Prague for New Year and Christmas: a magical winter fairy tale. How are New Year and Christmas celebrated in Prague? What to do in Prague at Christmas

Winter holidays are one of the most wonderful periods in Prague. At this time, the city is transformed and seems to be filled with magic. Ancient buildings, cathedrals with high spiers, medieval narrow streets, harsh Gothic towers - all this beauty resembles a fairy-tale scenery at any time of the year. But during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Prague reveals a special side. It seems that a fairy tale has settled on these streets and squares. Haven't decided where to go for the New Year yet? Plan a trip to a fairy tale! In this article we will tell you about the features of Prague during the winter holidays and important details that will help you when planning your trip.

How to organize a trip to Prague for New Year and Christmas:

What to do in Prague during the winter holidays:

Organizing a trip to Prague for New Year and Christmas

Choose the right travel time

Of course, travel dates depend on many factors and are often tied to your work schedule, ticket availability, etc. However, if you have the opportunity to choose, try not to miss the height of the events - the Czech Republic celebrates Christmas according to Catholic tradition, on December 25. And this day is celebrated especially solemnly and brightly. The New Year is no longer so magnificent, but still festive. Decorated Christmas trees, traditional fairs, fireworks and other holiday attributes are still “in place”. But already in the first days of January, Prague returns to a completely everyday atmosphere and to ordinary city life.

Accordingly, in order to get the maximum impressions, you should come to Prague in the early 20s of December. And if you have a lot of time to relax and you want to contemplate how the city is gradually filled with a fabulous atmosphere and anticipation of a miracle, then even earlier. But if you don’t have the opportunity to get to Prague in December, don’t worry. At the end of December and early January you will still find general fun. And after that, you can take a little break from the crowds of people densely filling the streets. And although there will no longer be lush mass celebrations and riotous fun here in January, Prague will not lose its unique winter charm.

Book in advance

This advice is, of course, obvious, but we cannot help but remind you of it. You are not the only one who dreams of visiting Prague for New Year and Christmas. Many tourists from different countries wish the same! But Prague, like some other cities, is not rubber! Hotel rooms should be chosen and booked in advance.

You need to decide in advance what how will you get to the Czech Republic. Winter holidays are a busy time, and it is better to buy tickets as early as possible in order to fly away at reasonable prices. Check

If you have chosen a restaurant and want to spend Christmas or New Year's Eve there, reserve your table in advance. You'll be able to attend Christmas parties at many establishments - just look out for signs outside restaurants for details.

A few years ago we would have advised you to also take care of excursion program, book excursions, find Russian-speaking guides in advance…. If you travel with an iPhone, now you don't have to worry about it. After all, there is an excellent alternative to group excursions -. With its help, you can learn a lot of interesting information about Prague, and you can listen to it at a convenient time, interrupting when necessary, and jumping to a new topic when it is interesting. You don’t even need to think about what kind of attraction is in front of you - Travelry will determine where you are, show and tell you what is interesting nearby, and why, in fact, these objects are worthy of your attention.

Weather in Prague in winter

Although winter in Prague is much milder than in Russia, you will still need warm clothes. On New Year's and during the winter holidays, the temperature averages up to +1 degrees during the day and can drop to -2-4 at night. However, do not forget about the high humidity, due to which this temperature is perceived several degrees lower. So do not rush to undress, especially if you are walking along or along the embankment of the Vltava River. You can find out more about the features of different seasons in Prague.

Read also:

What to do in Prague during the winter holidays

Where does the holiday live?

Of course, the feeling of celebration is born and lives in our hearts! But you must admit that external attributes are very important for creating a mood and atmosphere. In Prague, this mood literally fills all the central streets of the city, decorated with bright illumination and garlands. In the evenings, the city squares are filled with light and fun - concerts are held, many festively dressed people walk around, singing beautiful Christmas carols. Among them are many Grandfather Frosts, Santa Clauses, Mikulas and Jezhisiks - four images of the same person, the beloved Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russia. I wonder if you can tell them apart?

Holiday fairs fill the squares with noise, fun and pleasant pre-holiday bustle. Trays with local sweets beckons with the magical aromas of cinnamon, ginger, roasted chestnuts and delicious pastries. This Christmas “aromatherapy” is complemented by the aromas of mulled wine and traditional fried sausages. Crowds of relaxed, idly (no, perhaps even festively!) tourists wandering around create a feeling of general fun. Some days this feeling is complemented by colorful fireworks(usually they paint the sky over the Charles Bridge or over Wenceslas Square).

