Štědrý Den by Chipka
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Description
According to Czech tradition, that Coka-Cola-swilling, eggnog-stealing, pudgy man in garish, red and white clothing does not shimmy down chimneys and deliver gifts to children, before eating cookies in countless strangers’ living rooms. Chimneys, in the Czech Republic, remain unmolested during the Christmas Holiday season. Mysterious house-guests don’t consume cookies. Gifts do arrive, however, only they’re brought to nice children (who have washed all of the windows [and dishes] in the house) by Ježíšek: “little Jesus,” though nearly everyone I knew used the descriptor “Baby Jesus.” It was from Pavl, and from Štepán and Kača that I first learned of the custom, and the degree of shameless bribery involved. Czech parents are cunning; they’re able to trick their children (for a short time) into wanting to do housework at Christmas-time. Czech children are both eager and insistent; many that I know of will make exceedingly ostentatious shows of doing the required housework, while insuring that Ježíšek knows exactly what they want, in what size, what color, and with the appropriate number of batteries and peripheral accessories included. As Ježíšek is invisible, the children in question make sure to provide him with a bell to ring, once the required gifts (in the right sizes and colors, with the appropriate peripherals) have been delivered.
I thought of this as I took this picture. There is quite a lot in this image that reminds me of my life in the Czech Republic. There is a marionette involved; there’s a rocket; there are faux-classical streetlamp globes reflected in the display window glass. I didn’t think of Ježíšek (pronounced “yeh-ZHEE-sek”) pulling Christmas gifts out of his divine diaper and leaving them for nice, well-behaved children with dishpan hands. I didn’t think of Christmas dinner, preceded by carp blood in dribbles and dollops on cobblestones. That’s probably because Chicago doesn’t have very many cobblestones, and carp isn’t really a part of the traditional dinner here. You can’t buy them from carp vendors sprouting on various street corners like some odd and entertaining form of city-growth. (The carp vendors I managed to see in Prague were hilariously competitive and vocal: I learned that in carp vendor ecology, the vendors with the best-stocked fish tanks, and the more vocal habits always draw the most aggressive [and persistent] housewife shoppers. Such housewife sorts were always fair with the number of Crowns paid for the best fish.)
Today is Christmas Eve…at least in Chicago, and so I find myself thinking of overseas customs. Christmas Eve, in the Czech Republic is recognized by a different name. Štědrý den. If my woeful grasp of the Czech language is correct, the name simply means “Generous day.” On “generous day” one sees quite a lot of last-minute shopping…and a bit of pre-last minute drinking. And, as today is Štědrý den, I wonder if Baby Jesus has pulled anything out of his diaper for the various window-washers employed by Macy’s.
It’s rather amusing that a Macy’s store window would inspire such thoughts and memories, but as I said, the store window in question features a marionette, and non-Christmas imagery, and so I’m not surprised that associations abound. I’m not big on Christmas, but I do like the feelings that the season engenders: especially if it involves eating sauerkraut soup (and hoping to see “the golden pig” which brings good luck) or getting nice and snockered with close friends (many of whom speak English with bouncy, musical accents.) I’m not getting snockered, but I’m visiting with Corey, and listening to distinctly non-Christmas music. As the Czech Republic is a few hours ahead of Chicago, I also suspect that friends like Pavl, are getting rather nice and close to “sleeping it all off” tomorrow.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great holiday season—with or without children washing your windows.
Comments (23)
MagikUnicorn
Beautiful story as usual Chipka Gorgeous ARTWORK Merry Christmas
durleybeachbum
A fascinating image and another super read! Have a great day!
