Vánoční kapr
Christmas Carp
Czech Christmas Eve, from the meat-free lunch and the golden piglet to a carp in the bathtub, fried carp with potato salad, and presents from Ježíšek.
You will practice: Impersonal reflexives (nejí se, prodávají se, říká se), perfective verbs for one-off events (koupí, uvidí, zabije), and prepositions of time (před Vánoci, po večeři).
Words to know
Skim these before you read — they carry the story. Tap the star to add one to your saved words.
- VánoceChristmas
- svátekholiday, festival
- kaprcarp
- rybafish
- rybníkpond
- masomeat
- prasátkopiglet (diminutive)
- štěstíluck, happiness
- hostinafeast, banquet
- salátsalad
- vanabathtub
- večeředinner, supper
- koledacarol
- stromeček(Christmas) tree, little tree
- dárekpresent, gift
Did you get it?
4 quick questions — no grades, just a comprehension check.
1. What happens if you eat no meat at Christmas lunch, according to tradition?
2. What is the main dish of the Christmas Eve feast?
3. What do some families do with the carp before dinner?
4. Who brings Czech children their presents?
Too hard? Pick an easier text in the Czech reading library. Understanding most of a text without translations is the goal — struggling through is not.