From tree to lead casting

Did you know that Christmas is not everywhere at the same time? For some countries, it is the time from the beginning of Advent until the first Sunday after January 6 (Three Kings). Somewhere only the time from December 25 to the aforementioned Sunday in January is considered Christmas. But what these holidays have in common all over the world are customs and traditions, even if they differ from country to country. Which are typical for our country?

The symbol of Christmas is without major movements decorated tree. Its origin dates back to pagan times, when the return of the gods associated with the sun was worshiped during the solstice. That is also why the church for a long time forbade the decoration of the tree, and it began to appear only in the 16th century, when it was decorated as a gift to Eve and Adam, whose holiday is December 24.

Jan Karel Liebich, the director of the State Theater, who had the tree decorated in 1812 as a surprise at a feast for friends, advocated for the expansion of this custom. The custom was taken over by other wealthy families and gradually spread to ordinary households. And quite quickly, because already around 1850, the Christmas tree is written about as a tradition, so far more of an urban one. The trees were decorated dried apples and plums, nuts, gingerbread and sweet pastries, but also ribbons. The star at the top was then a symbol of hope and insight.

Advent for Christians, it is a time of relaxation and waiting for the celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ, whose birth falls on the first Christmas holiday, or December 25. These days are accompanied by fasting. Of course, it belongs to the traditional decoration advent wreath with four candles. In the past, three candles were purple and one pink, each with its own name and associated meaning.

It also belongs to Advent mistletoe. Already in the times of the Celtic Druids, it was considered a sacred plant with magical effects that protects against sorcerers and evil spirits. Legend has it that the cross of Christ was made from the wood of the mistletoe tree (legends say that the mistletoe was a separate tree). The tree then withered in shame and turned into a plant that is supposed to redeem the suffering of Christ by bringing happiness to everyone who is gifted with it.

According to Christmas tradition on Christmas Day, fasting is kept until dark, that is, until the time when the festive dinner begins. According to superstition, whoever can stand not eating all day will see a golden piggy bank. This superstition probably has its roots in pre-Christian Europe and is connected with welcoming the winter solstice, which used to be one of the most important celebrations. It meant receding night and lengthening day. The pig was a sign of abundance and foreshadowed the departure of the winter period of lack of harvest.

Carp or steak with potato salad. This set can be described as a modern classic. On the table of our ancestors, you would mainly find porridge made from millet, peas or groats, bread, legume soup and later also fish. A traditional dish was the Christmas Kuba, or mushroom soup. Place sweets there was dried fruit and honey. Meat was forbidden for a long time, as was alcohol.

The festive dinner also included Christmas Eve customs that were supposed to ensure happiness, health and wealth for the family. For example, an extra plate was given for a random guest, according to another tradition it is for all the deceased in the family. Coins or fish scales were put under the plate to keep money and wealth in the house. The legs of the table were tied with a chain or rope to keep the family together. In order for everyone to meet again in a year in good health, no one was allowed to get up from dinner until everyone had eaten.

The shape of the Christmas tree resembles a baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. The first mentions of Christmas they come from around 1400, but it was not yet knitted, it took on this shape only two centuries later. According to tradition, the housewife usually baked as many Christmas cookies as the family members had, plus one extra for the Christmas Eve table. It was the largest and was cut up by the householder. Christmas was supposed to bring abundance and happiness to the house.

The first Czech nativity scene supposedly built in 1560 by the Jesuits in the church of St. Kliment in Prague as a reminder of the birth of Jesus. There is no record of how it looked, but it was liked so much that people started building it at home. The basic figures of the nativity scene are Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, a donkey, an ox, shepherds with sheep and figures of the three kings. Building nativity scenes was even the most widespread Christmas custom, right up until decorating trees became it.

According to our ancestors, Christmas and especially Christmas Day were the ideal time to search for what awaits them in the next year. What are the most common customs associated with it?

Apples are cut in half. If the nucleus is in the shape of a star, it means happiness and health, the cross symbolizes a serious illness.

Lead melted on a spoon, a person thought a question in his mind and poured it into the water. A flat surface then indicated calmness in the given question, a wavy one indicated restlessness.

According to Christian traditions, carols are only sung with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, i.e. with the arrival of Christmas Eve, today it is not so much considered. The tones of not only well-known carols, mostly folk, but also pop Christmas songs, which have won the hearts of listeners, are heard from all sides about Advent. What are the most famous Christmas carols?

While the most important day for Christians is Christmas Eve (that is, December 25) and with it the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, in churches the most people attend the so-called midnight mass, which usually begins at midnight on Christmas Day. The greatest classic is to accompany the service Czech Christmas Mass by Jakub Jan Ryba.

Confectionery is an integral part of the Czech Christmas and its aroma wafting from almost every kitchen is an inherent part of the Advent mood. Sweetsas we know it today, began to appear only at the beginning of the 19th century. Before that, various figurines were baked or made (mainly from dried fruit), which the children played with and could later eat. The candy was supposed to bring happiness and abundance to the house, its inhabitants and animals, so that’s where the popular shapes come from. Tradition says that there should be 7 types of Christmas cookies on the table.

It belongs to a relatively new but expanding custom Bethlehem light. His tradition was born in 1986 in Austria. It is a flame that is lit in Bethlehem, where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was born, and which travels throughout Europe. People light their own candles from Bethlehem and take them home. For believers, the light of Bethlehem is a symbol of hope, light that overcomes darkness, the flame is also a symbol of peace, peace, selflessness and human reciprocity. In the Czech Republic, scouts have been taking care of its spread for more than 30 years.