Do you know traditional Czech Christmas decorations?

Interested to know how Czechs decorate their Christmas trees? Fancy delving into the secrets of making Christmas decorations that are listed as UNESCO world heritage or flasks that even feature in the collections of the British King or the Queen of Belgium? And perhaps you’d like to have your own glittering Czech gem on your own Christmas tree? Then you’re in the right place!

Bead Christmas decorations: Czech UNESCO gem

Many Czech Christmas trees are decorated with blown-glass beads that are inherited over generations. The family-owned business Rautis in Poniklá in the Krkonoše Mountains, where glass-making has long roots, is a master in the traditional manufacture of Christmas ornaments made of glass beads. Take a tour, which is best booked online, and they’ll show you everything down to the finest detail. You can even test your own skills in the local creative workshop! This unique and almost forgotten craft has been recently honoured and the production of the Krkonoše ornaments made of glass beads is now inscribed by UNESCO. Rautis, a family-owned manufacture, and country pearl blowers and threaders who work with them carry on the tradition. Poniklá is the only place in the world where this traditional bead craft has been preserved.

A Fabergé egg, a vegetable or a Colorado potato beetle?

In East Bohemia, in Dvůr Králové, you will find the family-owned business called Ozdoba. Blown and hand-painted glass ornaments have been made there for over a hundred years, currently by the fifth generation of glassmakers. It is a small-lot production so they can flexibly respond to contemporary designs. The local blue onion patterns on Christmas ornaments are unique. It is a traditional folk pattern which was initially a copy of Chinese pottery centuries ago. Or would you prefer something more luxurious for your home? No-one will miss a Fabergé egg on your tree! Or would vegetables, gingerbread or even a Colorado potato beetle look good on your tree? Call in at their company shop at Slovany 3136, Dvůr Králové, or book yourself a place on a tour!

Decorations for the British King

How are Christmas decorations created, which are part of the collections of King Charles III of Britain, Queen Paola of Belgium, or King Albert II? You can find out on a tour of the HAN Design factory in Jičín, during which you’ll even have the chance to decorate a Christmas bauble yourself. The icing on the cake is a visit to the company shop, which will really boggle your eyes. HAN Design offers over 16,000 decorations in more than 600 colours! It’ll probably come as no surprise that decorations from Jičín find their way all over Europe and even overseas.

You can also take a look at glassmakers and painters at work on a tour of the Koulier glassworks in Oflenda in Vysočina. The company’s Christmas decorations, which continue the local crafting tradition that dates as far back as the 17th century, adorn not only the Christmas trees at Loučeň Château. Its classy baubles and various blown glass ornaments also put on a glittering show in 2022, when they adorned the Czech Christmas tree in the European Parliament in Brussels during the Czech Presidency! On a visit to the company shop you can then choose something from the Art Nouveau range, or perhaps from the collection inspired by the cult Czech fairy-tale film Three Wishes for Cinderella. It’s best to book a tour in advance, but not necessary.

Discover the secrets of how the traditional glass Christmas decorations are made by hand in Wallachia, a region famous for its folklore and folk architecture. How are the decorations made, how many are made a day, or how many hands do they pass through before they get to your tree? You’ll find this out too, on a tour at the Irisa production cooperative in Vsetín, which has been operating for more than 60 years and is one of the biggest producers of hand-made glass decorations in the Czech Republic. Their tradition of making glass decorations by hand has a long history, dating back to 1920, when the first bauble was blown in Wallachia.

Glass Christmas flasks have been made by hand by the Slezská tvorba association in Opava in North-east Bohemia for more than 70 years. You can find them all over Europe, as well as in the United States. One local rarity they make are balls and hearts with wishes on them, which the skilled painters will inscribe with your name or a special wish for someone. Fancy seeing the painters (and others) in action? Take a tour, which gives you the chance to look all around the Opava production plant! It’s worth noting that you need to book yourself a place online beforehand.

Czech Christmas decorations are conquering the world

The biggest producer of hand-made and hand-painted glass Christmas decorations in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe is Vánoční ozdoby, DUV-družstvo in East Bohemia. The glass-making cooperative was founded ninety years ago, and they won, for example, the gold medal at EXPO 58 in Brussels, which formed the design of 1960s and 1970s. You will definitely choose ornaments to your liking there. They offer more than 80,000 products! It’s definitely worth a visit to the company’shop in Dvůr Králové! Or you can order yourself something online.

In Jablonec nad Nisou in North Bohemia, famous all over the world for its jewellery tradition, you will find another manufacturer of Christmas ornaments: Ornex. They make Christmas balls, ovals and tree top decorations with many different patterns and figurines – their collection of birds, for example, is one of the biggest in the world! This company, with a tradition dating back more than 30 years, keeps up with the latest trends and exhibitions around the world and listens to the needs of its customers both from Europe and overseas. Ornex decorations can be found in hobby markets and souvenir shops around Czechia, and you can also buy some fancy sets online.

Ornaments for Romantic Souls

Not every Czech likes to hang traditional glass ornaments on their tree. Handmade ornaments from natural material are also exceedingly popular. Sometimes, the tree is adorned with home-baked gingerbread cookies or other treats. Various figurines or ornaments made of straw or dry corn husks are also popular. Romantic souls can buy such natural ornaments at Advent markets in city centres. For example, at the market in Prague or Olomouc.

The biggest collection of Christmas decorations in the world

And on the subject of Jablonec nad Nisou, we have to mention one great Christmas tip. This town, the home of Czech costume jewellery, has a museum like no other anywhere else in the world! The Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou – the only museum on the planet that specialises in glass and costume jewellery together, which boasts two amazing and unique exhibitions! Not only can you admire some fine pieces from one of the most significant collections in Europe, you can also see some sparkling treasures from the world’s largest public collection of glass Christmas decorations!

Bring the magic home and try it yourself!

Launching Little Boats: A Czech Christmas Tradition

This enchanting Christmas Eve ritual involves crafting tiny boats, often from walnut shells, and floating them on water. Each boat's movement symbolizes hopes and challenges for the coming year, offering fun and reflection while honoring Czech folk traditions.

How to Make Your Own Czech Christmas Boat:

Materials:

Walnut shells
Tall, thin candles and a tea light
A bowl of water

Instructions:

Prepare the walnuts: Gently crack open the walnuts and remove the nut. Keep the shells intact to use as the boats.
Prepare the candle: Light the tea light. Melt a small piece of wax from the tall candle and drip it into the base of the walnut shell.
Attach the candle: Stick the small candle into the melted wax and allow it to cool and harden.
Launch the boats: Fill a bowl with water. Each family member launches his or her boat onto the water's surface.

How do you interpret the behavior of your Christmas boat? The movement of each boat reflects expectations for the year ahead: