All Souls’ Day – the day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away – has great significance in the Czech Republic.

Dušičky – or “Little Souls” – as it is called in Czech is an annual pilgrimage that has taken place since pagan times.

The official Czech name is Památka zesnulých (“a remembrance of those who have passed”), but everyone calls the day dušičky (“little souls”) or všech svatých (“of all saints”).

Activities of the day include attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead and those we remember. Czechs will lay wreaths and flowers at the grave and spend time honoring those who have passed with remembering.

If you visit a cemetery in the Czech Republic during this time, you will immediately note the flickering glow of hundreds of freshly lit candles making the entire area aglow in a very holy way.

You can visit the biggest graveyard in Prague – Olšany Cemetery (Olšanské hřbitovy in Czech).  Here are some images of what a Czech All Soul’s Day looks like.

 

The November 2^nd tradition

The tradition of visiting cemeteries on November 2 hails from the 10^th century, when, during 998, Abbot Odilo of Cluny, France, made that specific day the official time to pay respects to those who need to be purged of their minor sins. In the beginning, feasts were held in local Benedictine monasteries.

Then Carthusians joined in. By the end of the 10^th century, though, the tradition had spread throughout the Catholic Church. Thanks to Pope Benedict XV, from 1915 priests have been allowed to celebrate three Masses on this holy day – one focusing on the deceased, another concerning the priest’s intentions and the third dealing with the intentions of the Holy Father.

Before Abbot Odilo’s decision

But praying for the purification of souls was not always held in November. Before Abbot Odilo’s decision, it was celebrated during the Easter period. In the 10^th century, the day of remembrance was moved to October.

Eastern Orthodox Churches

Eastern Orthodox Churches still honor their dead around Pentecost Sunday and have several such holy days throughout the year. For Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, most All Souls’ Day celebrations take place on Saturdays because that was the day Jesus lay in the Tomb.

 

On the first Saturday of August, Kramář Villa in Hradčany will be open to the public.

Built between 1911 and 1914 by Karel Kramář, a politician and the future first Czechoslovak prime minister, it is considered to be one of the most imposing examples of Prague villa architecture.

Since 1998, the villa, with its unique interiors and surrounding French-style gardens, has been the official residence of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

The villa covers over 700 square meters and offers a unique view of the Vltava River and the Prague bridges, as well as the Prime Minister’s study.

Guided tours will start from the villa gate, with the first group at 9 am and the last at 4 pm.

Another notable neo-Baroque building, the Straka Academy, will open its garden every Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Since the summer holiday season began, the garden has featured an outdoor photo exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union.

The exhibition chronicles the Czech Republic’s journey to the EU from the early 1990s to the present day, highlighting the evolution of both the EU and the Czech Republic.

Next week, visitors can also explore the Benešov Villa, located just an hour’s drive from the city center. In addition to its architecture, the villa offers a glimpse into the personal lives of its former owners.

For example, Hana Benešová’s silk dressing gown, which was likely seen only by her maid and her husband during her lifetime, will be displayed. Hana Benešová, wife of Edvard Beneš, the second Czechoslovak president, was known for her impeccable style, even at home.

Enjoy a weekend of exploring these historic gems and immerse yourself in the rich history of the Czech Republic.

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Musician Bruce Springsteen was supposed to perform in Prague on Tuesday, May 28, but due to vocal cord issues, he had to postpone the concert.

Fortunately, he will not disappoint his fans and will come to the capital with his show on Sunday, June 15, next year.

Organizers have confirmed that the original tickets are valid for the new date, with no need for exchanges. Ticket refunds are available for the next three months, until September 3, 2024.

Springsteen is one of the world’s best-selling artists, with over 140 million records sold worldwide, including more than 70 million in the United States.

His tour last year was a massive success, selling more than 1.6 million tickets for the European leg and earning universal acclaim as one of the band’s best performances.

The tour, which kicked off this past May, saw Springsteen hit the road with The E Street Band. The American music icon visited the UK first, then Ireland and France, and was due to continue to the Czech Republic, which was unfortunately delayed due to his vocal cord issues.