The period of Christmas and New Year celebrations is also unique in Prague because it is at this time that you can see such a rare and colorful character as the lamplighter! Dressed in a colorful frock coat and armed with a special long stick, he goes out onto the city streets in the evenings to light a living fire in gas lamps, which today illuminate many streets and squares in the city center. In particular, the streets Celetná, Melantrichova, Karlova, Jilská, Železná, Mostecká, Malostranska. They can be seen on Staromestskaya. Malaya, Hradcanska squares, Old Castle Stairs and other places.

Curious:

The profession of a lamplighter has existed since the 19th century, when the first gas lamps began to illuminate Prague. But with the advent of electricity, lanterns and, accordingly, lamplighters disappeared from the city streets. Imagine the joy of tourists, and even the residents of Prague themselves, when in the 2000s the profession of lamplighters was revived, as gas lamps again appeared on the streets. They filled the streets of ancient Prague not only with soft and vibrant light, but also with unique romance!

Happy tourists who meet a lamplighter can not only watch the action, but also take part in it themselves, lighting a fire in the lantern using a special long pole!

Let's not forget that Christmas (and the main fun is dedicated to this holiday in Prague) is a Christian holiday. Therefore, during this period it is worth looking into churches in Prague. They host beautiful nativity scenes, and also hold festive masses, where you can hear the ancient organ. However, Prague churches, with their rich history, luxurious interiors and abundance of works of art, are interesting in themselves. We talk about many of them in ours.

Where to celebrate Orthodox Christmas

If you are traveling to Prague not only for the New Year, but also for the entire period of the Russian winter holidays, you may also catch Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7th. In Prague, this day is not a holiday, but this does not mean that you cannot celebrate it. On this day, solemn services are held in Orthodox churches, of which there are several in Prague. Here are some of them:

Church of St. George at the Russian Embassy
Address: Korunovační 34, Prague 6 - Bubeneč
Website: http://www.georgi-prague.orthodoxy.ru/

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Olshansky cemetery
Address: Olšanske hřbitovy, Prague 3
Website: http://www.pravoslavie.cz/

House Church of St. Nicholas in Dejvice
Address: Rooseveltova 29, Prague 6 - Bubeneč

Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Address: Resslova 307/9a, 120 00 Praha 2

It's time for shopping

Many tourists who come to Prague for Christmas and New Year are not averse to shopping and looking for gifts for themselves and loved ones. When planning shopping in Prague, keep in mind that on Catholic Christmas almost all stores are closed - the life of the entire city, including shopping, switches to holiday mode. Before Christmas, all Czechs attack stores in search of gifts - this is the busiest time for trade. But after the New Year, many stores will delight you with winter sales.

Here are a few ideas on what unique things you can buy in Prague, and what traditional Czech souvenirs you can get:

Bohemian glass (famous Czech crystal).
Jewelry with traditional Czech stones – red garnet and green vltavin.
Natural Karlovy Vary cosmetics - shampoos, various creams and masks.
Traditional Czech drinks - famous beer, Becherovka liqueur.
Czech shoes.

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If you are traveling to Prague for New Year and Christmas, wander around the Christmas markets that operate during this period in many central squares of the city. There you will find not only many interesting souvenirs, handmade crafts, unique Christmas tree decorations, original puppets, but also a special festive atmosphere. Finding such fairs will not be difficult. Walking around the center, you are sure to see rows of brightly decorated stalls. The largest concentration of them will be in the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. Just keep in mind that some street fairs only run until Christmas (December 25th), while others run until January 1st. Therefore, you should hurry with some purchases. It’s also worth checking out the ancient Havel Market (it’s open all the time).

If you want to not just walk and choose gifts, but also listen to interesting stories about these places, download - in it we talk about the amazing and rich history of Old Town Square, Havel Market and many other places in the Old Town.

But jewelry, crystal, shoes and clothes are worth buying in stores. Great demand for popular things generates a large supply of fakes. But if you buy, for example, wine glasses in a large shopping center or in a reputable store, you will most likely get real Bohemian glass. Before Christmas in Prague you can get very profitable sales - usually they are held in large stores.

