When Pigs Fly
You’ve likely heard the idiom to declare an impossibility, “when pigs fly.” For the Czech nation at Christmas however, such playful hyperbole is a very real hope and expectation. Christmas Eve is the day on which festivities are observed, feasts are prepared, and gifts are given in the Czech custom. December 25th is a day of rest and recovery from the celebration of the 24th. Per tradition, each member of the family must fast on Christmas Eve. No one should eat anything until the delectable dinner of fried carp and potato salad is prepared that evening. If through self-discipline and social pressure one is able to refrain from cheating, they have a good chance at catching a glimpse of the golden pig after dinner. A vision of the golden pig foretells great wealth and happiness in the year to come.
As you may imagine, despite much fastidiousness it is ever so unlikely that anyone will spot the golden pig on any given year, so it is quite common to purchase all types of “golden pigs” as a decorating motif. From golden pig candles to ornaments to cookie cutters to little tokens to carry in the pocket, it is a beloved aspect of Czech Christmas that dates to medieval times.
We oft joke that there is no end to the clever and resourceful stories by which Czech people can “motivate” unwilling participants, perhaps, enough to fill a whole parenting book with pearls of persuasion. These tall tales are iconic, ranging from ways to pressure those children who won’t keep their scarves wrapped tightly to anecdotes delineating when a mother may appear in public again after giving birth(yes, in Czech culture there is an appropriate waiting period for that). These are anecdotes often bizarre with very little logical basis, yet they prevail and have an amazing holding power. Truth and small fictions are so closely tied in the Czech mind. These small fictions serve the purpose of uniting Czechs in their collective identity, which remains a very high value for most. A popular advertising tactic is found in the phrase, “He who doesn’t __________, isn’t Czech.” Insert the desired/undesired behavior, and you have a strong message. It’s unfortunate then, when certain beliefs become a part of Czech national identity, such as atheism, because they are so very difficult to overcome.
How might a people with such strong mooring to their unbelief come to place faith in Christ? The same as any other, by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit as He works in the minds and hearts of those He draws to Himself. We join with the work of the Holy Spirit both individually and corporately. While discipleship happens one by one, we speak truth into the world around us, revealing the character of God and preparing the minds and hearts of hearers for the work of the Holy Spirit. We patiently unravel the fears and fractures and falsehoods that sculpted their self-made sacraments, and apply the balm of God’s timeless and immutable truths.
