Vánoce & Weihnachten

2020 Issue

Vánoce

& An Weihnachten Olde World Christmas Shopper LUKAS BAKERY

The Finest Fruitcakes of the Season

Explore the Gift Shop

TEXAS CZECH HERITAGE & CULTURAL CENTER

MAEKER’S SAUSAGE Your One Stop Shop for Holiday Eating

TEXAS POLKA NEWS

HOLIDAY SHOPPING COUPONS INSIDE!

©2020 The Fayette County Record

Gift Shop We have it here!

TIMELESS • UNIQUE • GIFTS FOR ALL SEASONS

Shop the wide variety of Czech Republic imports, items akin to those you might have seen and used in grandma and grandpa’s house.

250 West Fairgrounds Rd., La Grange

888-785-4500 • CzechTexas.org

DANIEL CERNOCH PLUMBING RESPONSIBLE MASTER #18613 Sewer & Drain Cleaning • Faucets & Sinks Disposers • Toilets • Water Heaters Pipe Repair and Replacement

New Building - Same Convenient Drive Thru!

©2020 The Fayette County Record

Your favorite drive thru liquor, beer and wine store is expanding!

OPENING VERY SOON!

Our New Address 2004 W Hwy 71, La Grange, TX Mon-Sat 10 am to 9 pm

(979) 968-3440

979.968.8069CHRISTMAS BADGES

548 South Reynolds St. La Grange

COLLECTION

Free

Christmas Ornament with $75 purchase LA GRANGE VISITORS CENTER

inside Historic Casino Hall, 254 N. Franklin Street

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CDs are $20 each Send cash, check or money order to:

Mason Nesvadba 11356 F.M. 1994 Guy, TX 77444

Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours CD: $15 + $3 shipping Barefoot Becky 1257 Ivanhoe Rd Mt Vernon, IA 52314 877-499-7133 www.barefootbecky.com

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MERRY

Merry Christmas

Call (210) 566-5864 or (210) 800-3625 for schedule

625 N Main St, Schulenburg, TX 78956

EAGLES HALL • NEW BRAUNFELS

Come visit our new site and check out all the CDs we have available!

T C M L D L D C A M B G T W M L T

TABLE OF CONTENTS

feature stories

Texas Czech Christmas Eve Traditions of Yesteryear..........................6 Maeker’s Sausage & Processing..............................................8 Lukas Bakery A Local Treasure.....................................10

advertisers

Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center.........................................................2 Monarch Printing.....................................................3 LG Spirits...................................................................3 Daniel Cernoch Plumbing....................................3 La Grange Main Street..........................................3 Das Ist Lustig............................................................4 Czechaholics............................................................4 Auf Geht’s..................................................................4 Mason Nesvadba....................................................4 Barefoot Becky........................................................4 Good Time Polka....................................................4 Texas Polka Music Museum.................................4 Weikel’s......................................................................9 Maeker’s Sausage...................................................9 Lukas Bakery...........................................................13 Texas Polka News.................................................15 e 2020 Issu

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Explore the Gift Shop

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This Issue was published by the Texas Polka News for the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center.

ON THE COVER:

Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center AGE ’S SAUS MAEKER Shopp Stopp Sho Onee Sto

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Photo by Lindsey Fojtik

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Texas Czech

CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITIONS

of Yesteryear Written by Carolyn Heinsohn

In days past, before the time of artificial trees, Texas Czechs always had real Christmas trees, usually a cedar tree, which was actually an Ashe juniper. The man of the house, usually the father (Tatíček) or grandfather (Dedeček), went into the woods a week or two before Christmas to choose several trees, tying a strip of cloth to them to identify them. More than one was chosen just in case one of them got damaged by a cow or during a winter storm - the winters were much colder then.

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On Christmas Eve morning, Tatíček or Dedeček took a wagon, buggy or sled to the woods to chop down the best tree with an ax. He also used his hatchet to obtain extra branches for decorating the house or occasionally as a “filler” branch if the tree was not very symmetrical. He might also cut stems of yaupon or possom haw berries to add color to the décor.

Usually, the mother {Maminka) kept the children busy with chores while Tatíček was bringing the tree into the parlor, because

children were not supposed to see the Christmas tree until that evening. Tatíček placed the tree in a bucket of water and closed the door to the room. Then he took over the duty of presiding over the children, keeping them busy with some type of activity while Maminka, and perhaps Grandma {Babička), proceeded with decorating the tree.

A star or angel, often handmade, was placed on top of the tree. In the very early days, colorful paper or popcorn chains might have been added. Homemade cookies, hard candies or candy canes, gilded nuts, paper snowflakes or handmade ornaments were hung with thread or ribbons. When people were more financially able to purchase “store bought” items, they used strings of glass beads, glass ornaments and tin foil icicles. Sometimes cookies and candy were still added. Before the era of electricity, small candles were placed on the tips of the branches in special clip-on holders.

