Municipal Waste Fees: Different in Every Czech City

Waste-collection is one of those topics you don’t think about every day. However, you should think about it at least once a year when it’s time to pay the municipal waste fee – especially if you live in Brno, Hradec Králové, and Olomouc. You may have not known this, but whether you have to pay or don’t depends on where in Czechia you live. Especially if you’re an expat. 

Remote Haven: Work “From Home” from the Magical Island of Madeira

As COVID-19 measures keep tightening in workplaces all around Czechia, most people believe that they have to choose between working at the office under restrictions or working from the isolation of their homes. But did you know there was a third option? An increasing number of young professionals have been temporarily leaving their homes for the island of Madeira to work from the stimulating safety of its digital nomad community. One of the places on Madeira you can choose for your “voluntary exile” is Bogdan Danchuk’s Remote Haven.

Day 21 of Advent: Veselé vánoční hody

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without carols. While many people prefer modern Christmas songs, it’s usually the traditional carols people prefer to sing. After all, they are usually much less difficult to sing as they – at least in most cases – don’t require large vocal range and good singing skills. Not everybody can, for example, manage to sing the main song from Tři oříšky pro Popelku. So it is no wonder that the carol Veselé vánoční hody is one of the most popular ones in the Czech Republic.

Day 17 of Advent: Foretelling the Future

If someone told you that there is a famous poem about Christmas Eve you’d probably think that it must be some warm story about a beautiful snowy Christmas. If that’s the case then I have to disappoint you. The poem “Christmas Eve” (“Štědrý den” in Czech) was written by K. J. Erben, and it’s a dark tale about foretelling the future on Christmas eve. But don’t worry, the actual tradition is much less gloomy.

Day 14 of Advent: Good King Wenceslas

As some of you surely know, “Good King Wenceslas” is a popular British Victorian carol. Whether you have already known this fact or just now learnt about it, you are probably wondering what it has to do with Czech Christmas. Truth be told, this carol is not sung in the Czech Republic, yet there is a significant connection to the country’s history.

Day 12 of Advent: Narodil se Kristus Pán

There are many beautiful Czech carols but only very few of them have such an interesting story behind them as the carol Narodil se Kristus Pán. To be honest, it is usually because most of them are folk carols which means that their (hi)story is difficult to trace. Narodil se Kristus Pán is, however, an exception to this rule. There are actually some facts about this particular song that even Czechs are often completely unaware of. 

Day 11 of Advent: Brilliant & Eco-Friendly DIY Ideas for Christmas

When Christmas is mentioned, what’s on your mind? Christmas trees with lights and Christmas ornaments, colourful candles, wreath and nicely packed gifts. Those are on my mind and I’m sure you must think of something similar as well. What makes Christmas feel so different to other days? I would say it’s the decors. If there’s no decoration, there is no Christmas vibe!