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.

Read also:

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.

The Christmas holiday (Vánoce) in Prague starts from the last week of November until January 5th. During the pre-Christmas and Christmas days, Prague is completely transformed and invites guests into a world of miracles and good gifts. The holiday lasts until the New Year (Nový rok), capturing the first days of the New Year holidays.

NAVIGATION

Celebration atmosphere

The historical center of Prague at any time of the year resembles a fairy-tale city with castles, narrow medieval streets, unique clocks on the towers, and ancient churches.

In December, the capital of the Czech Republic turns into a single festive space with bright illumination, garlands on the streets and in buildings, small and large live Christmas trees at every step.

Music plays on the streets and in shopping centers, folk singing groups perform holiday chants, and traveling puppeteers perform performances based on Christmas themes.

In Prague, at Christmas it is customary to sing carols - sing songs that promise wealth and joy, and receive sweets or other gifts for this.

On Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) there is a small decorated corral with cows, goats, horses, in the center of which there is a manger with the Baby Jesus. In every church and cathedral, nativity scenes are also installed, reproducing the Bethlehem Christmas night. Nativity scenes can be seen in shops, public buildings, and homes.

From December 5 until the New Year 2019, everyone can see with their own eyes St. Nicholas (Svatý Nikolaj) walking around the city with a large shoulder box, distributing gifts to children.

Mikulas (Mikuláš, this is the Czech name for St. Nicholas) goes around the city with his fairy-tale assistants - scary devils and good-natured angels, and even the most sane adults begin to believe in magic. In addition to the Czech Mikulas, citizens and tourists are congratulated by Santa Claus and Grandfather Frost. And Jerzyshek (Ježíška) is a wizard who in the Czech Republic and Slovakia secretly brings gifts under the Christmas tree and announces his appearance by ringing a bell.

With the onset of darkness, fireworks fly into the sky and bright illumination turns on.

According to Catholic tradition, Czechs celebrate the most important days at home or with family:

• Christmas Eve (Štědrý den) December 24;
• Christmas December 25;
• St. Stephen's Day December 26 (Den Svatého Štěpána);
• Day of Jan the Evangelist on December 27 (Den Jana Evangelisty);
• St. Sylvester's Day December 31st (Den Svatého Sylvester);
• Three Kings Day January 5th (Den tří králů).

These days are the most eventful, colorful and interesting in Prague. Residential and public premises in the Czech capital are usually richly decorated with garlands, spruce branches and wreaths, mistletoe and cherry tree branches. Important elements of the decoration are the nativity scene and the figurine of the Child Christ - Jezulátko. The baby figurine should be beautifully dressed and placed under the Christmas tree.

Unusual traders appear on busy streets: they offer to buy live small carp. There is a sign: if you release a live fish into the Vltava River on Christmas Day, happiness and contentment will come to you.

Another exotic custom of Bear Day (Medvědí den, one of the Czech names for Christmas Eve) is to treat the bear so that the whole year will be safe. Live bears can be found in squares and parks and can be appeased with treats that are sold nearby. You can ride a child on a donkey - exactly the same one that Mary and Joseph rode into Bethlehem, awaiting the appearance of Jesus.

Traditional dishes

According to ancient rules, on the evening of Christmas Eve, December 24, there should be a device for an unexpected guest on a table decorated with candles. The table on Generous Evening (Štědrý den), as the Czechs call Christmas Eve, is decorated with 12 Lenten dishes, and each one must be tried.

A mandatory Christmas Eve treat is carp, fried or boiled, as well as carp soup. Moreover, each guest at the Christmas table will not only taste tender fish, but will also receive several scales along with small coins as a symbol of future wealth and prosperity. Potato salad, sauerkraut, and pastries are served with carp. According to an ancient tradition, you need to eat everything that is put on your plates so that the year will be fruitful and abundant.

Dinner on December 25 is not complete without goose, a lot of meat, homemade wine sausage (víno klobása), pies, and pastries. It is not customary to serve rabbit and chicken, otherwise happiness will quickly run away.