Springsteen has won numerous awards in his career, including 20 Grammys, an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and a special Tony Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, followed by The E Street Band in 2014. They were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2013, he received the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. President Joe Biden also honored Springsteen with the 2021 National Medal of Arts at the White House in 2023.

According to Pollstar magazine, Springsteen is one of only four artists to have sold more than 20 million tickets since 1980.

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After a four-year break, Prague will host the annual “Night of Museums” event (Pražská muzejní noc 2024).

As part of the event, more than 30 museums and galleries will open for free visits during the evening and night.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 15, from 19:00 to 24:00.

Its main goal is to popularize culture and attract young people to museums. Many of them will offer guests not only free entrance but also an informative and entertaining program.

The list of participating sites can be found at this link. It is not final and continues to be expanded. For example, you can find two observatories, the Prague Museum, and the Klam-Gallas Palace.

The last “Night of Museums” was held in Prague in the summer of 2019. The tradition was interrupted due to the coronavirus epidemic and subsequent organizational difficulties.

Once again Prague Museum Night will deliver its main mission to offer visitors a chance to visit cultural sites at night and provide free admission and transport.

Prague Museum Night is organized by the National Museum, the Prague Public Transport Company, and the Czech Association of Museums and Galleries, in cooperation with other institutions.

Last Prague Museum Night attracted 160,000 visitors! It should be one of those unforgettable evenings under the stars…

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The historic Máj department store, undergoing reconstruction since July 2022, is set to unveil its new look to the public on Thursday, June 20th.

The revamped Máj won’t just be a shopping destination. It will offer a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, cafes with scenic views, and an entertainment space.

The building’s facade will be adorned with an artwork by Czech sculptor David Černý, adding a touch of artistic flair to the modern design. Construction is nearing completion, with work currently focused on fitting out individual shops and creating a spectacular “crystal sky” arcade alongside a sleek white escalator hall.

The first basement level will host a brand-new Tesco store. The ground and first floors will cater to restaurants, cafes, florists, accessories, drugstores, and more.

Food lovers can find a food hall boasting around 750 seats and a variety of fast-food and classic eateries, including Popeyes, Burger King, and Banh Mi, alongside Prima Bastion, Misushi, and Amerikanos.

The previously underutilized upper floors are being transformed into spaces for entertainment, culture, and education, offering something for everyone.

Máj was built in 1973 as the second department store in the Czech Republic and has been a traditional shopping destination since then.

It was designed by Miroslav Masák, John Eisler and Martin Rajniš from the Liberec studio SIAL. In 2006, the Ministry of Culture declared it a cultural monument.

 

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Prague is re-evaluating the future of the bronze wall sculpture “Moscow-Prague” located in the Anděl metro station.

As irozhlas.cz reports, Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) has proposed modifying the artwork due to Russia’s historical and ongoing aggression towards Ukraine.

Hřib believes the city should adjust the form of the sculpture or place it in a new context through an art competition. Until then, an explanatory sign will be installed near the piece to provide historical context.

Previously, the Prague municipality considered the sculpture a historical element of the station’s architecture and art. However, the recent discussions have led the Prague Transport Company (DPP) to reconsider its stance.

“We agree to hold an art competition to determine a new form for the area with the relief instead of simply removing the inscription,” said DPP spokeswoman Aneta Řehková. “Removing it could be seen as erasing history.”

Tahle plastika na Andělu je lživá, proto jí dáme novou podobu!

Přátelství mezi Moskvou a Prahou, které tenhle nápis naznačuje, bylo totiž jen vymyšlenou propagandou. V roce 1985, kdy došlo ke zprovoznění stanice Anděl (dříve Moskevská), bylo Československo okupováno Sovětským… pic.twitter.com/0xoCWYGgT3

— Zdeněk Hřib (@ZdenekHrib) May 5, 2024

“The friendship between Moscow and Prague, which this inscription indicates, was just propaganda. In 1985, when the Anděl (formerly Moskevská) station was commissioned, Czechoslovakia was occupied by the Soviet Union. And we will probably agree that the occupier is not a friend,” stated Hřib on X.

