Celebrations for Christmas begin with the visit of St.
Nicholas on December 6th and end with the visit of the Three Kings.
In Czech Republic, St. Nicholas is called Svaty Mikalas
and is believed to climb to earth down from heaven on a golden rope along with
his companions: an angel and a whip-carrying devil.
In Czech Republic, a girl can tell her future, it is said that
according to tradition, by putting a cherry twig in water on December 4th. If
the twig blossoms before Christmas Eve, the girl will marry sometime during the
year.
The famous King Wenceslas of the Christmas Carol was a real
King in this country. His goodness and his beliefs in Christianity infuriated
his mother, and his brother murdered him on the Church steps. Before he died he
asked for God's mercy for his brother's evil act. He became the patron saint of
Czech Republic.
Christmas is a quiet and peaceful religious time here. They
fast for one day, and have baked carp for Christmas dinner. St Nicholas visits,
and brings good children gifts, and for those children who are bad, the devil is
said to come with switches.
At midnight, most families go to Holy Mass or Pasterka
as it is known. On Christmas Day, the churches are filled with evergreens and
Christmas Trees. Celebrations go on for three days.
Czechs eat a soup made of cod roe and tempt each other with
tales of a mythical golden pig.
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