A Magical Christmas in the Czech Republic
October 19, 2010 - If you are thinking of visiting Prague and the Czech Republic for Christmans or New Year's, this is the time to start planning. Whether traditional or unorthodox, make sure to check our suggestions for how to spend the holidays or ring in the new year.
Saint Nicholas is the first to come
The holiday season officially starts on the first Sunday of Advent, four weeks before Christmas Eve. This year, the first Advent Sunday is November 28.
On town and village squares throughout the country, Christmas trees are lit up and the streets are lines with Christmas decorations. Craft markets and other holiday markets open for locals and visitors in search of Christmas gifts. And on the evening of December 5, St. Nicholas comes to bring children little gifts - the better to tide them over until Christmas Eve. Good children get presents or sweets from St. Nick; naughty children get a potato or a chunk of coal from the devil.
On November 28, First Lady Livie Klausová will light the Christmas tree at Prague Castle and hand out presents to children.
Traditional handcrafted presents
Nice and original gifts can be found at the many traditional crafts markets in Prague or other towns. Typical Czech handcrafted goods include small wooden statuettes or marionettes, wooden kitchen utensils, straw Christmas tree ornaments, ceramics, beeswax candles, and original glass Christmas-tree ornaments.
At the blacksmith's stall, you will find even a small bell for Baby Jesus. What's that, you ask? In Czech tradition, the parents secretly sneak the presents under the tree while the children are being distracted (usually by a grandparent). Then someone rings the bell, which announces that "Baby Jesus" has been there and has left some presents under the tree.
Gotten hungry from all the shopping? Try some traditional mead or a “trdelník”, a small tubular bread roll covered with cinnamon and sugar. Meat-eaters can choose from various kinds of sausages, and for small appetites, try some freshly roasted chestnuts. You'll never fell cold at the markets: there is always a booth selling mulled wine or punch to warm you up.
Our suggestions:
The best Christmas market in Prague is located on Old Town Square from November 27 to January 1. Other, smaller markets can be found on Náměstí Míru or Náměstí Republiky.
And you will also find Christmas markets in the beautiful town of Cesky Krumlov, every weekend during the Advent season.
Make sure to book a hotel room as soon as possible. Check out our hotel guide.
Next: a more in-depth look at Czech Christmas traditions.
