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#Videocrux - Czechs keep carp extra fresh for Christmas dinner Czechs keep carp extra fresh for Christmas dinner
Traditional Christmas meals differ across the Christian world, and in several Eastern European countries, including Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic the holiday dinner means carp. The fish are often kept alive at home for children to admire in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, only to finish on a platter served with potatoes.
Storing carp fishes for Christmas treat
Carp is a common name for various species of an oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The Czech Republic produces 20,000 tons of fish per year, making it one of the largest freshwater fish producers in the European Union. But the average Czech eats only 1.5 kilograms of freshwater fish per year, one of the lowest fish-consumption rates in the EU.
"Kids love to keep carps as pet"
Stepanka Nedredovou, mother says "It's nice for the child to see the carp had have it at home for a little while. It's a pet for them, you know 'oh you're cute, you're so cute, and I want to have a big carp this winter, a really big one."
Head of the family does the carp killing
Stepanka Nedredovou, mother says "Usually the father has the duty to kill the carp, and of course they don't see the killing, the procedure, which is not so pleasant."
Carp sales boost during the Christmas eve
Carp account for 88 percent of the domestic fish-farming industry's profits, and two-thirds of yearly production centers on Christmas. Josef Chmel, Rybarstvi Hluboka fishery says "Just like other farmers, at the moment we are harvesting the crop for the entire year. We do it now because that's when the sales of carp are at their peak."
"Not everyone takes home alive carps"
Vaclav Majer, Rybarstvi Hluboka fishery says "Some people don't want to kill the carp at home - they'd rather we did it."

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