Veselé Vánoce

That’s Czech for Merry Christmas if you haven’t figured that out already. I should tell you a little about what I have learned and experienced with the Czech Christmas traditions. First off on December 5th an andel, čert, and Mikolauš come around to the children and give them candy if they have been good. In English it’s an angel, devil and kind of like a Santa Claus. The children believe in these three characters kind of like how (some) kids in North America believe in Santa Claus. It’s really funny though as the devil carries around a big sack and threatens the children that if they have been bad then he will put them in the sack, but he usually just gives them a lump of coal.

Now as for the Christmas Day celebrations here in the Czech Republic that actually happens on the 24th not the 25th. Why I’m not sure. They do give presents but instead of Santa giving them they are told that they are gifts from baby Jesus. They typically have a huge meal in the evening, open presents, and then head to a midnight mass.

Now here’s where it gets interesting...the traditional meal is fish and not just any fish - carp. Now from what I know I would not consider carp a delicacy or something that I would consider special. More like they are bottom feeders in lakes and contain many bones in them. According to what I’ve been told the carp here have been farm raised, I guess that should make me feel better. Now where would you get these fish you might ask. The grocery store? Nope, you can get them right on the street. That’s right, about December 20ish or so people come with big tubs containing live carp and just set up on the side of the street. People come pick out their fish or more like the weight they want and then they kill it and filet it right there on the spot for them. I was Christmas shopping the other day, and was walking down the street with my head down and all of a sudden I heard a big THUMP! What the heck...just a guy killing a fish with a mallet. Crazy I tell you! Here are some pictures of the process of it all, and a video of it. I actually can't get the video up and running at the moment but will try again later today.



There can be quite the line up



Notice the fish scales and "stuff" on the street