Christmas in the Czech Republic is a pleasure for all the senses

Prague, September 2009 You will get to know Czech traditions, see unique nativity scenes and take delight in shopping at some of the most attractive European markets. In the streets, you will smell roasted chestnuts and sweets and be able to warm your hands with a glass of hot punch. Naturally, you will taste all these goodies and then, perhaps, you can take in an opera performance. Christmas in the Czech Republic is one of the most beautiful times of the year, and people savour it with all their senses.

Christmas markets: shopping amidst a festive atmosphere
Prague’s Christmas markets are among the most beautiful in Europe. They begin on 28 November and last through 1 January. Traditionally, they take place on Old Town and Wenceslaus squares (Staroměstské and Václavské náměstí). These markets feature folk traditions, festive music and Old Czech delicacies.

You can find such Christmas goods as Christmas decorations, figures made of dry maize husks, straw trinkets, lovely icing-coated gingerbread, candlesticks, mistletoe, Advent wreaths, and more. After shopping, a visit to some of the refreshment stands is a certain treat for anyone. You can warm yourself with hot punch or sweet-scented mead and taste roasted chestnuts, corn on the cob, grilled sausages and other delicacies. Under the brightly lit tree on Old Town Square, you will see the nativity scene and on the stage several choirs and dance ensembles from all corners of the Czech Republic will appear.

For shopping, you can continue on, for instance, to the most famous shopping street, Pařížská, where you will find luxury goods. This street leads to Old Town Square. In close proximity to this street, there is a triangle formed by three streets-Dušní, Dlouhá and V Kolkovně-that is worth your attention. Several boutiques of leading Czech ladies’ fashion designers are located here. This is where people come to enrich their wardrobes with some truly original pieces of clothing. For more shopping, you can head to the big shopping centres on the outskirts of the city.

Our tip: Experience the unusual atmosphere of the Křivoklát castle (www.krivoklat.cz), which is among the most notable and oldest royal castles in the Czech Republic. During 5-6 December and 12-13 December, visitors can shop at the Christmas fair, learn about folk crafts, watch theatre and dance performances, and attend an Advent mass.

A Christmas full of entertainment, or tips for families with children
Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6. On the eve of his feast day, 5 December, St. Nicholas comes with his entourage to visit all the children. Take your young ones for a walk through evening Prague. On the streets you will meet St. Nicholas accompanied by an angel and a devil. The tradition is that well-behaved children are given sweets and little gifts by St. Nicholas whereas ill-behaved children are given a potato or a piece of coal by the devil. The angel pleads with St. Nicholas so that the children are not so scared. You can encounter these masked trios not only in the metropolis but anywhere in Bohemia and Moravia.

Prague ZOO (www.zoopraha.cz) does not close even for Christmas. It is open every day, so you can go and see the animals even on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve. It is open until 2 p.m. on both days.
Chateau Loučeň in Central Bohemia attracts visitors to a varied programme on every Sunday during Advent. In addition to Christmas diversions, a unique family attraction awaits-a labyrinth complex. It is situated in the chateau park, is comprised of ten labyrinths and mazes, and is the only of its kind in Europe.
What was Christmas like in old times? The answer can be found in Moravia at the outdoor Wallachian Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (www.vmp.cz). This is the largest and oldest open-air museum in Central Europe. A rich Christmas programme has been prepared for 12 December. A large Christmas fair will be held there, and visitors will have the chance to watch traditional works, such as preparing goose down and Christmas customs (e.g. lead casting, which serves for predicting the future). Folklore ensembles will perform as part of the programme.

Visit UNESCO sights at the time of Advent
Advent time in Český Krumlov also offers a diverse programme (www.ckrumlov.info). The square will come to life with a Christmas fair every weekend during Advent. The first Advent Sunday is traditionally the day of lighting up the Christmas tree, accompanied by the singing of carols. The following, second Sunday in Advent features concerts, carols and singing under the Christmas tree. You can send your Christmas wishes via Ježíškova pošta (Father Christmas’ Post), which opens on the third Sunday in Advent. On the last Sunday in Advent, you can sing carols. There is of course even more on the programme. Exceptional experiences also await you in another town recognised by UNESCO-the historical town of Telč (www.telc.eu). Among the attractions will be a live nativity scene performed by the folklore ensemble Podjavořičan on 19 and 20 December.

Czech nativity scenes: a lasting tradition
The tradition of creating nativity scenes in the Czech Republic goes back to the 16th century. These are made from a wide range of materials (e.g. wood, paper, dry straw and gingerbread) and you can see with your own eyes that this tradition is still very much alive.

The Charles Bridge Museum in Prague (www.muzeumkarlovamostu.cz) is preparing to introduce the world’s largest straw nativity scene. Apart from this, here you can admire the works of Czech nativity scene artists from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. The entire exhibit starts on 1 December and lasts through 10 February. A whole museum of nativity scenes can even be found in Třebechovice pod Orebem (www.betlem.cz). The most precious exhibit is the Třebechovice mechanical nativity scene, which is more than 100 years old. After the tour, be sure not to miss the museum shop which offers a wide range of goods with the nativity scene theme as well as wooden toys. On your search for unique nativity scenes, you should visit the Museum in Jindřichův Hradec (www.mjh.cz) which houses Krýza’s Crèche, the world’s largest mechanical folk-art nativity scene.

Holidays full of culture
The Prague State Opera (www.opera.cz) will contribute to the Christmas atmosphere on 25 December with a Christmas concert entitled “Český Betlém” (or “Czech Nativity”). Parents can shorten their children’s wait for Christmas with a visit to the popular ballet performance of Prokofiev’s Cinderella on 20 and 22 December.
The Prague Symphony Orchestra (www.fok.cz) has on its programme a Christmas Concert (25 December, Church of St. Simon and St. Jude) and the Czech Christmas Mass at which even the audience will sing (26 December, Church of St. Simon and St. Jude). For more culture, visit the spa town of Karlovy Vary. The Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra (www.kso.cz) has prepared a Christmas concert for 18 December and the concert Spirituals, Blues at Christmas for 8 and 9 December.

Czech Christmas Eve menu
Christmas Eve (24 December) is celebrated with a one-day fast (each person who fasts shall see a little golden piggy in the evening, bringing good fortune). In the evening, Christmas Eve dinner is served – fish soup and fried carp with potato salad. After dinner, the family gathers around a decorated Christmas tree beneath which are presents that according to Czech tradition are brought by the Infant Jesus.
Christmas carp is one of the symbols of Christmas. In the build up to Christmas, you may run across large tanks full of fish on the streets of all Czech towns and cities. When you buy a carp, you of course do not have to eat it. Instead, you can let him back into the river or pond, still in keeping with the spirit of Czech tradition.
Baking Christmas sweets is truly one of the most favoured Czech traditions. These sweets can be bought in every shop, but Czechs prefer the home-made ones. Even children like to help with the baking. The most popular Christmas sweets are vanilla rolls (“vanilkové rohlíčky”), vánočka (a sweet bread of braided dough with almonds), Linzer biscuits (“linecké pečivo”) and icing-coated gingerbread.

New Year’s Eve in cities and in the mountains
New Year’s Eve celebrations can be enjoyed both in big cities and in villages. In Prague, you can join the traditional joyous celebrations on Old Town Square. Or perhaps you would prefer to spend the last day of the year in the countryside? A truly romantic New Year’s Eve can be spent in the mountains (www.ceskehory.cz).

Visit CzechTourism website at www.czechtourism.com

September 21, 2009   Posted in: Czech Republic