Christmas

5 Forgotten Czech Christmas Traditions We Should Bring Back

The Christmas season has a completely different meaning today than it did for our relatives at the beginning of the last century or the century before last. Holiday traditions are fading away and being replaced with superficial things, but here are a few of the older ones that we think should be brought back. Rules for Christmas Dinner On the table should be exactly nine dishes which the housekeeper has spent the whole day preparing. No one should eat any of the food before the first evening star appears in the sky. And all the food that is not eaten during the evening, should be buried in the garden – to guarantee that the following year there would be a rich harvest. No one was allowed to stand up from the table during dinner, as this would mean that the following year, the whole family wouldn’t be together for Christmas. The Floating of Walnut Shells Families make little boats out of walnut shells and place small burning candles into them. The boats then float on bowls of water. If the shell survives the floating, that family member is guaranteed a long and healthy life. If not, bad luck will befall him...

 by Prague Morning Dec 23, 2019

Meet the Lamplighter on the Charles Bridge

Advent and pre-Christmas time in Prague bring with it another rediscovered tradition. From December 1st to December 23th, between 16:00 and 17:00, a lamplighter passes through the Charles Bridge. He will begin to lit the historical gaslighting with a burning wick on a long rod nearby the Old Town Bridge Tower. Then, he will continue in the Lesser Town direction and return back. Dressed in medieval clothes, the lamplighter explains how to light the lamp to tourists who want to help him! Nowadays, the gas lights operate automatically, Advent is the only time in the year when the gas lamps are lit up by a lamplighter. Street lighting in Prague dates back to 1847, which is the year when the first gas lamps were lit in this city. By 1940, nearly 9,000 gas lamps cast their bluish glow on the city. Gaslighting was used in Prague till 1985 when the eight branched cast-iron lamps on Hradčanské square and in Loretánská street were converted for electric light. Fifteen years ago, Prague has begun to return to the gaslighting in interesting historical parts of the city. There are gas lamps all along the King’s “Royal Way”: from the Powder Tower to the Old...

 by Prague Morning Dec 03, 2019

Prague Christmas Markets Ranked Among World’s TOP 5 by CNN

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to mean joylessly battling through department store crowds or trawling the Internet for bargains. Why not combine present-buying with some travel? These 10 Christmas markets scattered around the world make great destinations for traditional gifts, glasses of glühwein and that unbeatable festive feeling. 1. Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, in eastern France, is home to one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, with the first edition taking place in 1570. 2. Vienna Few cities steep themselves in the festive spirit like Vienna. The Austrian capital’s first Christmas Market was held in 1298 and today the city has more than 20 events to choose from. 3. Montreal Running from December 1 to 24 in the pedestrian thoroughfare of Ste Catherine Street, it has more than 60 wooden houses plying their wares, from warming winter drinks to essential Christmas handicrafts. 4. Prague The city’s two main Christmas markets, in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, are only five minutes’ walk from each other, so can both easily be explored in one day. Each one has the usual wooden huts found in similar markets across Europe, but the Czech treats are what really set them apart. 5. Florence With the Franciscan Basilica providing a backdrop for...

 by Prague Morning Dec 22, 2018

Large Stores In Prague Will Remain Closed For Christmas

Stores larger than 200 square meters will close at noon on December 24 and remain closed for two days after that. The law which came into effect last year, aims to make the Christmas period less about commerce and more about the holiday spirit, allowing people to slow down and spend time with their families. Not all stores are affected by the bill, of course. Pharmacies, gas stations, airport shops do not come under the legislation. Hamley’s toy store on Na Příkopě will be closed all day December 24. Furniture stores IKEA and Kika will also be closed that day. Electronics e-shop Alza.cz will open its main Prague shop in Holešovice December 26 for pickups and returns of items. The store maintains that since the sales take place online that opening the store for pickups does not violate the law. The law also includes New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Liberation Day, the day of Czech Statehood Day on Sept. 28 and Independent Czechoslovak State Day on October 28. As for those, who open their doors in violation of the law? Fines can go up to one million crowns, while repeat offenders risk paying five times that amount. Author: red xosotin chelseathông...

 by Prague Morning Dec 20, 2018

Strange Czech Christmas Traditions

Czech people believe that certain foods and herbs can serve to tell the future and predict the year ahead. Around Christmas time, these specific predicting activities have been celebrated by Czechs throughout all of recorded history. Apples During the Christmas dinner people half the apples and according to the shape of the seeds they read a prophecy of how healthy they will be in the coming year. If a star appears, then the person will be well and healthy. If the cross appears, don’t expect anything good. The same could be done with walnuts – if the inside nut is healthy and fresh, it’s a good sign. If it’s black, guess what could happen to the person in the coming year. One more: if the goats are given apples on Christmas Eve, their milk will be sweet. Honey Czech women put honey on their cheeks on Christmas to bring them romance and love. Honey is also placed in a saucer on the Christmas table to ward off evil and bring health to the family. Poppyseed, peas, wheat, barley The day after Christmas, poppyseeds, peas, wheat, and/or barley are fed to the poultry. This custom assures that many delicious eggs will be laid in the coming year and that...

 by Prague Morning Dec 18, 2018

Prague’s Christmas Markets: 3 Modern Alternatives

The Christmas markets on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are already known to everyone, with huge crowds of people every night. However, entrepreneurial young people have set up some alternatives, and so the city can offer residents and tourists a more modern Christmas market experience than those traditional markets that we already know about in the city centre.  The highly anticipated Manifesto Winter Market was opened on Thursday near Florenc. Manifesto celebrated great success in the summer months, selling delicious food from all over the world. This winter season, you can find twenty different food stalls here, and you can also buy gifts from dozens of local designers. You can enjoy your delicious food and drinks in heated igloos or beside special fireplaces, so you shouldn’t be put off by the cold weather. Entry to the Manifesto Market is free of charge.   Modern Christmas markets in non-traditional places are becoming more and more popular in the city. The next one will open on December 15th at DUP39. Here you can also buy special gifts from local designers. The DUP39 space is located behind the Quadrio department store.  Among the less traditional Christmas markets is the Dyzajn Market...

 by Prague Morning Nov 25, 2018

Uncovering the Truth Behind Czech Christmas Food Traditions

Tis’ the season to be jolly, merry and full of delicious food. The Czechs load up the dinner table on Christmas Eve with foods that will ensure good health or even predict the future. Here’s a list of a few holiday foods and the stories behind them. Apples  Who would’ve thought that apples could predict the future? Turns out the Czechs did. After Christmas dinner, everyone is given an apple to cut in half. The arrangement of the seeds tells what is to come. A star means health, happiness and unity for the new year, but a four-pointed cross means bad luck will come to someone at the table (even insinuating someone will get sick or die). Here’s hoping everyone finds stars this season. Another use for apples during the holidays: a young girl will peel an apple on Christmas Day and throw the peal above her head. When the peel lands on the ground, the alphabetical letter it looks most like will be the first letter of the name of her future spouse. For homes with goats, give goats apples on Christmas Eve so their milk will be plentiful and sweet. Honey Honey has many functions on Christmas. To...

 by Prague Morning Nov 21, 2018

Tell more about your business

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Thank You, It`s All Good

We will come back to you within 24 housr with our proporsal

Tell us about your.