Christmas in the Czech Republic is full of unique traditions, flavours, and customs. For anyone unfamiliar with Czech Christmas, here’s a guide to some of the most cherished traditions, and what they mean to us.
Carp: The Traditional Christmas Fish
While roast turkey might dominate Christmas dinner tables elsewhere, Czechs serve fried carp (“kapr”) as the centrepiece of their Christmas Eve meal. Why carp? This tradition dates back centuries to when fish was seen as a symbol of good fortune and health. Today, many families buy their carp fresh from street vendors, where they’re sold live in big tanks during the lead-up to Christmas. We used to keep the fish swimming in the bathtub for a few days before cooking it and call it Joseph (“Pepa”). Accompanying the carp is another classic: cold potato salad (“bramborový salát”) with recipes varying from family to family.
Czech Christmas Eve: The Heart of the Festivities
While many people in the UK and elsewhere consider Christmas Day (25th December) the main event, for Czechs, it’s all about Christmas Eve (“Štědrý den”) on 24th December. This is when families gather, enjoy their festive meal, and exchange gifts under the Christmas tree. The evening is steeped in tradition: some families fast during the day in the hope of seeing the “golden piglet”, a symbol of prosperity, while others attend midnight mass to celebrate the holiday’s spiritual significance. Christmas Day itself is more relaxed, often spent visiting family and eating more.
Mulled Wine: The Christmas Market Staple
No Czech Christmas is complete without a visit to the local Christmas markets, where the air is filled with the scent of mulled wine (“svařák”). This warm, spiced drink is the perfect antidote to cold winter evenings and a beloved part of the festive season. Whether you’re sipping it while browsing market stalls or catching up with friends, mulled wine is a quintessential Czech Christmas treat. Beside Prague markets, I would recommend to visit my hometown, Olomouc.
Christmas Cookies: A Baking Extravaganza
In the Czech Republic, the lead-up to Christmas is marked by an impressive baking tradition. Families make dozens of different types of small, delicate Christmas cookies (“cukroví”), often spending days or even weeks preparing them. Czech cookies are a colourful variety of shapes and flavours. Popular types include bear claws (“medvědí pracky”), wasp nests (“vosí hnízda”), and vanilla crescents (“vanilkové rohlíčky”). Each bite is a little piece of Czech heritage.
Czech Christmas offers a heartwarming mix of culture and festive spirit. Which tradition is your favourite?
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