Christmas carp
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In Central Europe, Christmas carp is a traditional dish for Christmas Eve. This tradition arose when, in accordance with Christian teachings, Advent was celebrated as a time of fasting.[1] Christmas Eve, as the high point of Advent and the eve of Christmas Day, should be celebrated in a special way, and a special fasting dish should do justice to this.[1]
Customs
[edit]An old custom is for a person to pick up one of the carp's scales and carry it with them, which would bring a blessing in money in the new year.[2][3] This custom probably stems from the coin-like shape of the carp's scales.[4] In the Ore Mountains, the carp, as part of the nine-piece ritual, is also associated with the symbolism that you won't run out of money.[5][6]
In the Middle Ages, the carp (like the pike) was particularly religiously valued and was therefore often eaten at Christmas.[7] According to the belief of the time, the fish's head was supposed to contain Christ's torture instruments, and the head bones were supposed to form a dove-like bird figure that reminded people of the Holy Spirit and was supposed to protect against witches.[8] Another belief was that there was a moon-shaped stone above the carp's eyes, and whoever found it at Christmas would get good luck.
An old Silesian custom is still followed today that the morning after the Christmas carp meal, the leftover fish bones are placed on the fruit trees in the garden to encourage them to flourish in the spring.[9] This custom is also followed after eating the New Year's or New Year's Eve carp. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the scales are a symbol of wealth and are placed under the plate or in the wallet.[10]
Preparation
[edit]
The carp is traditionally taken home and kept for a few days in a bathtub.[11][12] In the past, the carp was gutted the evening before at the latest and marinated in buttermilk overnight so that the strong taste was diluted.[13] Before carp farming, when the fish were still caught from ponds, it was often the case that the carp swam in clear water in the bathtub for a few days. This had the effect of soaking the carp and thus removing the muddy taste that arises when the fish takes in food from the pond mud.[14] As of 2024[update], supermarkets have ended live carp sales in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[15][16][17]
In southern Germany, as well as in the Czech Republic, Austria (especially in the Waldviertel), Slovakia and Hungary, the Christmas carp is usually traditionally cut into pieces, breaded and fried in fat.[18][19] The Christmas carp is served with potato salad (usually prepared with mayonnaise), cucumber salad, lemon wedges, boiled potatoes or remoulade.[20]
In northern regions, a popular preparation is blue carp with parsley or boiled potatoes and horseradish sauce.[21] Another classic is stuffed carp. The fish is stuffed with various vegetables and/or potatoes. The whole carp is then roasted in the oven. In addition to the stuffing, other side dishes are usually fried tomatoes, mushrooms and boiled or fried potatoes.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Fisch zu Weihnachten". Germany, Austria, Switzerland - German (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ Rapoport, Iris (1 January 2022). "Ein Hohelied". nd-aktuell.de (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Fischschuppen als Glücksbringer". Süddeutsche.de (in German). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Christliche Traditionen zu Weihnachten – Der Karpfen". Schermbeck Online (in German). 10 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Stasjulevics, Heiko (27 December 2019). "Eine Karpfenschuppe für die Geldbörse". Thüringer Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Weihnachtskarpfen – Karpfenland Mittlere Oberpfalz". Karpfenland Mittlere Oberpfalz (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Weihnachtskarpfen: Tradition trifft moderne Küche". Landwirtschaft verstehen (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Weihnachtskarpfen: Festtagsschmaus, Glücksbringer und Beschützer vor Hexen". nachrichten.at (in German). 20 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Demel, Nadja (16 December 2023). "4 kuriose Mythen rund um den Weihnachtskarpfen". wmn (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Meghan Collins (22 December 2014). "In Slovakia, Christmas Dinner Starts In The Bathtub". NPR. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "From the bathtub into the vat: Holiday carp (Published 2004)". 23 December 2004.
- ^ Gnauck, Gerhard (7 September 2015). "Weihnachtskarpfen: Barbarischer Brauch verdirbt vielen Polen das Fest". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Weihnachtskarpfen: Rezepte & Tradition". DasKochrezept.de (in German). 29 September 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "8. Faustregel: Karpfen". BUND – BUND für Naturschutz und Umwelt in Deutschland (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Tesco ends live carp sales in Czech Republic". TVP World. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Slovak animal rights organization releases new report on live carp sales, as retail chains Tesco and Billa commit to end the practice". Humánny Pokrok. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ Bazydło, Cezary (23 December 2021). "Badewannen-Karpfen: Tierquälerei fürs traditionelle Weihnachtsmenü?". MDR.DE (in German). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Gebratener Karpfen mit Kartoffelsalat · #VisitCzechia". Homepage · #VisitCzechia (in German). 7 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "German Food Guide & Directory". German Food Guide & Directory. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Vronis Lieblingsschmankerl: Gebackener Karpfen mit Dijon Mayonnaise und Kartoffelsalat". BR.de (in German). 23 August 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Wendel, Johanna (11 December 2024). "Worauf geht die Tradition des Weihnachtskarpfens zurück?". SZ Magazin (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Rezept". Gutekueche.ch (in German). 12 December 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- "Der Weihnachtskarpfen – lokalgeschichte.de". lokalgeschichte.de – Geschichte – lokal und aus der Kaiserzeit (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- "Alles rund um Weihnachtskarpfen". OVB Heimatzeitungen. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- Raabe, Lis (1984). Alte Weihnachtsbräuche aus deutschsprachigen Ländern (in German). München: Heyne. ISBN 3-453-41622-8.
- Törnqvist-Verschuur, Rita (24 August 2016). Der Weihnachtskarpfen (in German). Stuttgart: Urachhaus. ISBN 978-3-8251-7986-1.