Time for culinary delights

It seems that during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Czechs forget about the rules of healthy eating and allow themselves to eat even beyond measure. Although we note that Czech restaurants and cafes are already famous for their huge portions! Basically, during this period it is customary to indulge in sweets - on the streets you will find many mini-kitchens where baked goods will be prepared right in front of you. Try the famous waffles, honey gingerbread, nut cookies, vanilla bagels... However, it is best not to look for something specific, but to take what you like. Everything here is delicious, everything perfectly charges you with energy for walking along the winter streets.

One of the traditional Czech dishes for Christmas is carp. The tradition of fattening carp for Christmas has now given rise to another - releasing them into the river. Near the Vltava you can meet people who sell young fish specifically for this purpose. Also, the holiday tables of Prague residents are rich in a variety of snacks, traditional sausages and all kinds of baked sweets.

Street food adds a lot of positivity, but you shouldn’t ignore Prague restaurants and cafes. It’s a special feeling to sit in them in the winter, drinking hot “winter” drinks and admiring the lights outside the window, snowflakes flying in the wind, people walking, and not rushing anywhere, just relaxing. Among the mentioned “winter” drinks, Krampampuli punch is popular in Prague.

The traditional Christmas dinner is served on Catholic Christmas Eve, on the evening of December 24th. Usually these are Lenten dishes, because the Nativity Fast ends on Christmas Day itself, that is, on December 25, on Christmas Day itself (in the Catholic tradition), geese and other meat delicacies are already eaten. Those who observe the Orthodox Christmas fast will have a more difficult time, but they will also be able to choose among the many traditional Czech dishes that suit them.

In the Czech Republic, Advent begins, the time of anticipation for Christmas, when believers prepare for the holiday. Prague is gradually transforming. Christmas trees are being installed in the squares, the streets are blooming with illuminations, and noisy fairs are opening. Life is in full swing, the public is animated, traders are inviting people.

Prague restaurants are also preparing for Christmas, announcing holiday parties well in advance. Pay attention to the posters and signs: you may want to spend a festive evening in one of these establishments.

The homes of the capital's residents are being transformed. Townspeople decorate their front doors with wreaths and their windows with garlands; Every family decorates a Christmas tree. Prague lives in anticipation of the holiday, waiting for Christmas Eve and a magical Christmas night.

Bring home traditional symbols of the Czech Republic, buy gifts with national flavor in Prague.

Christmas sweets

Christmas for Czechs is unthinkable without sweets. Here are a few classics that are worth trying in Prague and be sure to buy as gifts for family and friends.

Cukroví is a traditional Czech Christmas treat. These are small cookies that melt in your mouth. They start baking long before Christmas. Crispy zucrovi cookies or nutty “wasp nests” with cream and chocolate glaze are an indispensable attribute of the Czech Christmas table.

Vanochka (vánočka) is a traditional braided dough made from sweet yeast dough.

Vanochni stola (Vánoční štola) is an analogue of the German “shtola”, a cake with the addition of lemon zest, raisins, candied fruits and almonds.

Painted honey gingerbread cookies are a symbol of Christmas. They are baked long before the holiday: the products must rest for several weeks, become softer, and acquire a special, unique taste.

Vanilla bagels “vanilkove rohlicky” are another type of classic pastry without which you can’t imagine Czech Christmas. Delicate little bagel-shaped cookies are rolled warm in a mixture of powdered sugar and vanilla.

Traditional drinks

In the squares and streets of Prague, in shops and at fairs, warming drinks are sold everywhere. In addition to tea and coffee, you can try Christmas and winter options here: punch, honey, mulled wine.

Holiday menu

If you go to a restaurant these days, you will be offered a special menu made up of classic Christmas dishes. For starters, take carp soup with croutons. Order the Czech holiday appetizer – “wine sausage”, made from several types of meat mixed with white wine. Be sure to try the traditional fried carp - it is served with potato salad, very reminiscent of our Olivier.

It is great luck for tourists to get to the Czech Republic for Christmas. If you are going to celebrate a bright holiday in fabulous Prague, use these tips. We have already figured out what to buy as a gift and what to order for the table. Now let's talk about Czech Christmas traditions, folk customs and signs.

