Vánočka

Right, that's all the baking done.  I traditionally make two Vánočka each year - one for the Ex, whose mother taught me to make it, and one for us.  This is ours, and it is always made Christmas Eve so it's ready for breakfast tomorrow morning.

Here's the history of it - but I forgot to jump up and down when the dough rose.

Vánočka is a braided bread, baked in Czech Republic and Slovakia (in Slovak called vianočka) traditionally at Christmas time. It is rich in eggs and butter, making it similar to brioche. Lemon rind and rum add color and flavor; the dough can also contain raisins and almonds, and is braided like challah. A vánočka may be built from three progressively smaller braids, stacked on top of each other; this is sometimes interpreted as a rough sculpture of the baby Jesus wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.

It has a reputation for being difficult to prepare, so in many households, superstitions and special customs are attached to the baking process. When making vánočka, it is said that one must think of everyone dear to you. Another custom is to avoid touching silver or metal to the vánočka. Finally, the person who is making the vánočka should jump up and down while the dough rises.

The bread is named after Vánoce meaning Christmas in Czech (Vianoce in Slovak).

Out of identical dough, a loaf called mazanec is made on Easter.

Have a wonderful evening - and may all your dreams come true tomorrow morning.  Except that the time is all out for the Northern Hemisphere, but you know what I mean.