Faemike55
Very cool image and narrative thank you for the insight to customs outside the US, specifically the Czech Republic. I wish you and yours a beautiful and Merry Christmas
KatesFriend
Well I intend to get "snockered" later this evening and perhaps a have a little - well you get the idea. This reminds me, somewhat, of the visuals in the 1902 film "A Trip To The Moon" by Georges Méliès. Though of coarse, this is in colour. Artists of that era had a whimsical love affair with what physicists describe as causality. The grand clock-like motions of the universe. It was wonderfully re-assuring and obvious "evidence" of a great creator of all things. I think the upcoming quantum mechanics explosion (figuratively and literally) played out as a certain loss of innocence in the eyes of some artists. This kind of art, I think, is something of an homage to how we once saw the universe and ourselves. But in the end, we depended on our understanding of quantum mechanics to fashion the instruments which would finally bridge the gulf between worlds.
flavia49
marvelous!! Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones and a very happy New Year!!
ToniDunlap
Really a fantastic image Chipka. Wishing you Happy Holidays!
EJD64
Really cool image. It feels like 3d. Have a very Merry Christmas.
blinkings
Very interesting and informative mate. Merry Xmas.
MrsRatbag
What an intriguing image! The gear shapes suggest some kind of esoteric machinery, and the marionette is a little spooky (all marionettes strike me as a little spooky in some weird way). The mention of sauerkraut soup struck me; all of my childhood Christmas memories revolve around the mushroom-sauerkraut soup that Grandma used to make for Christmas Eve, along with all the various and assorted poppyseed dishes that were served with it. None of the recipes were written down, and unfortunately Grandma took them to her grave with her. It was a rite of passage to be old enough to eat the soup, and the smell of those Christmases lingers in my memory. Grandma was born somewhere in Austria-Hungary (as it was known at the time). The family emigrated to Northern Minnesota when she was a child, and she didn't learn English until she was an older teenager. Great Grandpa said girls didn't need to go to high school, so she never graduated. She used to talk to Grandpa in Slovak, which sounded very gutteral and angry. But her poppyseed bobulke (like little bread dumplings floating in a poppyseed and honey soup) and hard-crusted poppyseed break were so GOOD! Thanks for the memory jog, Chip, and I hope your holiday is good!
charpix
Great image, and memories to share. Christmas means a whole lot more to me, and family. Make the best of it with your friends. Best wishes for you for Christmas. :c)
Feliciti
really great all this little details to see ,looks a bit like steampunk style too !! have nice holidays to you too !
auntietk
I love this image! It looks like something you'd put together for a 2-D piece, all complex and fancy. Enjoy your holiday traditions, my dear friend. May these days be filled with wonderful experiences and lots of love!
beachzz
I spent Christmas Eve with my son and his girlfriend and one of their friend's homes. There was a little one year old boy there and of course everyone was watching him and applauding his every move. That in turn, brought a round of "Jordan, do you remember when....." And he did. It was a great night and your story brought that back to mind. Thanks for that. Merry Christmas!!
moochagoo
Great story ad Merry Xmas !
helanker
WOW! That is indeed a fascinating shot. A true beauty. Love it. !!!!
sandra46
MERRY CHRISTMAS! BEST WISHES!
Orinoor
For some reason your picture reminds me of gingerbread, but perhaps that's just the season. I love your description of the Czech traditions and it reminded me of certain odd traditions my own family has. One year as a child, my entire family of four was living on a boat, traveling for the year and to quell certain fears that Santa would not know where we were, my parents created the Christmas Elf, sent on special assignment by the big guy himself, to deliver our gifts on Christmas Eve. I was the Elf that year and for years to come, and that tradition has passed to my nieces as well. I like traditions and the stories behind them, it makes life so much richer, don't you think? Merry Christmas Chip!
RodS
This is very cool, Chip - and I love your narration on the Czech customs. Most fascinating, my friend! Hope your Christmas was the best!
wysiwig
At first I didn't realize this was a photograph. For me it has a certain European feel to it. Christmas here is a particulaly American invention. A little bit from here, a little bit from there and then we go and shop the specials. I really liked your description fo the Czech Christmas. European traditions seem to be altogether more organic, more authentic. I hope they stay that way.
bmac62
I am here about two days late...but the enjoyment is absolutely the same... Nyní projdou české pivo, prosím:)
thecytron
Stunning colors!
kgb224
Merry Christmas my friend. God Bless.
danapommet
This is a wildly colorful image. So many parts and pieces. I like it a lot and your narrative too!