... or, chains of consequences.
Start with a trivial observation: The Czechs, being landlocked, have no maritime tradition. Therefore there was never a Czech navy. Therefore the Czechs had no overseas colonies or dominions. Therefore, Czech Christmas baking contains no brown sugar, molasses nor rum.
Of course it helps that the Czechs groaned, suffering inexpressibly under the yoke of the savage oppressors. (And there's more groaning to be had.)
Still I wonder if the oppressor actually gets the better of it. My wife's Christmas baking is basically Canadian, which is to say English: rum balls, butter tarts, lemon tarts, plum pudding. Czech baking is vanilkové rohlícky (vanilla crescents), pusinky (meringues, lit. "kisses"), and orechove pracny (no picture or translation available, sorry). The Czech baking is much better: lighter, more delicate in flavor, not overcome by rummy influences.
But then I'm obviously biased.
(Click here for an authentic view of Czech culture, complete with the cartoons of naked and topless women I remember from my childhood...)
I'm bizarrely multicultural, if I must say so myself. At least for someone so monoculturally Czech, anyway. Here is the latest import to our Christmas tradition: Finnish christmas tarts (joulutorttuja). Star-shaped pastry dough with a plum filling. Made 'em myself.
Eat your heart out.