Christmas tale in the Czech Republic

Signs accompanying the arrival of Christmas have been carefully preserved in the Czech Republic since ancient times. On December 24, early in the morning, you need to wash yourself in the icy stream - then good health will be ensured for the whole year. In Czech houses they don’t turn on the lights until the first star. Dinner is served as the star rises.

An even number of people must be invited to dinner. If there is an odd number of guests at the table, the hosts simply put an extra cutlery for an imaginary “guest”. A small talisman is placed under each plate - a coin or a scale of a festive carp. This item is supposed to be kept in a wallet to attract wealth, happiness, and good luck.

Each guest must eat the entire Christmas dinner. Everyone is supposed to get up after a meal at the same time. Leftover food should be buried in the garden under the trees - this is the key to a bountiful harvest next summer. See more about fortune telling on Christmas Eve.

St. Stephen's Day

After midnight mass (Virginia), Christmas comes into its own. On December 25, Czechs are served meat, baked goose, and holiday cookies. “The Second Christmas” is often called December 26th. Since ancient times, Czechs have caroled in the streets on this day. Nowadays, few people decide to sing carols - you can see the ancient custom only in the provinces. On this day, Prague residents continue their home celebrations or visit their relatives. The series of Christmas celebrations ends with the day of St. John the Evangelista (December 27).

On December 31, Czechs celebrate the New Year. On this day, coinciding with, it is customary to visit and congratulate distant relatives.

Procession of the Three Kings

Christmas ends with Three Kings Day. On January 5 at 15:30, three kings-magi on camels and accompanied by carolers will begin the procession from Hradcanska Square, then they will walk along Loretanska Street to Loretanska Square to a living nativity scene to bow to the baby Jesus and present their gifts to him.

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Do you want to see the New Year's Czech Republic? Come a few days before Christmas, in the early 20s of December. Prague is transformed before Christmas, it is already ready for the New Year holidays - everything is decorated with multi-colored garlands, there are many live Christmas trees in tubs all around. Christmas melodies are heard from everywhere. A week before the celebration, a live Christmas tree is installed in the main square of the city.

How Christmas and New Year are celebrated in the Czech Republic

The eve of Christmas - st. Nicolas day(in Czech "Mikulas"). Catholics celebrate it December 6.

Starting from this day, children receive their first gifts - St. Nicholas and his retinue walk along the roads and congratulate the kids.

In Russia, Christmas begins two weeks later - due to the difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

Catholic Christmas in the Czech Republic

The population of the Czech Republic is mostly atheists. According to the 2011 census, about 80% of respondents said they had no religion or refused to answer this question.

The largest number of believers are Catholics.

TO Christmas Eve, which is celebrated on December 24, carp are fattened all year round. A festive table is unthinkable without them.

The carp scales are not thrown away, but washed and placed under each guest’s plate, along with a small coin - for good luck.

This scale is sometimes carried in a wallet for the entire next year - so that money is not transferred.

Christmas Eve is also called Generous evening- on the table 12 Lenten dishes, and guests must try each of them. They also put out an extra plate for the occasional guest.

At Christmas in Prague, it is customary to buy young carp from traders in order to release them into the water a minute or two later.

In the city park, tame bears are treated to sweets. Bears were dangerous for the inhabitants of the medieval city; they tried to appease them so that they would not be “offended” and would not come to people.

The danger no longer exists, but the tradition remains. So Christmas Eve is also called Bear day.

And the very next day it’s the turn of the Christmas goose and other various cookies and rich sweets.

From December 25 until the New Year, numerous nativity scenes are open, and carolers walk the streets. If two “devils” meet each other, they can arrange a light brawl between themselves until the “Nicholas” separate them.

How would you like this option:

In the morning, go on a bus and walking tour of Prague. Price 10 euro per person.
After the tour, attend a master class on how to prepare a real Christmas dinner. Experienced chefs will teach you all the intricacies of local cuisine. The prepared dish can then be eaten with appetite. Cost of the master class - 45 Euro.
In the evening, go to a medieval show in Detenice. Show cost 35 euro per person. A lavish New Year's dinner, an interesting festive program, fireworks and salutes await you.

Or this schedule:

Devote the morning to sightseeing.
Take a walk in one of the city parks. Each of them provides ski and skate rentals for active recreation enthusiasts. There are slopes for sledding.
Take a master class on baking zucchini. The cost of the course is 45 euros.
And in the evening, experience the mysterious and walk along the route of “Mystical Prague.” As a rule, it is conducted by a guide dressed as a skeleton. Price 15 euro per person.

