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Baby Jesus

Presents If you wish a present from Baby Jesus, you have

to draw or write it on a piece of a paper and put it behind the window. When the paper disappears, you can be sure that Baby Jesus knows what you want for Christmas.

He comes to the room through the open window in the evening on 24st of December, just in a moment when nobody is in the room, and puts the presents under the Christmas tree.

The sound of the bell is a sign, that presents are under the tree and kids can go to the room and unpack their presents.

As a Grandfather Frost in Russia or Santa Claus in the English-speaking world Baby Jesus gives out Chritmas presents to Czech children .

Baby Jesus is a person that takes the form of a little boy.

In general

Baby Jesus has origin in Germany in the 16th century. In Czech Republic he began to be considered as a

symbol of Christmas in the 19th century. In Czech Republic there is still the tradition of both

persons – St. Nicolas (December 5), and Baby Jesus (December

24).

History

Those who stay hungry from morning until Christmas dinner they will see a golden pig.

Traditional Czech Christmas dinner is fried fish (carp) with potatoe salad.

Under plates are given money - it brings happiness.

Christmas table

Sprig of mistletoe should not be missing in any household.

From England comes the custom that man can kiss any girl who is standing under the mistletoe.

Mistletoe

The first Christmas tree in Czech Republic lit up in Prague 1812.

Thirty years later began selling Christmas trees quite commonly.

Christmas Tree

The Communist Party in the past tried to replace Baby Jesus by Grandfather Frost during socialism.

After the Velvet Revolution in 1989 there is another strong and business powered opponent - Santa Claus.

The Future of Baby Jesus in Czech households is becoming more uncertain.

However, we believe that our Baby Jesus will be the symbol of the Czech Christmas forever…

Something interesting

Created by: John Koten

Resources: http://www.ceske-tradice.cz/tradice/zima/vanoce/jezisek/_

zobraz=legenda-o-narozeni-jeziska http://www.ceske-tradice.cz/tradice/zima/vanoce/_zobraz=stedrovecerni-stul-a-zvyky-okolo-neho http://www.ceske-tradice.cz/tradice/zima/vanoce/_zobraz=stedrovecerni-vesteni http://www.ceske-tradice.cz/tradice/zima/vanoce/betlemy,-jeslicky www.ceske-tradice.cz

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