Anděl station was built between 1977 and 1985, designed by Soviet architects and dedicated to the Czechoslovak–Soviet friendship. It was opened on 2 November 1985, as part of the inaugural section of Line B between Sokolovská and Smíchovské nádraží.

The station was renamed in 1990 to Anděl. Its original name was Moskevská, after the city of Moscow.

In the same year, the Czechoslovak Metrostav designed the station Prazhskaya, named after Prague, it was opened on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line of the Moscow Metro, which resembles the ceramic-tiled stations on the C line’s Jižní Město segment.

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Having a free Wednesday in the middle of the week sounds great, but what happens if you need to grab some groceries or do some shopping on a public holiday in the Czech Republic?

The big question, though is whether large stores will be open, as there is little logic to the law that passed in 2016. The answer is mixed, with stores open on May 1 (Labor Day) but closed on May 8 (Victory Day). See below for more details.

This guide will help you navigate store closures on May 1st and May 8th, which both fall on Wednesdays in 2024, as well as other public holidays throughout the year.

Good News for Shoppers on May 1st!

While some public holidays mean closed shops, there’s good news for May 1st. Stores are permitted to stay open on this national holiday. Here are other public holidays where shops can operate normally:

• December 24th (Christmas Eve) – with limited hours (until noon)
• Good Friday (falling between April 20th and 23rd in 2024)
• July 5th (Day of the Slavic Saints Cyril and Methodius)
• July 6th (Jan Hus Day)

Plan Ahead for These Closed Shop Holidays

May 8th (Victory Day) falls under a different category. This, along with other public holidays, requires shops larger than 200 square meters to close their doors. This includes all major retail chains. Here’s a list of these holidays:

• December 25th (Christmas Day)
• December 26th (St. Stephen’s Day)
• January 1st (New Year’s Day)
• Easter Monday
• May 8th (Victory Day)
• September 28th (Czech Statehood Day)
• October 28th (Day of the Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak State)

Exceptions to the Rule

There are exceptions. Pharmacies, gas stations, and shops at airports, railway stations (including Prague’s Hlavní nádraží), and hospitals are exempt. Delivery services are not covered by the law and should operate as normal. However, personal-shopper services that rely on sourcing items from supermarkets will be faced with limited suppliers.

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority enforces these regulations, and shops that break the rules face fines.

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The world’s best cities for exploring by foot have been revealed and it’s Rome that takes the crown with its charming plazas and cobblestone streets.

It’s followed by runner-up Budapest, where tourists can explore ‘its every corner on foot’.

The 100-strong list is based on booking and search data for 800 cities across 120 countries made on the GuruWalk website between April 2023 and April 2024.

The company, which offers free walking tours worldwide, compared the number of bookings and page visits per destination in order to compile the list.

Spain is the most walkable country, according to the findings, with 28 cities on the top 100 list.

France features seven times while the UK appears three times along with Poland, Colombia and Vietnam. Only one U.S. city makes the cut.

Prague is described as the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’ with the “Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Astronomical Clock being all points of interest that captivate visitors. And all three attractions are within a 30-minute walk from one another.”

Porto, London, and Amsterdam are among the top 10 cities identified by GuruWalk for their walkability, offering visitors a diverse range of attractions and experiences within walking distance.

From Porto’s picturesque old town to London’s iconic landmarks and Amsterdam’s enchanting canal network, each city provides ample opportunities for memorable explorations on foot.

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This is evidenced by the results of a study conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The IOM has determined that 77% of Ukrainian refugees are economically active, that is, they have a job or are actively looking for one. Most Ukrainian refugees are women.

They often have a high level of education, but in the Czech Republic, they have managed to find jobs only below their qualification level.

According to the data obtained, knowledge of the Czech language is of great importance for employment. Thus, more than four-fifths of migrants who speak Czech are employed.

The highest level of employment is among those who previously worked in Ukraine as mechanics, mechanics, drivers, craftsmen or skilled agricultural workers.

According to the study, almost a third of Ukrainian refugees face financial difficulties because they cannot cover their daily expenses. pensioners or those on maternity leave face problems as well.