And on January 1, in the late afternoon, fireworks begin throughout Prague. The most popular fireworks performance takes place on the banks of the Vltava River.

New Year's Prague for children

For Russian-speaking children during the Christmas holidays in the theater Coruni Traditional Christmas tree performances with Father Frost and Snow Maiden are held. Starts at 10.00 am.

A visit to the Prague Zoo will bring a lot of pleasure to your child. There are enclosures where pets roam free and you are allowed to interact with them. This zoo is the pride of Prague residents; you can spend half a day there unnoticed. Costs a ticket from 35 Euro.

Take your child to a cooking class, he will love it.

For lovers of classical opera and ballet, we recommend visiting the production of The Sleeping Beauty at the Prague State Opera (Státní opera Praha). Not everyone likes the modern production of the ballet “The Nutcracker” at the National Opera; they are often dissatisfied and believe that all that remains of the ballet is the music.

Preparing for your trip

The most convenient way to get from Russia to Prague is by plane from Moscow or St. Petersburg. It is better to entrust your trip to one of the time-tested tour operators.

Trips to the Czech Republic of varying durations are offered, for example a New Year's tour - “Magnificent Prague”, cost 580-700 euros, you can pay in rubles.

As usual, the group leader will meet you at the airport and provide all the necessary information.

There are also bus tours to Prague. They depart from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad. These tours are much cheaper than traveling by plane.

If you plan to go on an independent trip, keep in mind that you will have to develop the entire program yourself.

You can stay in a hotel, hostel or rent luxury apartments, you just need to make a reservation in advance.

The cost of living will depend on the location of the hotel, its star rating, and of course on the choice of a specific room.

It is better to find a Russian-speaking guide in advance who will meet you and take you on a walk around Prague. This service must be arranged in advance.

Christmas atmosphere:

New Year in Prague - reviews from tourists

“We have long dreamed of going to Prague at Christmas. We couldn’t even imagine such a fairy tale - two weeks practically in the center of Europe. Live shops are just a sight for sore eyes. We ate some sweets and brought them with us. In every square we were treated to them. I’m taking home about a dozen recipes.”
Maria
“We stayed in a regular three-star hotel. The staff turned out to be wonderful, the boy at the reception desk, having learned that we were in Prague for the first time, gave us a map of the city and showed us what and where it was. And another remembered the phone number of the Russian guide and immediately called him. Everything was great, I enjoyed the trip. There were, of course, minor inconveniences, but they didn’t spoil our mood.”
Victor
“I never thought that New Year’s Prague is such a fascinating sight. And that I, a serious person over 45, suddenly wants to forget about everything and have fun like a five-year-old boy. And so become immersed in the history of the ancient medieval castle. And our guide is a funny old lady. It got us all excited, we remembered our youth, we had a blast. And we fell in love with Prague forever.”
If you are going to celebrate Catholic Christmas in Prague, you are very lucky - in the Czech Republic this holiday is celebrated with warmth and at the same time on a grand scale!

Christmas in the Czech Republic and other Western European Catholic countries is celebrated on December 25th. They prepare for it long before the holiday. Spending a few days in Prague, shrouded in Christmas bustle, will be unforgettable. At this time, the city is filled with a special spirit of a bright holiday, extraordinary comfort and magic.
Beautifully decorated live Christmas trees are installed throughout the historical part of the city. The main beauty of Prague - a spruce tree with a height of 23 to 25 meters - is lit on Old Town Square. Many Czechs buy a small live spruce or pine planted in a decorated pot for their homes.

Christmas tree on Old Town Square in Prague

Prague is enveloped in the delicious smells of street food. The aroma of cinnamon baked goods hovers in the Old Town Square, which is pleasant to wash down with a warming . A fascinating walk through the Christmas markets is a great pleasure. Oh, and what’s not there! You will find beautiful Christmas tree decorations, straw figurines, candles, handmade toys, knitted items, and Christmas sweets.

You can walk around winter Prague without fear of freezing. The average air temperature is about +5 degrees. Snow in Prague is quite rare, but if you're lucky, you can see the city covered in a blanket of snow at Christmas. Prague is called the city of a thousand towers, and its snow-covered views from the observation platforms are amazing.

