European Youth for Understanding

In the Czech Republic celebrations of Christmas begin with the visit of St. Nicholas on December 6th and end with the visit of the Three Kings. Nicholas is called here Svatý Mikuláš and it is believed, that he came on the earth with an angel and a whip-carrying devil. In the Czech Republic a girl can tell her future before Christmas. According to our tradition, they can put a cherry twig in water on December 4th. If the twig blossoms before Christmas Eve, the girl will marry sometimes during the following year. On Christmas Eve people decorate a Christmas tree, cook soup made of carp´s head, fry carp-fillets and make potato salad for dinner. People belive, if they don´t eat all day since the dinner, they will see a mythical golden pig. Around fifth o´clock, after a dinner, people come to the Christmas tree, where the Christmas Father left presents for all family. At midnight, most families go to Holy Mass, to the church, where they sing the Cristmas carols.

In the Czech Republic Mother´s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Traditionally, it is a day when children give presents, flowers, and home made cards to their mothers.

We celebrate our national holiday on October 28th. This is a day when we reached our independence, sovereignty. The independent state – Czechoslowakia was established.

Easter is a religious holiday, it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christus. We celebrate Easter on the Sonday and Monday after the first spring full moon. Czech men and boys have given girls and women an Easter birching with a decorated bunch of birch sticks. It begins at midnight on Sunday and continues Monday morning. If somebody comes after noon, girls can pour him with water. Birchers get lots of sweets, fruit and mainly decorated eggs because in folk culture, the Easter egg was a magical symbol of life and spring.

On 14th February St.Valentine´s Day is celebrated, many people send a card and give presents whom they love.

Most of the Czech people aren´t believers. But mostly older people go to the church regularly.

Most of the people here don´t wear any special traditional clothes, but in some parts are traditional folk costumes.

Morning – breakfast (not too big) Snack – mainly students in the school Lunch – main meal of the day (Snack) Dinner – mainly cold meal, not so big

We have to be 18.

Yes, we have a lot of traditional music – folk songs. Some of them are typical for some parts of the Czech Republic. People in this parts have got typical dances too.