CHRISTMAS DESSERTS: VÁNOČKA.

Vánočka is a traditional Czech bread, typical for Christmas. It is rich in egg and butter, which makes it similar to brioche. Lemon peel and nutmeg add color and flavor, with the dough also containing raisins and almonds, which is braided like a jallah. The vánočka can be made from three increasingly smaller braids, which is sometimes interpreted as a crude sculpture of the Christ Child wrapped in a cloak and lying in a manger.

The vánočka is the most traditional sweet. It has a long history in Czechia and Slovakia and has become a true symbol of Christmas in these countries. Preparing vanočka is not particularly easy, so you have a variety of customs to make sure everything goes smoothly. One such custom is to wear a white apron while jumping up and down as the dough is rising, and it is best to be silent during this process. It is also said that when making vánočka, you should think of someone dear to you. 

Another tradition is to bake it with a coin inside. It is believed that whoever finds it will be rich in the following year. In addition to vánočka, there are plenty of other delicious sweets, such as fruit cake, apple strudel, gingerbread, and a variety of small cookies. Sweets and cookies are not only enjoyed on Christmas Eve, but all during the vacations. They are often exchanged among friends, family and neighbors.