At the same time, 56% of refugees from Ukraine rent housing, while the rest live in dormitories, hotels, and boarding schools.

According to the IOM, 69% of the refugees surveyed want to return to Ukraine and only 12% do not plan to return.

IOM conducted a survey of refugees over the past year.

As Ukrinform reported, according to the Center for Economic Strategy, the share of migrants who plan to return to Ukraine is gradually decreasing. Currently, this figure is 26%.

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The Czech Republic’s consumer price inflation eased more-than-expected in February to the lowest level in more than five years, largely due to a decline in food costs, data from the Czech Statistical Office showed on Monday.

Consumer prices climbed 2.0 percent year-over-year in February, slower than the 2.3 percent rise in January. Economists had expected inflation to moderate slightly to 2.2 percent.

Further, this was the weakest inflation since December 2018, when prices had risen by the same 2.0 percent.

Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages dropped 4.8 percent annually in February. Clothing and footwear charges were 5.8 percent more expensive in February, slightly below the 5.9 percent surge in January.

Meanwhile, transport charges rose at a faster pace of 1.1 percent versus a 0.4 percent increase a month ago.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices moved up 0.3 percent in February, versus an expected increase of 0.4 percent.

Year-on-year inflation has been gradually decreasing over the last year, with the exception of October when it rose again slightly. Last February, inflation was at 16.7 percent.

Hundreds of tractors are expected to arrive in Prague for a protest ride on Thursday, March 7th.

Organizers emphasize their intention to avoid blocking the city’s main streets, focusing the route primarily along the embankment in Prague 7, Milady Horáková Street, and culminating in a demonstration in front of the Straka Academy, the seat of the Government of the Czech Republic

“We’ve chosen a route that primarily targets government buildings,” explained Jan Doležal, president of the Czech Chamber of Agriculture.

“This won’t be a blockade, but rather a movement of agricultural equipment around Prague.” Specific details regarding the protest and the route haven’t been disclosed yet.

“We urge all farmers, regardless of their operation size or production focus, to join us,” Doležal added. “We also kindly request patience from Prague residents and those in other major cities. Our goal isn’t to cause inconvenience, but to bring attention to the long-standing issues faced by the agricultural sector.”

On March 1st, Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL) proposed certain measures to address the farmers’ concerns, but they were deemed insufficient.

While acknowledging the right to protest, Výborný expressed his willingness to continue negotiations but stressed his opposition to negotiating under ultimatums.

According to the spokesperson for the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, protests are planned in other regions besides Prague on March 7th, though specific locations haven’t been announced.

On February 19th, hundreds of Czech farmers drove their tractors into downtown Prague, as they joined protests against high energy costs, stifling bureaucracy and the European Union’s Green Deal.

Farmers across Europe have taken to the streets this year, including in Poland, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, to fight low prices and high costs, cheap imports and EU climate change constraints.

Former US President Bill Clinton will head to Prague in March to deliver the keynote address at a conference marking the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s membership in NATO.

The “Our Security Is Not a Given” conference, organized by Jagello 2000, will take place on March 12th at Prague Castle’s Spanish Hall.

Clinton, who served as US President from 1993 to 2001, is attending at the invitation of Czech President Petr Pavel. The organizers highlighted how, early in his presidency, Clinton proposed a vision of a united, democratic Europe free from conflict.

“Inviting Central and Eastern European democracies into NATO was a key part of this vision,” they said, “and the 1999 expansion that included the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary was a historic step towards its realization.”

This year’s conference, the 11th edition, will not only assess the Czech Republic’s quarter-century in NATO but also discuss the alliance’s future amidst a rapidly changing security landscape. On April 4th, NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Joining Clinton at Prague Castle will be Czech President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Defense Minister Jana Černochová, and Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský. The panel discussion will also feature representatives from the opposition ANO movement and the SPD party.

The Czech Republic, along with Poland and Hungary, joined NATO on March 12th, 1999. A September 2023 poll by the Czech Academy of Sciences found that two-thirds of Czechs support their country’s NATO membership, with only 26% expressing disapproval.