Joyful Christmas is celebrated in almost all countries around the world! The period and process depend on cultural and religious customs. Who gives presents on Christmas Eve in the Czech Republic? One of the traditional symbols of Czech Christmas is Ježíšek, in English “Christ Child”, who brings Christmas presents and places them for children under the Christmas tree. Ježíšek in the Czech Republic Certain clues about Ježíšek with Christmas presents come from the 17th century. There was a short mention from the calendar of Šimon Partlic, where it was written that children receive presents from their parents on Christmas Eve. However, this tradition was not fully accepted until the 19th century. At that time, people imagined Ježíška either as a kind of angelic figure or an invisible Baby Jesus. Traditionally today, Ježíšek brings presents on Christmas Eve after the first star appears in the sky. He places Christmas presents under a decorated tree without anyone actually seeing him. Like Santa Claus, Baby Jesus has a residence where children can post letters to. But unlike the Western Santa, Baby Jesus does not live at the North Pole. Instead, he lives in the mountains, in the town of Boží Dar. The Czech Republic has placed its own spin on Santa Claus which can be enjoyed by children and...
In Czech households, Christmas baking begins long before December 24. Kitchens turn into production lines, recipes are pulled from handwritten notebooks, and cookies are baked days—or even weeks—in advance. Among the dozens of traditional sweets prepared each year, two appear almost without exception: linecké cukroví (Linzer cookies) and vanilkové rohlíčky (vanilla crescents). Both rely on simple ingredients, careful handling, and time. And both tell a story of Central European tradition that has changed very little over generations. Linecké cukroví (Czech Linzer cookies) Linecké cukroví are delicate sandwich cookies made from shortbread dough and filled with fruit jam, usually red currant or raspberry. They are traditionally shaped as hearts, flowers, or stars, with a small cut-out in the top layer so the jam shows through. Czechs bake them several days before Christmas, allowing the cookies to soften and develop their characteristic tender texture. Ingredients All-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting) Unsalted butter, cold but slightly softened Powdered sugar (for the dough and for dusting) Egg yolk Freshly grated lemon zest Vanilla (paste or extract) Seedless red currant jam or raspberry jam Method Sift the flour into a bowl. Add the cold butter cut into small pieces, powdered sugar, egg yolk, lemon...
Viva Sports, Prague’s largest sports and social club, is inviting players to stay active this winter with the launch of its indoor beach volleyball and basketball leagues. Known for bringing people together through leagues, tournaments, and social events across the city, Viva Sports focuses on a friendly, social atmosphere that welcomes both experienced players and complete newcomers. The winter leagues are open to full teams as well as individuals. Many participants join on their own and are placed into teams, making it easy to meet new people and become part of the community. Viva Sports is offering two indoor social beach volleyball leagues at Sports Centrum Koráb in Prague 8. Both leagues run for eight weeks in a 5v5 social format, with matches played from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. The Wednesday league takes place midweek, while the Friday league is scheduled for the end of the week. Registration for both leagues closes on 12 January 2026. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da VIVA Sports (@vivasports.cz) Basketball players can join the winter basketball league at Sports Centrum Řepy in Prague 17. The league runs for seven weeks, with 5v5 games played on Mondays from 9:00 to...
European Union leaders decided on Friday to borrow cash to loan 90 billion euros to Ukraine to fund its defence against Russia for the next two years rather than use frozen Russian assets. The leaders also gave the European Commission a mandate to keep working on a so-called reparations loan based on Russian immobilised assets but that option proved unworkable for now, above all due to resistance from Belgium, where the bulk of the assets is held. “Today we approved a decision to provide 90 billion euros to Ukraine,” EU summit chairman Antonio Costa told a press conference early on Friday morning after hours of talks among the leaders in Brussels. “As a matter of urgency, we will provide a loan backed by the European Union budget.” The idea of EU borrowing initially seemed unworkable as it requires unanimity and Hungary’s Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban had opposed it. But Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic agreed to let the scheme go ahead as long as it did not impact them financially. The EU leaders said Russian assets, totalling 210 billion euros in the EU, will remain frozen until Moscow pays war reparations to Ukraine. If Moscow ever takes such...
