Spring Customs in Czechia: Burn Witches and Kiss Your Love!

After a long and grey winter, it’s time to say Hello Spring 🌸☀ Parks become pleasantly crowded as soon as the sun is shining. Outdoor cinemas, grills in the parks or workout stations, springtime in Prague makes the freezing winter definitely worth it.

You won’t have time to get bored in the Czech Republic, this spring again!

 

 

The end of the April is memorable each year with the burning of witches and the celebration of love. Two words that seem to refer to completely opposite things but not in the Czech Republic!

April 30th is a special day in the Czech Republic as it is a celebration of pálení čarodějnic which means “burning of witches”. This custom marks a farewell to winter and welcomes spring. You might know this celebration under the name of “Walpurgisnacht” in German – which is also celebrated in many European countries.

In the Czech Republic, people used to believe that the power of witches would weaken as the weather got warmer. That’s why they used to gather to build a bonfire and burn an effigy of the witch who kept winter so long and then to finally get rid of the cold weather.

While the bonfire is blazing, young girls are dressed as witches, beers flow, sausages (buřty in Czech) are roasted over fires surrounded by many concerts.

 

Districts in Prague holds a special event that you can attend:

– Petřín  

– Ladronka (stop Vypich – trams 22 and 25)

– Žižkov

– Žluté lázně (stop Dvorce – trams 2, 3, 17 and 21)

– Mala Strana (stop Hellichova – trams 12, 15, 20, 22 and 23)

 

Just walk around and follow the smell of beers and fire!

 

(Photo source: Pixabay)

After partying all night long, the Labor Day is here to rest. But in this country, May 1st is the day of LOVE! The tradition is to kiss your love under a blossoming cherry (or birch) tree. According to Czech tradition, it will ensure that the next year will be a good one (and full of love, of course!)

 

 

Usually, in Prague, couples meet on the Petřín hill where the statue of the poet of love Karel Hynek Mácha (who died at his 26 years on the day when his wedding was planned on while his wife to be was pregnant with his son) stands. He wrote the famous poem “Máj” which is a well-written composition telling the tragic story of two lovers and it is considered as a masterpiece (and the only true representative work) of the Czech Romantic period. Traditionally, people kiss in front of the statue and lay some flowers nearby.

Late evening, on the first of May –

The twilit May – the time of love.

Meltingly called the turtle-dove,

Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay.

(find the full version here)

 

And also taking place in May, don’t forget our Sports MeetUp on the 12th and our MeetUp on the 17th! I would be more than happy to meet you 😎