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Christmas is a holiday full of traditions, family warmth and memories of childhood. While today’s holidays are often associated with commercial bustle and the pre-Christmas rush, many people nostalgically remember the Christmases as they were under communism.
Pre-Christmas period
Pre-Christmas preparations and the frenzy began, much like today, already in November. Shops tried to attract customers with various Christmas goods and decorations, although the selection was more limited than it is now. Queues in shops were a common occurrence, especially in front of stores with expected Western products, which were a rarity in communist Czechoslovakia.
Shopping and gifts
There were, of course, no e-shops back then, so buying gifts was associated with long waiting and searching for suitable items. The selection of gifts was more limited; fathers usually received practical gifts like slippers, while mothers could expect a fashionable sweater. Children rejoiced over tin toys of Soviet manufacture, which were commonly available. Educational construction sets or books with an ideological subtext were not uncommon.
Christmas tree and decorations
A real Christmas tree was the traditional choice, but the quality of trees sold in official shops was often not ideal. Many risked visiting the “black market” or even procured a tree themselves from the forest. Today the trend is rather an artificial tree that can be used for several years in a row. Tree decorations were often heirlooms passed down through generations – glass balls, chains and figurines that were carefully wrapped and reused every year.
Festive table
Exotic fruit like mandarins, bananas or oranges were rare and prized goods that emphasized the specialness of the festive season. As for the festive table, even under communism Christmas Eve was associated with traditional dishes – fish soup, carp and potato salad, for which every family had its tried-and-true recipe.
Today’s Christmas vs. the past
Although many rules and customs have changed over the years, the basic essence of Czech Christmas remains preserved. Today, thanks to social networks, we have the opportunity to watch how friends celebrate Christmas, and we can immediately see the first snow anywhere in the world. The huge availability of goods from around the world allows us to choose gifts that were previously unavailable or very rare. Even though times have changed and with them the ways we experience Christmas, certain elements remain the same – the desire to spend time together with family, traditions passed down from generation to generation, and the magical atmosphere that accompanies the holidays, whether there are neon advertisements outside or socialist slogans.