Prague’s public transport network has taken a visible step toward cleaner mobility. This week, the city began operating its first new electric buses in regular service, marking the initial phase of a broader transition away from diesel vehicles. Four battery-powered buses are now running on route 213, following their delivery by Czech manufacturer SOR Libchavy. These vehicles are part of a first batch of 18 electric buses ordered under a long-term framework agreement. According to the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP), the remaining 14 buses from this delivery will be introduced gradually over the coming weeks, once final technical and administrative preparations are completed. Passengers are expected to encounter the new electric buses across a wider range of routes in the near future. In addition to route 213, the vehicles will serve lines 154, 159, 185, 126, 133, 173 and 175, with weekend operations planned on routes 124 and 207. As new electric buses enter service, they will directly replace some of the oldest diesel vehicles still operating in the city. DPP says this one-to-one replacement is designed to reduce emissions without cutting capacity. The move supports Prague’s Climate Plan as well as national requirements aimed at lowering pollution from...
Prague’s historic center has long struggled with the impact of sightseeing transport that many residents see as intrusive. Flashing rickshaws, noisy electric trikes, and horse-drawn carriages often clash with the atmosphere of narrow streets and protected monuments. A new student project now suggests a different direction—one that focuses on calm movement, clear design, and respect for the city. Senior students from the Industrial Design Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) were asked to create a contemporary sightseeing vehicle that could serve as a credible alternative to what currently circulates through the city center. The goal was not to produce a novelty, but to explore transport that fits naturally into Prague’s urban and cultural setting. Students also had to consider comfort, functionality, and how such vehicles would operate in a dense historic environment. Each design was required to accommodate at least three passengers and to work as a realistic form of urban transport rather than a spectacle. The resulting concepts vary in form and purpose. One proposal reimagines sightseeing as a slow-moving mobile café, combining city exploration with a curated food experience. Others focus on compact, autonomous vehicles designed for up to five passengers, offering...
Václav Havel was born in Prague on October 5, 1936. He became one of the country’s leading intellectuals and a respected playwright. From an early age, he developed a deep interest in European literature and drama, which he pursued within the so-called “Class of ’36,” a literary circle of young writers opposed to what Havel described as the Soviet regime’s “cemetery peace.” After the Prague Spring of 1968 and its violent suppression by Soviet troops, Havel emerged as a committed political activist and was soon branded an enemy of the state by the authorities in Prague, then a satellite of Moscow. He was banned from working in the theatre and spent several years in prison. Throughout this period, he remained under constant surveillance by the Czechoslovak communist regime. Havel became a central figure of the Velvet Revolution, a sustained, nonviolent uprising that brought down the communist regime through mass demonstrations over five weeks. On December 29, 1989, he was elected president of Czechoslovakia. In June 1990, the country held its first free elections since the fall of communist rule. During his presidency, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, a development Havel never fully accepted. In...
The Czech Republic’s new foreign minister, Petr Macinka, announced his intention to relocate the country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The comments were made during a Hanukkah lighting in Prague. “It should have been done a long time ago,” said Macinka, who entered office on Monday. During his speech, Macinka also addressed the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney, which led to the murder of 15 people. Macinka expressed solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community, and noted that one way of acting on that solidarity would be to move the embassy to Jerusalem, which Israel recognizes as its capital. Israel’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Amir Weissbrod, praised Macinka for attending. “In Prague, many people gathered to celebrate the holiday together and express solidarity in the fight against antisemitism,” wrote Weissbrod on X. “My sincere thanks go to all the distinguished guests who attended this evening. This evening there was an exceptional atmosphere.” The Czech Republic’s new government was sworn in on Monday, led by Andrej Babiš. He is expected to follow in the footsteps of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, whose countries have refused to provide military aid to Ukraine and oppose EU sanctions on Russia....
