| Many Czech festivals combine Christian and pre-Christian
elements. One ancient ceremony, traditionally held in the countryside,
is the Burning of the Witches on April 30. Farmers tidy their properties
and gather on a hill for a grand burning of brooms as a defence against
the witches. Couples jump over the dying fire together and the next day
single men leave branches with new leaves on the doorstep of their sweethearts.
Another springtime festival is Palm Sunday, Kvetná
nedele, just before Easter. The figure of death, made from sticks and
cloth, is ceremoniously burned, representing the end of winter. Green branches
are decorated with ribbons and eggs. In Catholic churches, priests bless
willow branches and give them to churchgoers. Farmers wave the willows
over their fields to ensure a good harvest. In villages some people place
willows on their roofs to protect their homes from fire. |
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| The school term ends on Ugly Wednesday (the Wednesday
before Easter Sunday). The next day is called Green Thursday. On this day
village boys walk around in groups carrying noisemakers called rehtacka.
The noise is supposed to chase away Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus
Christ. The practice is repeated on Good Friday. On the Saturday, the boys
again walk through the village and stop at every house and rattle the
rehtacka
until they are given money, which they then share among themselves.
At Easter, people place decorated eggs or
kraslice in their homes and shop windows. In a ceremony called pomlázka,
men and boys go around gently hitting girls with switches made out of braided
birch twigs. In some places, women throw buckets of water on the men, and
in others they give them Easter eggs. |
| December
6 is St. Nicholas Day. According to legend, St. Nicholas, accompanied by
an angel and a devil, visit everyone's home. Children who have been good
get a small gift consisting of fruit, nuts or chocolates. Those who have
been bad are given a piece of coal or a potato. |
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| November 17 is known as International Students'
Day, honouring Czech students' contribution to the fight for freedom and
democracy. It is the anniversary of the day when the Germans closed Czech
universities in 1939. It also commemorates the student demonstrations that
led to the collapse of the Communist government in 1989.
Christmas celebrations begin on Christmas
Eve, Štedrý vecer, which means "generous evening." The Christmas
tree is decorated. The presents under the tree are said to come, not from
Santa, but from the baby Jesus. Presents are opened after dinner and some
people go to midnight mass. On Christmas Day, families get together for
a festive meal. |
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