This may be of interest to members of our list.

Some of the text as I received it has become a little garbled. Anyone who 
requires clarification is advised to contact the CMSD List owner, Judith 
Mabary ([log in to unmask]).

Best wishes,

AB


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>From: "Judith Mabary" <[log in to unmask]>
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>Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 11:01:33 -0500
>Subject: [csmsd-l] Fw: Research Question to Distribution - advent in the 
>Czech Republic
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Petr Chudoba
>Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 8:09 PM
>To: Petr Chudoba
>Subject: Research Question to Distribution - advent in the Czech Republic
>
>Good evening!
>
>I'm continuing on my research of Czech Christmas customs and would 
>appreciate it if you would look over this document and let me know if I 
>have my facts correct. I would also welcome any personal recollections and 
>jpeg images that would pertain. Many thanks in advance!
>
>Petr Chudoba
>Rochester, NY - USA
>
>Advent
>(Advent or příchod)
>
>The word "Advent" comes from the Latin "Adventus redemptoris" and means 
>"the coming of the Savior." The word was originally chosen to designate 
>the period of solemn preparation for the celebration of the birth of the 
>Baby Jesus.
>
>Devout Roman Catholics fast during the Advent season, eating eggs, milk, 
>cheese and fish in place of meat. As St. Hesychios the Priest wrote:
>"Through His incarnation God gave us the model for a holy life and 
>recalled us from our ancient fall. In addition to many other things, He 
>taught us, feeble as we are, that we should fight against the demons with 
>humility, fasting, prayer and watchfulness. For when, after His baptism, 
>He went into the desert and the devil came up to Him as though He were 
>merely a man, He began His spiritual warfare by fasting and won the battle 
>by this means – though, being God, and God of gods, He had no need of 
>any such means at all." (St. Hesychios the Priest, "The Philokalia," 
>Volume One, p. 164)
>This fasting and atonement preceeded the abundance, plenty and 
>cheerfulness of the Christmas holidays.
>It may also be the busiest time of the year. The Advent calendar must be 
>chosen and purchased. The house must be cleaned from top to bottom. The 
>wreath, garlands and other decorations must be bought. Trips must be made 
>to the Christmas Market, for one reason or another. Christmas cards must 
>be bought, written and sent.
>Preparations must be made for the party on the eve of the Feast of Svatý 
>Mikuláš. Someone must be hired to play the part of Svatý Mikuláš, or 
>the family’s costume must be brought out of storage and carefully cleaned.
>The Christmas tree must be picked out, purchased and brought home for 
>decorating. The family’s betlém must be brought out from storage and 
>set up, carefully placing each figurine in position. Straw, chains, 
>walnuts and oplatky must be purchased and prepared for use on Christmas 
>Eve. The spice rack must be replenished and all the ingredients for the 
>baked goods must be tracked down.
>As in America, Christmas decorations and displays begin appearing in mid- 
>to late-October and the streets are crowded with people carrying packets 
>and parcels, mistletoe, fir boughs and Christmas trees. This is when the 
>shops begin luring people in with their glowing window displays, mailbox 
>flyers and commercials on all the television stations.
>Shortly after the Feast of Svatý Mikuláš, the Santas appear (without 
>the Salvation Army bells and kettles), passing out candy or advertising 
>flyers and gently suggesting that people shop in certain stores. Many 
>other Santas appear in the stores themselves, as they do in the United 
>States. Santa Claus was not known here before 1989. This old man dressed 
>in red and with a beard is said to come from somewhere in the north but he 
>rather looks like a fat American with some hamburgers and cans of 
>Coca-Cola in his bag. But that is the extent of his influence: it’s 
>Ježíšek – not Santa! – Who brings the presents on Christmas Eve.
>Exhibitions, concerts (in both churches and concert halls), festivals of 
>Advent music, benefit concerts and special programs for children abound. 
>There are madrigal groups, children’s chorales, Gregorian chants, 
>Renaissance and Baroque Christmas music, and, of course, Mozart’s 
>"Exultate Jubilate," Handel’s "Christmas Concerto," Dvořák’s 
>"Biblical Songs," and Tchaikovsky’s "The Nutcracker Ballet Suite." Many 
>concerts are held in local churches, many of which are not heated, a fact 
>that doesn’t seem to deter the audience or the performers.
>Plzeň recently tried to outdo other cities by breaking yet another Czech 
>record for the largest assembled choir. On the evening of the December 
>15th, inhabitants of this city were invited to meet in the Naměstí 
>Republiky where they would sing carols, trying to break the record they 
>set the previous year when over 4,000 people sang in harmony.
>
>For most people, Christmas is inseparably connected with Christmas Mass 
>and the pastoral folk features of the musical composition called “Hej 
>mistře, vstaň bystře” ("Hey, Master, Stand Up Brightly"), written by 
>Jakub Jan Ryba. During Advent, this piece is often played, especially in 
>churches.
>The biggest Christmas trees are traditionally placed at the Staroměstské 
>náměstí, and at Hradčany, where both amateur and professional artists 
>sing their carols and folk songs during the entire Advent and Christmas 
>season. You can usually see collection boxes under the Christmas trees, 
>where people can put money and thus support charities.
>The International Theater Company of London performed "A Christmas Carol" 
>(in English, of course) at Hradčany recently. The alternative jazz and 
>international film festivals run through November, so there are 
>entertainment options to suit every taste.
>Advent is also a party season. Embassies, business associations, and 
>companies host parties and balls, most of which are formal, 
>invitation-only affairs.
>Advent is also a time for families to be together, a time of peace and 
>memories that will be fondly held for the rest of their lives.
>Ultimately, it’s a time of a growing excitement over the approaching 
>birth of Ježíšek – celebrated in music, song and displays.
>During Advent, parents ask their children to write a letter to Ježíšek 
>to tell Him everything they want to find under the tree.