Anyone hoping for a white Christmas in Czechia may need to temper their expectations. According to the latest outlook from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), snowfall in the days leading up to Christmas is unlikely, not only in lowland areas but also in much of the country’s mountain regions. Meteorologists say the weather pattern dominating Central Europe is expected to remain largely unchanged until just before Christmas. High pressure is keeping fronts away from the region, limiting both cloud formation and precipitation. As a result, the coming days are forecast to be dry, with temperature inversions continuing to shape local conditions. In some areas, this could even mean clearer skies and periods of sunshine, though overall weather trends will closely resemble those of the past week. A potential shift in atmospheric conditions is currently being monitored around the Christmas period itself. Forecast models increasingly suggest the development of a blocking high-pressure system over northwestern Europe. If this scenario materialises, it could redirect airflow over Czechia from the east or northeast, opening the door to colder continental air. Such a change would raise the chance of an Arctic air mass reaching the country after Christmas. However, meteorologists stress that this remains...
Agricultural producer prices in Czechia fell sharply on a month-on-month basis, while several key food items moved in opposite directions. Fresh data released by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) show that fruit prices dropped significantly, even as eggs recorded a steep increase. Compared with the previous month, agricultural producer prices declined by 4 percent. At the same time, industrial producer prices rose by 0.3 percent. Construction work became slightly more expensive, increasing by 0.1 percent, while prices of market services for businesses edged down by 0.1 percent. Looking at developments over the past year, trends remain mixed. Industrial producer prices fell year-on-year for the tenth consecutive month, declining by 1.3 percent. Agricultural producer prices rose by 1.2 percent, marking the slowest annual growth since September 2024. Construction work prices were 0.1 percent higher than a year earlier, while prices of market services for businesses increased by 4.3 percent. Within agriculture, price movements varied widely. Fruit prices fell by 9.5 percent month-on-month, potatoes dropped by 8.2 percent, and pig prices declined by 6.1 percent. In contrast, egg prices jumped by 12.4 percent, and poultry prices rose by 2.1 percent. Industrial producer prices recorded their strongest monthly increases in refined petroleum products....
From January 2026, patients in Czechia with severe depression or other serious mental health conditions may be able to receive psilocybin therapy, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, under strict medical supervision. The Ministry of Health has finalized a decree specifying how the treatment can be used, following a Senate-approved amendment to legalize medical psilocybin earlier this year. The therapy is intended for patients whose symptoms have not responded to conventional treatments such as antidepressants. Outgoing Health Minister Vlastimil Válek confirmed it will also be available for cancer-related depression and sudden worsening of other serious neuropsychiatric conditions, provided its use is backed by scientific evidence. The decree limits prescribing and dosing: only psychiatrists can administer psilocybin, treatments must be supervised by specialists, and patients can receive a maximum of three doses per month, with no more than 75 grams in total. A single dose cannot exceed 35 mg or 0.4 mg per kilogram of body weight. Authorities say psilocybin is low in toxicity, non-addictive, and generally safe under medical supervision, though unsupervised use can be dangerous. Dr. Rita Kočárová, a psychologist and researcher in psychedelic care, emphasizes that legal approval alone is not enough. “Treatment with psychedelics requires expertise, a...
Prague police are looking for a man suspected of assaulting a woman inside a rented car in Žižkov after allegedly hiding in the vehicle’s back seat. The incident happened on Sunday, November 30, shortly after 9 p.m. on Kubelíkova Street. The woman had unlocked the car using a mobile app and was following standard rental procedure, which requires photographing the vehicle from all sides before driving off. Investigators believe that during this brief window, an unknown man entered the car without being noticed and concealed himself in the back seat. When the woman later sat down in the driver’s seat, the man suddenly attacked her from behind. According to police spokesman Jan Daněk, the suspect grabbed her head and forced it against the armrest with considerable force. The woman managed to break free, exit the car, and call for help. The attacker then fled the scene. Police describe the suspect as an athletic man, around 40 years old, approximately 180 centimeters tall, with light-colored hair and fair skin. He is believed to speak Czech. Security cameras recorded the man leaving the area after the attack. Footage shows him removing and discarding the jacket he wore during the assault. Earlier recordings...
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