They were later replaced with strings of multi-colored lights or bubble-lights. A very special treat under the tree would be a basket of fresh apples and oranges, which were generally only available at Christmas.

Walnuts or mixed nuts were also a once-ayear treat and a nice change from the usual pecans.

After an early Christmas Eve supper, children might hear the sound of “Santa’s” footsteps

outside or in the parlor or an occasional “HoHo-Ho”, but they rarely got a glimpse of him.

When the door to the parlor was opened, the children were filled with the wonder of Christmas as they saw the candles all lit in the dark room that was only lit by an oil lamp - what a dazzling sight to the children who waited all day for this special moment! The candles were only kept burning for about 15 minutes because of the potential fire hazard.

Each child usually had one special unwrapped gift under the tree from Santa or in some households from the “Christ Child” {Ježíšek) and perhaps another small wrapped gift from Tatíček and Babička, or other extended family. Sometimes, gifts were handmade, but oftentimes they were very special, like dolls, doll beds, toy stoves or sets of dishes for the girls. Boys received marbles, rocking horses, wagons or tricycles to name just a few of the coveted items that had seen in a local general store or in the Sears and Roebuck catalog when those became available at the end of the 19th century. Any additional gift might have been a necessary article of clothing like socks or hand-knitted mittens.

Christmas carols were often sung after the opening of the gifts, and the adults might have enjoyed a glass of homemade wine or some other beverage.

Czech Christmas Open House The Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center will host a Czech Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 5 from 10A-3P. Enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season with deeply rooted Czech traditions. The Center will be adorned with beautiful decorations and authentic ornaments. The Czech Village homes and buildings feature decorations in the early 1900s Czech-Texas style. Please take time to stroll and see the seasonal touches added to these homes.

The Kopecky Gift Shop will be stocked with a variety of new gifting ideas for 2020, fresh stocked music selections and shipments from the Czech Republic that you can’t find anywhere else! The Center and Village will be decorated until January so be sure to make time for this wonderful holiday experience.

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Maeker’s Sausage & Processing Maeker’s Sausage & Processing started out as a family-run grocery store in the small Czech community of Shiner, Texas in 1967. They began experimenting with several types of smoked sausages in the meat market of their store, and due to high demand, they opened Shiner’s first state meat plant in 1972. Today, you can find their sausage in their Retail Meat Market in Shiner as well as HEB, Walmart, Brookshire Brothers, Lowes Markets, and more throughout the state of Texas.

Today Maeker’s Meat Market offers all you need for the Christmas holidays, from the freshest meat & specialty products in their showcase, to the best Czech Hickory Smoked Sausage you grew up on, keeping their over 100 year old original recipe intact. They have sausage for every occasion and every taste. They are sure to have a sausage for you, from their Original Pork & Beef Smoked Sausage to their Jitrnice, to the many flavors in-between. Maeker’s Sausage is made with only quality whole muscled proteins, absolutely no trimmings, and superior spices.

They take pride in making “Real Texas Sausage.”

Maeker’s offers specialty gift boxes, gift baskets, and gift cards for the holiday season, as well as party trays for all your holiday get-togethers.

Make Maeker’s your one stop shop for all things Christmas this year.

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Deliciously Merry Holiday Flavors Now Available!

Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Spice Loaf, Pumpkin Cream Kolaches, & Hatch Pepper Pigs

VĂ NOCE & WEIHNACHTEN 2020 | 9

C o A d f w “ o G R m

R o N l L R w h k S F Baker Larry Faldyn with his daughter, Jaime Smith, her husband, Steven, and their two daughters, Ella and Tabitha.

Lukas Bakery - A Local Treasure

Rise and Shine For 73 years Lukas Bakery has been helping folks rise and shine in the morning.

advance orders he will sometimes get there as early as 11 p.m.)

Since November 1947, the little bakery on the courthouse square in La Grange has been churning out kolaches, pig-in-the-blankets and other baked goodies to help customers get their day started in the tastiest way possible.

The doors open to customers Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Saturday 5 a.m. until noon and closed on Sunday, though if you wait that long, most of their treats will be sold out daily.

Here’s how it all began:

Today, baker Larry Faldyn keeps the tradition alive, arriving at the bakery every morning by 1 a.m. (though if there are lots of

Raymond Lukas came to Texas from Arkansas during the latter part of WWII to bake bread for German prisoners of war at

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Camp Swift in Bastrop. He also baked the occasional wedding cake for a friend.

At one wedding for which he had made and decorated the cake, he heard a woman in front of him say, “I’d like to marry the man who made that cake.” A fellow guest said, “Well, turn around, he’s standing in back of you.” Her name was Lucille Kurio from Giddings and it wasn’t long before she and Raymond Lukas were engaged and then married.

