Deadline: December 22, 2017  

Award: $500

 

 

 

The Floating of Walnut Shells
Little boats are made out of empty walnut shells and each family member places a little burning candle into a shell. Everyone's shells are then floated on a bowl of water. If the shell makes it across the bowl, its owner will live a long and healthy life. A shell that sinks brings bad luck to its owner.

 

The Cutting of the Apple
After Christmas dinner, every person present at the table cuts an apple in half (crosswise, from the stem down). Both halves are shown to everyone around the table. If the core is shaped as a star, it means that everyone will get together next year in happiness and health. A four-pointed cross is a bad omen and means that someone at the table will fall ill or die within a year.

 

The Pouring of Lead
A piece of lead is melted over fire and then poured into a container of water. The resulting shape will tell the pourer's destiny.

 

The Golden Piglet 

He who fasts all day until dinner will see the golden piglet - zlate prasatko - (on the wall, in the sky). 

Fish Scales
Fish scales should be placed under Christmas dinner plates or under the tablecloth to bring wealth to the house. Carrying a fish scale in a wallet all year will ensure that money will not run out.

 

Cherry Tree Twigs (Barborky)
On December 4, St. Barbora's Day, an unmarried girl is supposed to cut a twig off of a cherry tree and put it in water. If the twig blooms by Christmas Eve, the girl will marry within a year.  

 

Kiss under the Mistletoe 

Above the table there should be a bunch of mistletoe hanging. It will bring  good luck and when people kiss under mistletoe, the love will stay with them in a coming year.  

 

Ah, the first snow! The land in snow-white dressing
like winter's bride - but wanly, sadly ailing...
trees in their hundreds raise dry arms a-wailing
for help in vain, their futile pleas expressing...

Now the storm riders scour the land, time pressing,
for wedding witnesses - seek frosts availing,
and from the heights a dark grey fog is trailing
as though the marriage bed to drape, caressing...

Ah, the first snow! All drab and drear surrounding -
Oh saddened land, whither your beauty taken,
with its allure of woodlands, leas abounding?

Ah, the first snow! What soul can stop reproaching,
as the first flakes are onto dark locks shaken,
first snow-white down exhaled by age encroaching? -