Next time you are taking a Prague airport shuttle, why not ask your driver about some of weird and wonderful festivals that Prague has on offer. As locals, they can tell you firsthand what their favourite festivals are, why they are held, and all the history behind them. Štìpán, our very own Prague airport transfers man, has provided us with three of his favourites.
Paleni Carodejnic Witches’ Night in Prague
Some of us celebrate the end of winter with a spring clean, whilst others take to the streets in elaborate carnival outfits for Mardi Gras. In Prague, airport transfers drivers steer well clear of the roads for the evening, as the people celebrate the temperate season in an entirely different way, by burning a hag on a bonfire…
On the last night of April, many Czechs gather around hillside bonfires to celebrate Paleni Carodejnic, the annual burning of witches. In order to keep the hags at bay, the locals burn their broomsticks and huge effigies of witches and hags, which are similar in appearance to the Guy Fawkes burnt in England on Bonfire Night.
Paleni Carodejnic has more than its fair share of rituals and traditions, one of which sees young lovers jump over the dying embers of bonfires. Single men are also encouraged, on this date, to leave tokens of freshly cut branches on the doorstop of the women of the affections.
It was once believed that the evil powers on this evening, which falls in between the ancient feast days of St. Jacob and St. Phillip, were far stronger than normal and that for this evening only they ruled over the good. Flocks of witches riding broomsticks were said to soar the skies and the Czechs believed that the bonfires would bring them down in flames. Nowadays the celebration is far more light hearted and the biggest bonfire in the country takes place in the centre of Prague.
St. Nicholas’ Night
Travel on December 5th and when you arrive in Prague, airport transfers might just be driven by St. Nicholas himself. Santa Claus may be busy working all year round to deliver presents to the good girls and boys, but on December 5th he takes a break to parade the streets of Prague with an angel and a devil, dispensing material goods to the children of the city.
Throughout continental Europe, the 6th December is celebrated as St. Nicholas Day. This is the day when children receive their gifts from Old Saint Nick, which serves as a reminder that Christmas will soon be on its way. On the eve of Saint Nicholas, Angels lower Santa down from heaven with a gold cord. They then further bribe him down with gifts of apples, nuts and candles.
Santa is accompanied by two friends an Angel and a Devil. The Devil traditionally comes to take the bad children away, whilst the Angel pleads on their behalf. This trio forms a procession along the main street and en route young children are quizzed about their behavior during the past year. Those deemed naughty are handed pieces of coal, while the good girls and boys receive sweets and small toys.
The streets of Prague are filled with a mixture of devils in rattling chains, angels and St. Nicholases, with an annual prize given out for the best mask. It is also customary for the parents of the city to give St. Nicholas a little gift of their own, which may be hidden so the children must hunt to find it. After the procession ends, Santa joins the parents in a toast, which for many marks the start of the Christmas season.
Poetry and Passion on Petrin Hill
Here in the UK, we know the May the 1st as a day of anarchy and rioting. However, in Prague the sentiment couldn’t be more different. May Day is unofficial lover’s day with poetry and passion making an appearance on the famous Petrin Hill.
“Late evening, on the first of May, the twilit May—the time of love” begins the famous poem, May, by Karel Hynek Macha, a 19th century Czech poet. This poem goes on to describe a tragic love between two young people and is very much a Czech classic, with the first few lines known by most members of the Czech Republic.
After the release of his poem, Karel Hynek Macha was dubbed ‘the poet of love’ and it is believed that kissing in front of his statue on May 1st will make your love as strong as the stone that his statue is carved from. It is also polite to bring him flowers and place these either on his statue or grave. After delivering the flowers tradition dictates that couples make their way up to Petrin Hill in the centre of Prague and spend the afternoon making out.
Ancient tradition in Prague says that on May 1st a girl should be kissed under a cherry tree to keep her beautiful for the rest of the year. However, with cherry trees rare in the city and the publication of ‘May’ the unofficial lover’s day was born.
If you’re currently single or hate poetry and public displays of affection then you may want to give this event a miss. On your arrival, ask your Prague airport shuttle driver to take you across town to the Labor Day celebrations which celebrate communism and the Soviet Union. But understandably it seems that the Czechs now prefer kissing
Author Resource:
Štpán Stich is a Prague airport shuttle (http://www.shuttledirect.com/en/airport/PRG ) driver for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.
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