts as they get them, sometimes everybody opens at once, sometimes people wait to see everybody's individual reactions.

feel free to add more!!

[travelingare]

📍Prague, Czech Republic

Experience the enchanting winter holiday season in Prague,captured beautiful by 📸@peter.cech.photography.

Prague the capital of the Czech Republic transforms into a winter fairy tale with its stunning architecture and festive decorations.

The city's Christmas markets, particularly the one in Old Town Square, are a highlight of the season. Traditional wooden stalls offer everything from handmade gifts to warm, spiced mulled wine and trdelník, a local sweet pastry.

Prague's historic landmarks, such as Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, are decorated with lights, adding to the magical atmosphere. The city's Gothic and Baroque architecture provides a picturesque backdrop for the festive season. Enjoy the sounds of Christmas carols and classical music concerts filling the air in churches and concert halls, enhancing the city's festive spirit. Stroll along the Vltava River or the snow-covered streets to fully appreciate Prague's winter charm. City parks, such as Petřín Hill, become peaceful spots to enjoy the snowy scenery.

Il Indulge in Czech winter cuisine, known for its hearty and comforting dishes, in the cozy warmth of Prague's cafes and restaurants.

[christmaswinter]

Visit Prague in winter

Prague is full of Christmas decorations in December. The lights and Christmas trees create a magical atmosphere in the city. The main Christmas markets on the Old Town Square are open until 6 January, and you can also visit a number of other places with a fairy-tale atmosphere.

[allthingseurope]

Prague (by Always Traveling)