midnight toast on the street

jednohubky

sparklers or “prskavky” are one of the less dangerous things you can set on fire on the new year

fireworks in Prague (2009)

get-to-know-cz:

“Silvestr” December 31

New Year’s Eve is in the Czech Republic celebrated mostly in the same way as in the rest of the world. 

The course of the whole celebration can be different for everybody – someone spends it at home watching TV with family, others might go out with friends.

Popular refreshments are sandwiches (“chlebíčky”), canapés (“jednohubky”) or salty baked goods (like chips). At midnight people drink champagne.

Many people meet in city or village squares at midnight where they wish each other a good luck and health in the New Year. Afterwards they look at the fireworks.

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Prague – the first minutes of 2013

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Pelíšky | some famous scenes from the movie

Miroslav Donutil is trying to explain his wife, brother and mother how Soviet soldiers tried to warm themselves on the front. But then instead of explaining it he decides to show them.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

movies i love: Pelíšky (Cosy Dens, 1999)

“Dad, dad! Russians are here!” – “What? Tell them we’ll be there in a minute.” – “You idiots, play the radio.”

Pelíšky is a Czech comedy/drama directed by Jan Hřebejk and apparently the most favourite Czech movie on Czech IMDb. 

The story is set in the late sixties – from autumn 1967 to summer 1968.
 
Teenager Michal Šebek (Michael Beran) has a crush on his upstairs neighbor, Jindřiška Krausová (Kristýna Nováková). Michal’s family is headed by a stubborn army officer who is a firm supporter of the communist system and who believes that communist technology will eventually triumph over western imperialist capitalism, while Jindřiška’s father is an ardent foe of the Communists and a war hero, who has been imprisoned several times because of his outspoken opposition to the regime; he believes that “the Bolsheviks have a year at most, maybe two”. In contrast, the younger generation couldn’t care less for politics. Instead, Michal sports a Beatles mop-top while Elien (Ondřej Brousek), the local hipster whose parents live in the USA, runs a local film group specialising in Hollywood and pre-war French films, while Jindřiška becomes Elien’s girlfriend. After a wedding that unites the families, the film ends with the news breaking of the invasion of the Warsaw Pact. (x)

• The film won three Czech Lions for the best leading actor (Jiří Kodet), the best poster and the most successful Czech film.
• The movie is loosely based on the novel Hovno Hoří (Czech: “Flaming Feces”) by Petr Šabach.

travelingcolors:

The End Station (by Martin Rak)

allthingseurope:

Brno, Czech Republic (by paprtala)

travelingcolors:

Český Krumlov | Czech Republic (by Eddo Hintoso)

Štědrý den (“Generous day”) is the most important day of Christmas holidays and falls on the 24th December.

After dinner which traditionally consists of carp with potato salad and fish soup, it is customary to sing carols and give out gifts. In the Czech Republic children get gifts from “Ježíšek” (“Baby Jesus”).
The Christmas Eve governs a number of traditional customs through which our ancestors tried to estimate the progress of the new year like cutting apples, throwing slipper  or pouring lead.Those who fast before the diner will also see the golden pig in the evening. 
The Czech Republic television program is the same every year – full of fairy tales but also old Czech and foreign comedies and musicals.

Merry Christmas! Veselé Vánoce!

Stupid shit Czechs say on Christmas | turn on English subtitles

With every video from ViralBrothers I feel mild embarrassment because of its accuracy. While this clip is probably one of the weaker ones, it still does a pretty good job in showing some Czech stereotypes.

Some explanations bellow:

Mrazík (Morozko) is a Russian fairytale but Christmas classic nevertheless.The Golden Pig is explained here. I don’t know exactly how many countries do this but we send text messages on Christmas Eve that vary from funny and overused to terribly cliché ones. The success of Czech dinner is mainly demonstrated with almost unhealthy fullness. We eat carp for Christmas dinner – a fish with lots of bones.
“Let’s save the paper for the next year”. You wouldn’t believe but there are still some people (mostly from the older generation) that do this. Other things are pretty self-explanatory…

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

that bowl is too small, it’s there just to look pretty, please use something bigger or it won’t be any fun

no iphone just have this wooden horse instead

eat your carp carefully or you’ll end up in hospital with fish bone in your stomach

this one doesn’t look like anything

when I was little kid I liked to break those things for some reason

tiše a ochotně purpura na plotně vonííí…ale tohle neni purpura

Czech customs on Christmas day

Štedrý den (Christmas Eve) on 24th December is the day when we give each other presents under the Christmas tree, while to the children brings presents Little Jesus.

We also do a few other things…

1. Walnut boats 

After all people present finally manage to make boats that don’t sink and successfully light a candle, you can start with divination. It’s very simple:

• if the boat floats to the other end of the tub or whatever you are using, then you will get what your wish for. 
• if it stays in the middle with other boats, it’s a good sign for all your relationships (but if you are the one who is surrounded, it means that the others should take a good care of you the next year)
• if the boat floats outside the circle of others, that member of the family will leave them next year (not specified how..)
• candle going off means dishonesty and complicated relationships
•  two boats touching each other means love and friendship of the owners
• if the boat rotates in one place, you are so indecisive that not even divination works on you
• sinking boat means failure for whatever you are trying to do

Sometimes the boat needs a subtle blow there and there – after all we make our own destiny. 

2. Shoe throwing

This old custom is mainly for unmarried women who want to know if there’s going to be a wedding next year. You turn your back to the door and then throw a shoe. When toecap points to the door, you can start picking up a wedding dress but heel pointing to the door means that you will have to wait a little bit longer.

Besides divination you can also put an end to your chandeliers and favourite crockery so be careful with throwing. There is no extra fortune-telling information on shoe flying through the window either. 

3. Apple cutting

As you see on the picture, in ideal scenario you cut the apple in half and see a star. That means you’ll be lucky next year. The opposite applies when there is a cross or even worse the inside is rotten. 

4. Mistletoe

I’m pretty sure this custom is widely known but just for sure – a kiss under the mistletoe with beloved person will bring luck into your relationship.

 In the Czech Republic are pretty popular golden or silver sprayed mistletoes.

5. Burning of františek 

František is an incense candle that originates from the Czech-German borderlands (mainly Krkonošsko) where it was first used to purify houses, nowadays it instigates the real Christmas atmosphere. For some it smells pleasantly but there are always people to who will say it stinks. The tradition is approximately 300 years old and the name “františek” comes after modern founder of Christmas tradition František of Assisi. 

6. Casting of lead

First melt down the lead in some metal bowl over a candle flame. Then carefully pour the molten metal into a container with cold or lukewarm water. It freezes in about 5 minutes, afterwards you can move it from the water and explore what it means…

There are many ways how to interpret lead shapes. For example: 

• a corrugated shape means unclarity and chaos, a straight shape suggests satisfying, calm life
• an ellipse predicts happy marriage, triangle luck in conducting business, crosses mean death, snakes symbolise betrayal

But the meanings differ everywhere so I would let the final decision on you. 

7. Christmas dinner

Always put one extra plate on the table for an accidental guest. Nobody should stand up until all people finish eating, unless you want to have a bad luck. And it’s good to put a fish scale under each plate so the family doesn’t have to worry about money next year.