Carol Faldyn alw ays decorated the bakery ’s window for Ch ristmas

Raymond Lukas began working at a bakery on the square owned by Stanley Davis. On November 10, 1947, he and Lucille took out a loan and bought the business from Davis.

Lukas came from a family of bakers in Little Rock famous for their fruitcakes, which were distributed nationwide. It didn’t take him long to learn to bake local treats called kolache and klobasniky (pigs in a blanket).

Soon Lukas baked goods were common in Fayette, Lee and Milam counties.

Raymond baked from scratch and used no preservatives. He baked bread and kolaches for the Bon Ton Restaurant in La Grange and Frank’s Restaurant in Schulenburg.

In 1973, apprentice baker Larry Faldyn married the Lukas’ daughter Carol. When Raymond Lukas passed away in 1978, Larry and Carol took over the business and ran it together for 48 years.

Carol passed away on March 14, 2020, but in an interview about the bakery two years ago, she said, “He has kept my parents’ dream going.”

lding a Larry Faldyn ho laches ko h es fr of tray

Holiday fruitcakes rea dy for gift giving.

Running the bakery is a true family affair, spanning three generations.

Larry and Carol’s three children, Jennifer Woodford, Jason Faldyn and Jaime Smith all worked at the bakery when they were in school. Jaime still handles the bakery’s facebook page. Son-in-law Steven Smith also worked at the bakery when he was younger and since Carol’s passing has stepped up to

VÁNOCE & WEIHNACHTEN 2020 | 11

help out even more.

Larry makes everything from scratch, with many of the recipes a combination of Carol’s dad’s recipes and Larry’s Czech grandmother’s recipes.

Every day they have a wide variety of kolaches.

“The Czech people really like prune, apricot and poppy seed,” Carol said years ago. “The German people seem to go more to the cottage cheese.”

All the fruit, apples, apricots, peaches, pitted prunes are cooked in a big copper bowl.

Nothing is bought in a bucket.

The pig-in-the-blankets are from Larry’s own recipe, using from Eckermann’s meat from nearby Shelby, wrapped in fresh made bread baked that morning.

They always have a large selection of cookies as well, colorful sugar cookies decorated to match whatever holiday is closest, and chewy coconut macaroons and unique cherry nut cookies that people have come from out of state just to re-order.

Another unique item of the bakery is their fruit cakes, made only during the holiday season.

Their fruitcake recipe got its start at Carol’s great grandparent’s bakery, and was their specialty.

The cakes have large amounts of cherry/ pineapple fruit mix, pecans, golden raisins, dates and almond and rum flavor, and real vanilla and butter. They are given an apricot glaze.

Carol always gave them beautiful cellophane wrappings.

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One thing their fruitcakes don’t have in them is the tropical fruit called citron, common in many recipes.

A flyer posted every year by Carol on the glass counter by the fruitcakes says: Our fruitcakes are wonderfully made from the finest ingredients and can turn the fruitcake “hater” into the most ardent fruitcake “lover”! There are no preservatives or citron in our cakes. A great tradition, having a slice with a cup of coffee or cocoa while listening to Christmas music will get you “in the mood” for the season! They make fabulous gifts for the difficult-to-buy-for person.”

Larry hasn’t gotten tired of getting to the bakery at 1 a.m. He’s 68 now and plans to keep running it until he’s at least 70, at which point he would love to sell it to someone who would like to keep it going as a bakery –and he’d even be willing to train them.

Lukas Bakery is located at 135 N. Main Street in La Grange. They are open 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday through Friday and Saturday 5 a.m. to Noon and closed on Sunday. Their phone number is 979-968-3052.

Holiday cookie s ready for Sant a.

Š2020 The Fayette County Record

e

Lukas Bakery

Since 1947

Pigs-in-the-Blanket Danishs Kolaches Honey Buns Cream Puffs

o

Baked with LOVE

Made fresh daily from scratch

Cinnamon Rolls Apple Strudels Brownies Cookies

Come get your holiday For 73 years, Lukas Bakery has been helping people Fruit Cake to day! rise and shine. Family owned and operated and the perfect little sweet spot located on the courthouse square in La Grange, Texas. Come in and grab a taste of the good life.

Lukas Bakery 135 N. Main in La Grange Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Closed on Sunday ORDERS BY PHONE ONLY: (979) 968-3052

10% OFF

Any purchase of $25 or more Must present coupon at checkout.

Coupon good for only one use.

Valid until Dec. 31, 2020

$10 OFF IN STORE ONLY Valid until 11/01/21

10% OFF

$25 Purchase Valid until 12/31/2020

Free 24-oz drink with any Weikel’s Deli Sandwich Redeem this coupon at the Deli Counter. Expires 12/31/2020. La Grange location only.

Restrictions may apply. 2247 W. State Highway 71, La Grange, TX 78945 (979) 968-9413

Present these coupons for awesome savings this holiday season!

14 | VÁNOCE & WEIHNACHTEN 2020

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