Visiting Prague in December is like being part of a fairy tale as the city turns into a Christmas wonderland of colours, lights, trees and street markets.
During the last week of November, Prague is getting ready for the Christmas season – a beautiful time to visit the city. The dark evening moods are lifted when the Christmas lights are switched on making one street more stunning than the other. The city centre is the true host of the Christmas spirit, and where it truely comes alive, concentrated in between the wide expanses of the venerable Old Town Square.
The Prague Christmas Market vendors install themselves in the city centre in their quaint wooden huts and tempt you with all kinds of sights and sounds. You will find delicious warm mulled wine to keep the cold at bay as well as delicious food such as corn on the cob, sausages, and Prague specialities like “Bramboraky, Prague ham” and “Trdlo”. Try them and see how tasty they are!
There is an abundant choice of gifts and small presents to buy, go shopping for: Bohemia crystal, wooden toys, scented candles, scarves, puppets and ornaments. In one corner of the square observe the blacksmith sending sparks into the night sky at his smoky forge while in another, admire the stable where gentle animals such as sheep, goats and a llama patiently pose with excited children.
Dominating the Old town square is an impressive glittering Christmas trees , with bright lights twinkling from top to bottom. Stop a moment to hear the familiar seasonal carols performed so joyfully by school children from the nearby towns. On Wenceslas Square this scenario is repeated as well as in many other parts of the city. All of the downtown area enters the Christmas spirit! If you are in the city ahead of Christmas day chances are you will see a unique occasion called Mikulas which has been a Czech tradition for centuries.
After dark, on December 5th, three arresting figures begin to move slowly around the city. Surrounding them you will see clusters of awe struck and slightly concerned children, because these three figures represent St. Nicholas, the Angel and the Devil. Anxiously they ask the children whether they have been good all year or not. Of course they all say yes and are rewarded with little treats. Naughty children are told they may get nothing so they quickly recite a poem or sing a song to avoid being taken by the devil who is carrying coal and old potatoes. As the night sets, this scenario of devils, saints and angels can be found all over the city.
Christmas in Prague is celebrated and enjoyed to the fullest. On the corner of many streets you will see another honoured tradition. People gather around enormous fish tanks, yes, the Czechs have a remarkable dish on Christmas Eve of carp and cold potato salad, and in the days leading up to the December 24th they choose and buy one of the many carps in the pool. Most take it home alive and keep it in their bath tub till it’s time to prepare it.
Visiting Prague you will see everything this amazing city has to offer at Christmas, the tradition, the seasonal fair, the markets and the friendliness and warmth of extraordinary people. Be sure to take part in the “fairytale” and make Christmas in Prague one of your greatest memories.
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