A1-20 · Halloween and Christmas: USA vs. Czechia

Halloween and Christmas: USA vs. Czechia

This year, Bára is going to celebrate Halloween and Christmas in the USA. Here is what she knows.

Halloween (October 31st). In the USA, Halloween is a big holiday for kids. They wear costumes: witches, ghosts, superheroes. In the evening, they go from house to house and say "Trick or treat!" People give them candy. Families also carve pumpkins with funny or scary faces. In Czechia, Halloween is newer. Czechs remember their dead on November 2nd, All Souls' Day. They go to the cemetery and light candles. "I'm going to wear a witch costume," says Bára, "and I'm going to carve my first pumpkin!"

Christmas (December 24th–25th). In Czechia, the big day is December 24th. Families eat fish soup, carp and potato salad. After dinner, a little bell rings, and the presents are under the tree. Ježíšek, Baby Jesus, brings them. In the USA, Santa Claus brings the presents. Children leave cookies and milk for him on December 24th, and he comes down the chimney at night. They open their presents on the morning of December 25th. Some presents are in big socks, called stockings.

"I'm going to miss our carp," says Bára, "but I'm going to love the cookies!"