Advent period - anticipation of Christmas in the Czech Republic

Four Sundays before the Nativity of Christ, the Advent period begins, which precedes the holiday. Believers try to adhere to fasting and think about spiritual life. Each church hosts Christmas masses, where the choir and organ sound magically.

There are several interesting and colorful traditions associated with the Advent period. For example, an advent calendar, as well as a fir wreath with four candles, which is a favorite decoration and symbolizes the four Sundays before Christmas.

According to the Advent calendar, children count down the days until their favorite holiday. Traditionally, it looks like a cardboard house in which windows open, and each of them can contain candy, an excerpt from the Holy Scriptures, a note with a wish or a small gift. Parents often make their own calendars from a variety of materials. The calendar has 24 days and ends on Christmas Eve.

Fragrant Christmas sweets - symbols of the Advent period - appear in stores. The most popular delicacies, without which it is difficult to imagine Christmas, are: Christmas adit (large curd cake with raisins, nuts and candied fruits), coconut and ginger cookies, colorful gingerbread cookies and vanilla bagels.

Since December, sales and exhibitions of handmade Bethlehem nativity scenes have been held in the Czech Republic. The nativity scene represents the scene of the Nativity of Christ. Traditionally it is made of wood and the figures are painted. The Bethlehem manger can be seen in every church and in city squares. They are very fascinating to kids. Sometimes straw pens with live sheep and goats are installed in squares, which also delights children.

The chances of receiving a gift in the Czech Republic increase fourfold. They are given by several characters: the well-known Grandfather Frost, as well as Santa Claus, Yozhishek and Mikulas (St. Nicholas).

December 6 is the feast of St. Nicholas (Nicholas the Wonderworker). On the 5th and 6th there are mummers on the streets: Mikulash, an angel, a bishop with a staff and a devil. They walk around the city and ask children about their behavior this year. If it left much to be desired, then the devil can symbolically “threaten” the mischief-maker. Many children willingly sing children's carols to Mikulas and receive treats from him. Devils and angels can be found even on public transport, and for those who wish, these characters can be visited at home.

This is what carp looks like, without which Christmas in the Czech Republic is incomplete

The national tradition of the Czech Republic is cooking. A couple of days before the holiday, live fish is sold in large vats right on the streets of the city. Carp and potato salad are symbols of the Christmas table. Recently, a humane attitude towards carp has become popular and some Czechs are releasing purchased fish back into reservoirs.

Christmas Eve is a generous day

December 24 is called Generous. On this day people treat people with sweets, help those in need, and feed animals and birds. At the initiative of the city authorities, everyone is being treated to free fish soup on Old Town Square.

Main square before Christmas in Prague

Festive tents at a fair in Prague

Believers begin a generous day with prayer. At morning mass, Christmas treats are blessed. Gifts on this day are given by “Ježíšek” (Jezhishek). This is what Czechs affectionately call Jesus Christ. This Christian tradition reminds children and adults about the Lord, who loves every person on earth and is ready to give us any gifts if it is useful for our soul.

It should be noted that until the end of the 19th century, all food on the table of believers was fast, from the first day of the Advent period until Christmas Day, which cannot be said about the modern Czech Republic and other countries.

Housewives prepare a festive dinner in the morning. It is served after sunset. The traditional dish is carp with potato salad. Roasted chestnuts and traditional sweets may also be present on the table. The scales of the Christmas carp represent wealth, so there is a tradition associated with them to put them under a plate or in a wallet. There is a belief that no one should leave the table until dinner is over, so everything needs to be carefully prepared in advance.

Prague on Christmas Eve is especially conducive to fortune telling

Master class: how to carol and tell fortunes correctly

Like other Slavic peoples, the Czechs have preserved the tradition of caroling and fortune telling. They sing carols throughout Advent and on the day before Christmas. To receive a gift, kids learn several carols and sing them in kindergartens, schools, and on stages at Christmas markets. On Christmas Eve they tell fortunes. For example, on a boat made of walnut shells. A small candle is placed in it, lit and placed in a bowl of water. If the boat does not sink, then the fortuneteller will experience happiness and good luck next year. If he swims to the middle, then travel and adventure are expected.

