Perník Instead of Perníčky for St. Josef’s Day
St. Joseph's Day (March 19) was considered the first real day of spring in Czechia. In the countryside, people would predict the harvest on this day, sing and have fun. The saint's popularity and the coming spring attracted people to various Joseph-themed entertainments. Bands would perform in the countryside, and in Prague and other cities, the holiday was celebrated with a spring Joseph pilgrimage . Couples in love would promise each other fidelity on the day of the patron saint of marriage. Young men would buy their girlfriends a heart-shaped honey gingerbread as a token of their love, as a sign of fidelity.
I decided to go easy on myself as I was dying eggs today and made perník (gingerbread cake) instead of perníčky (gingerbread cookies) to observe the holiday.
I dotted mine with bits of cherry preserves, a favorite of my husband’s.
This recipe for Perník, a traditional Bohemian gingerbread infused with classic Czech spices, is baked on a sheet. The spices enrich its fla
