C+M+B+ 2009: Three Kings in Czech on snow
White morning has started today the Three Kings day in Prague. Look at the snowy street number of our house, the number which was the inspiration for the domain of this website . According to the Czech tradition on Three Kings Day (Magi Day) children walk door to door in masks of Three Kings, sing carols and got candies.
The tradition was little bit interrupted in the second half of the last century under communist dictatorship, and now is more practiced among catholic communities in the quite atheistic country. The holiday was in the shade of the mots popular Christmas Eve in Czech. I remember in the 70’s and 80’s three letters K+B+M+ written by chalk on house doors as alleged initials of Three Kings names Kaspar (Caspar), Melichar, Baltazar as people believed. According to catholic source letters C+B+M+ are abbreviation of Latin prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat – that means Christ bless this house. Now the tradition is supported by Catholic Church that organized under this tradition charity money collections.
But Three Kings were even under communists present in Czech minds because of very strong tradition of Christmas Eve celebration on December 24th with the Baby Jesus called in Czech “Jezisek” (say something like: Yesheesheck) who is imaginary person who gives presents under the Christmas tree. And people continued in creating and displaying Nativity Scenes in Churches and homes and on January 6th they contribute in the puppets scene figures of Three Kings. Even the official stationeries sold small Nativity Scenes factory made from paper.
Look at the up to date home made Nativity Scenes with Three King in our home by our Barbora who enjoy to make figures and puppets from fleece.

Native Scene with Three Kings from fleece in our home made by Barbora, and sweets, Christmas 2008 (Click on the picture)
More beta:
Three King in Czech (Czech language with a couple photos)
By: Standa - Posted:
Tuesday January 6th, 2009 at 10:51 PM Category: General.
Tags: Czech, Tradition
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