Ježíšek
Encyclopedia
Ježíšek is a Christmas
gift-giving figure used in the Czech Republic
. Similar gift-giving figures also appear in other countries such as Slovakia
(Ježiško) or Hungary
(Jézuska).
Much like Santa Claus
, Ježíšek gives gifts to good people - that is, Czech people send gift
s to their relatives and friends and say that the gifts are from Ježíšek. The gifts are unwrapped in the family circle on the evening of Christmas Eve
. Traditionally, Ježíšek is imagined as a small child - a firm appearance is left to each persons' imagination. At the present time, especially in advertisements, images of Santa Claus are easier to use, but face quite a lot of opposition from the general public. In the overwhelming majority of Czech families it is still Ježíšek who brings all the gifts - and the Christmas magic, too.
Ježíšek comes after dinner on Christmas Eve. Dinner usually consists of fish soup
or pea soup
with fried bread pieces and fried carp
with potato salad
. The meal named Kuba is also popular. Before or during dinner parents sneak away to put the presents under the Christmas tree then, after dinner, Ježíšek (one of adults again) rings one of the bells on the tree to announce that gifts are there and the children rush in.
Since the 19th century, the Christmas tree
is set up on the morning of Christmas Eve and taken down on Epiphany
(January 6). Decorations are usually glass blown ornaments, garlands, and candles, lit right when Ježíšek puts presents under the tree.
The Czech tradition of Ježíšek delivering presents at Christmas time is distinct from that of Saint Nicholas
who brings his presents (in the form of goodies and sweets - or coal and potatoes) on his own day December 6. He is accompanied by an angel
and a devil
(who is supposed to scare little children by telling them, he will take them to hell if they were naughty).
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
gift-giving figure used in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. Similar gift-giving figures also appear in other countries such as Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
(Ježiško) or Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
(Jézuska).
Much like Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, Ježíšek gives gifts to good people - that is, Czech people send gift
Gift
A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to...
s to their relatives and friends and say that the gifts are from Ježíšek. The gifts are unwrapped in the family circle on the evening of Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
. Traditionally, Ježíšek is imagined as a small child - a firm appearance is left to each persons' imagination. At the present time, especially in advertisements, images of Santa Claus are easier to use, but face quite a lot of opposition from the general public. In the overwhelming majority of Czech families it is still Ježíšek who brings all the gifts - and the Christmas magic, too.
Ježíšek comes after dinner on Christmas Eve. Dinner usually consists of fish soup
Fish soup
Fisherman's Soup or halászlé ; , ribena chorba; , ribina čorba) is a hot, spicy paprika-based river fish soup, originating as a dish of Hungarian cuisine, a bright red hot soup prepared with generous amounts of hot paprika and carp or mixed river fish, characteristic for the cuisines of the...
or pea soup
Pea soup
Pea soup or split pea soup is soup made, typically, from dried peas. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of peas used; all are cultivars of Pisum sativum.Pea soup has been eaten since antiquity; it...
with fried bread pieces and fried carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
with potato salad
Potato salad
Potato salad is a dish made from boiled potatoes, the versions of which vary throughout different regions and countries of the world. Although called a salad, it is generally considered a side dish, as it generally accompanies the main course....
. The meal named Kuba is also popular. Before or during dinner parents sneak away to put the presents under the Christmas tree then, after dinner, Ježíšek (one of adults again) rings one of the bells on the tree to announce that gifts are there and the children rush in.
Since the 19th century, the Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
is set up on the morning of Christmas Eve and taken down on Epiphany
Epiphany (Christian)
Epiphany, or Theophany, meaning "vision of God",...
(January 6). Decorations are usually glass blown ornaments, garlands, and candles, lit right when Ježíšek puts presents under the tree.
The Czech tradition of Ježíšek delivering presents at Christmas time is distinct from that of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
who brings his presents (in the form of goodies and sweets - or coal and potatoes) on his own day December 6. He is accompanied by an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
and a devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
(who is supposed to scare little children by telling them, he will take them to hell if they were naughty).
See also
- ChristkindChristkindDas Christkind is the traditional Christmas gift-bringer in regions of Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, parts of Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, parts of Hispanic America, in certain areas of southern Brazil and in the Acadiana region of Louisiana...
, the same tradition in German-speaking countries