Christmas in Prague is a special and long-awaited holiday, preparation for which is accompanied by setting up New Year trees, decorating streets with illumination, and opening noisy fairs.
Features of celebrating Christmas in Prague
A month before the holiday, Czechs begin to fast, and on December 24 they go to morning Mass and consecrate sweets to decorate the Christmas tree. Before the feast, the locals go to the banks of the Vltava to buy live carp fish from the sellers with the sole purpose of releasing the fish into the river to the delight of the children.
Czechs celebrate Christmas with loved ones, and carp is prepared for the festive table (each housewife uses her own original recipe). In addition, the holiday is not complete without Christmas bread and apple strudel (dessert). According to local tradition, after eating carp, a couple of fish scales must be hidden in a wallet to ensure financial well-being for the whole year.
After dinner, the Czechs prefer to make fortune-telling on apples: having cut the fruit, they draw conclusions on the pattern of the core. So, having discovered a cross, one can judge the impending failures, and having seen a whole star, one can count on the fact that the year will be happy and rich.
For a classic Christmas meal, it is advisable to head to a local restaurant. There you will be treated to:
- carp soup with croutons;
- a “wine sausage” snack made from several types of meat and white wine;
- fried carp (usually served with potato salad);
- vanilla bagels (“vanilkoverohlicky”).
Festive events in Prague
December Prague will delight guests with festive events: visiting the Church of St. Nicholas, the Basilica of St. George and the Philharmonic Hall, you will find festive and Christmas concerts. And if you decide to look at the nativity scenes, go to the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Snow (December 21 - January 3).
Christmas markets and bazaars in Prague
Christmas markets and markets open on the main Prague squares (Republic Square, Wenceslas, Old Town, Peace Square) from November 30 (they are open from 10:00 to 22:00) - here you can get handicrafts made of glass, straw and wood, knitted things, ornaments with pomegranates, ceramics, wax candles and Christmas tree decorations. In addition, here you will have fun with music and songs, as well as treats (right at the fair, those who wish are offered to treat themselves to mulled wine, fried chestnuts, sausages, Czech trdlo buns sprinkled with nuts, cinnamon and sugar).
Would you like to know more about Czech Christmas traditions? Join the participants on the How is Christmas Celebrating in Prague? (organized by the Prague Information Center).
