Celebrating Christmas Czech Style

On Monday earlier this week I joined my friend Imelda and her husband’s family for her father-in-law’s company’s (Metrostau – a major Czech construction firm) holiday party. I guess I was expecting some Christmas music, carols, red and gold decorations, but what I found were chic Czechs, tender Prague ham, horseradish (yum yum – you know you’ve got Slavic blood flowing through you when you can’t get enough of this hot and numbing substance), a selection of cold items, little cakes, and an acapella group, The Reporter, dressed in black. I have to say The Reporter was absolutely fantastic, singing several Czech songs in addition to a few American tunes like Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” and “Love and Marriage” but with extra special, very creative arrangements. I was a little taken a back at first by the black costumes (after all, this was a Christmas party), but then I realized this was actually a holiday party, and it was after all the Czech Republic.

I have to share a funny story from that night. I guess as I was walking towards Imelda and her in-laws, Imelda’s father-in-law questioned her, “So, you’re friend is American? But, she’s so small! She’s American??” Czechs as well as many Europeans think automatically that Americans are large, overweight people. They are entirely surprised when they see otherwise. Imelda and I had a good laugh fortunately. I must add, though, that the Czechs better watch out or they will soon have similar rates of obesity. They already lead the European Union in highest rate of colon cancer (I venture a guess based on their starch-filled diet with little fiber.).

Just a few minutes ago I returned from our company’s holiday party, which was held in the building, the party area set up like a Czech market or fair. At five p.m. a folk group started playing folk songs and dancing, which was followed by more modern pieces played by the children of employees. I somehow got roped into volunteering to help kids at a craft table, making cards with stamps, markers, and scissors. It’s was really neat to see kids of so many different nationalities, including Central Asians, Czechs, Americans, and several others. While I enjoyed making a few snowflake-esque cut outs to paste on a few cards, I was very envious of the table next to me where kids were making traditional Czech crafts with dried fruits. Back in the day, Czechs would take apples and make them into candle holders with thin sticks emanating out bearing pieces of dried apricots and raisins. I have to say these very simple ornaments have won me over. I’m a bit tired of the glitzy schmuck of silver and gold bulbs and flashy lights. There’s something to be said for simplicity.

Yet another way in which the holiday season is celebrated in this part of the world is Christmas markets. Last night after a little dinner soiree I took a nice, leisurely walk with my friends Lenka and Karolina to Old Town Square. There are wooden booths with red roofs lining the square with a carved wooden crèche and lookout point in the middle. We sipped on hot glasses of svarak (mulled wine) and took in the sights. Strolling through the streets of Prague Lenka and Karolina told me more about how Czechs celebrate on the 24th. To sum up what Christmas means to most Czechs, according to Lenka and Karolina, it means family time, eating carp and potato salad followed by dozens of little cookies, burning cones or pyramids of frankincense throughout the house, and gathering around the TV to watch Czech fairytales.

Well, now I really have visions of sugarplum fairies dancing in my head :)