Feast of the Nativity of Christ - December 25

Christmas in the Czech Republic is a favorite holiday. It is customary to meet him in the family circle. On December 25, Prague plunges into a quiet festive atmosphere. The action plan is as follows:
- Already on December 24, museums and shops stop working in the afternoon. The streets of Prague are mostly inhabited by tourists. In the Czech Republic there are three days: December 24, 25, 26;
- At midnight on Christmas Day, the Orloj clock strikes and the bells of Prague churches are heard. During the day, celebratory masses are held to commemorate the birth of Christ. There are always a lot of people at worship services. The period from December 25 to January 1 is called the Octave of Christmas in the Roman Catholic Church. These days there is a special atmosphere in the churches;
- Christmas among the Czechs is inextricably linked with the Christmas mass “Hej mistře!” Czech composer Jakub Jan Ryby. The Mass was written in 1796 and has a bright national flavor and spontaneity. It sounds in Czech, and the music is full of magic. You can hear it during Christmas week in concert halls and in some churches;
- At Christmas, films and fairy tales are broadcast on television for family viewing. The film fairy tale “Three Nuts for Cinderella” is beloved in the Czech Republic. She is also popular in. Czechs also love our Soviet film “Morozko”. In Czech it sounds very funny, especially the ditties;
- Life in Prague returns to its normal rhythm from December 27th. Museums and all shops are returning to active work, and Christmas markets are continuing to operate.
Come to Prague and feel the magical atmosphere of Christmas! You will definitely need the phrase: Přeji Vám krásné Vánoce! (Wish you a wonderful Christmas!)

Excursions in Prague at the best prices

Interesting excursions around Prague and the surrounding area from local residents. Themes of the routes suit every taste: sightseeing, gastronomic, mystical, game quests, photo sessions, etc. All excursions are conducted in Russian.
Christmas in the Czech Republic is one of the most important and favorite holidays. Since the very beginning of December, the streets have been decorated with thousands of lights and toys. Literally at every step you can hear carol music and feel the aroma. Probably no one doubts that the most charming and beautiful period of winter is the Christmas holidays.

December 25th is a holiday and weekend in the Czech Republic. On this day, Czechs celebrate Christmas and God's birthday. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom God sent as a savior through the mouth of the prophets. According to the biblical story, the pregnant Virgin Mary and her future husband Joseph of Nazareth traveled from northern Israel to Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, to participate in the mandatory census. It was there that her son of God was born.

How is Christmas celebrated in the Czech Republic?

December 25th in the Czech Republic is called “God's Feast”. On this special day, it is customary for the whole family to gather, give gifts, and visit relatives for festive lunches and dinners. Traditionally, baked goose with cabbage and dumplings or duck (prepared on Christmas Eve) are served on the Christmas table in Czech homes.

Traditional customs also include a family trip to one of the churches, where a manger (a festively decorated cradle in which the newborn Jesus lies) has been displayed since Christmas Eve (Generous Day). At this time, a Christmas service dedicated to the birth of Jesus Christ is held in the churches; ministers read passages from the Gospel telling about the born savior. Previously, Czech churches were always full of people during mass, and even nowadays many families visit them to admire the composition with the manger and feel the solemn atmosphere of Christmas even more.

In the old days, in the wine-growing regions of the Czech Republic, believers traditionally watched the penetrating rays of the sun during mass. If during the service they illuminated the priest, this was regarded as a sign of a rich harvest in the coming year.

In the past, on the first Christmas holiday in the Czech Republic, you couldn’t work at home, so people didn’t even make their beds. Such a significant day should not have been desecrated by labor even for a minute. Now no one works on this day either, although it is difficult for a modern person to adhere to the custom of not leaving home on December 25th and spending it only with his family, thinking about life and relaxing.

Christmas in countries around the world

In many other countries, Christmas is celebrated on the same day as in the Czech Republic, with the date December 25th playing an important role. In Western Europe and North America, gifts are given and unwrapped on the morning of this particular day. It must be said that in the United States, Christmas celebrations take place only on December 25th, and not over three days, as in the Czech Republic. In Orthodox countries, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.

Despite the differences between traditions, for all people Christmas becomes a sincere family holiday, full of peace and comfort. On this day, you can take a break from the daily rush of work and, in an idyllic atmosphere, relax from worries, be with loved ones and gain positive energy to enter the new year.