December 2: Illumination of the Christmas Tree at Prague Castle

On the first Advent Sunday, which falls on December 2^nd this year, the Christmas tree on St. George’s Square at Prague Castle (behind the Cathedral of St. Vitus) will be illuminated at 16:30. The 21^st annual charity fundraiser for vulnerable children run by SOS Children’s Villages will be launched at the same time. The fundraiser will last until January 6^th.

The ceremony will be attended by the wife of the President of the Czech Republic Ivana Zemanová, and will be accompanied by the music of the Castle Guard, and singer Petr Kutheil will also perform with Coro Piccolo Children’s Choir. The program will be moderated by Klára Doležalová and Karel Voříšek.

“This year’s visitors to Prague Castle can contribute to and support our social services charity,” says SOS Children’s Village director Jindra Salatova.

“We work with families who are threatened with having their children taken away. Our social workers help parents overcome their problems in life and get back on their feet. They also support them in gaining better parental skills. This year, we have been helping hundreds of families in five regions of the country, and last year, thanks to our services, 851 children were able to stay with their parents,” Jindra Salatova tells us.

The annual Christmas fundraiser for SOS Children’s village was founded in 1968 by Irena Svobodová, the wife of President Ludwig Svoboda. The first post-revolution fundraiser for SOS Children’s Village was held at the castle in 1992 and was very successful. In 1993, they managed to raise an incredible two million crowns. The charity fundraiser was also supported by the second wife of Václav Havel, Mrs. Dagmar.

The festive illumination of the Christmas tree is open to the general public and completely free of charge. Under the Christmas tree at Prague Castle, people can donate to SOS Children’s Village until January 6^th next year. 

Author: Holly Webb