Large and small cafes and restaurants invite you to learn how to prepare traditional Czech dishes and taste them together with chefs and pastry chefs. You should definitely try cukroví cookies, honey gingerbread cookies, braided raisin buns (vánočka), vanilla sugar bagels (vanilkove rohlicky), spiced Christmas cupcakes (Vánoční štola), cookies with nuts and rum, Trdelník buns, etc. .

Fairs and sales

The main fairs in Prague take place from the last week of November until December 24th, on the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) and Wenceslas Square, as well as on the Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky), Peace Square (Náměstí Míru), Palacki Square (Náměstí Palackého), Jiří s Podebrady Square (Náměstí Ji řího z Poděbrad) and others.

The festive atmosphere that reigns in the square transports guests to a fairy tale: gingerbread houses, fragrant spruce trees, the smell of hot cross buns with cinnamon and vanilla, and a variety of sweets fill the space.

During the holidays there are discounts, so it is very profitable to buy gifts for family and friends at the fair.

Sweets, souvenirs, pomegranate and costume jewelry, Czech folk clothing, pottery and crystal dishes, cosmetics, toys, postcards and posters, local beer and spices - the choice of gifts and souvenirs is huge. Original souvenirs - puppets or traditional Czech Christmas tree decorations.

Sales in December run in all large and small retail outlets in the city and in the Prague market. The largest ones are in the shopping centers “Flóra”, “Nový Smíchov”, “Zličín”, “Černý most”, “Letnany” ( “Letňany”), “Chodov”, etc. Even in branded clothing stores in the city center, discounts reach 80%. Most shops will be closed on December 25 and 26, and fair trade will end on December 24.

What to see

You can get a vivid impression of Prague on a sightseeing tour of the city. Usually it is carried out as a bus-pedestrian tour and allows you to get a general idea of ​​the city and visit its hidden corners: courtyards and gardens, ancient small churches, narrow pedestrian streets paved with paving stones.

• To avoid crowds of tourists, we recommend booking Prague sightseeing tours at dawn.

The Prague Zoo is an essential part of the entertainment program for children and adults. Fans of active recreation can rent skates or sleds and go for a ride with the whole family.

The kids can be taken to a fun matinee or to the puppet theater “Národní divadlo marionet”. Games, riddles, songs, entertainment in Russian will give your child an unforgettable experience, and the local Grandfather Frost will definitely give you a gift. The whole family should go to the Prague State Opera (Státní opera Praha) or to an organ concert in one of the central cathedrals.

In the evening, you have the opportunity not just to sit in a restaurant, but to take part in the preparation of a festive dinner. During the day, you can attend a master class on making national cookies and other delicacies.

Another option is a show with medieval music, attributes of knightly clothing, fights, ancient dances and games and, of course, serving national dishes and drinks. After dinner, all guests rush to the Vltava embankment - this is where the most colorful fireworks are launched.

Christmas tours

A large number of offers allows you to choose a tour to Prague for Christmas, taking into account your own financial capabilities and interests. Bus, train and air tours offer trips to the Czech capital for Christmas holidays lasting from 4 to 13 days. Price range – from 300 to 600 euros. Detailed information with offers from all tour operators is available on the website

Having bought a tour to Prague for Christmas, you don’t have to worry about anything: the price includes travel, transfer, accommodation and meals. The best accommodation options allow you to enjoy a holiday, organize a cultural and health program in wonderful, hospitable Prague.

Each hotel prepares in advance for the Christmas holidays and creates its own original atmosphere. Accommodation options outside the city, in the foothills, are very popular these days. Country hotels, surrounded by wild nature, decorated with live spruce trees, create an amazing and magical atmosphere for the main holiday of the year. It’s worth booking a hotel for Christmas in Prague at least 3-4 months in advance to get the best option with the maximum discount.

I heard so many fabulous things about celebrating Christmas in European countries that at one point I wanted to see it with my own eyes. And so, after the idea of ​​going to the Czech Republic in winter to combine the trip with skiing in the Austrian Alps, I thought: where there is one combination, there is a second. So it was decided to “seize” the Christmas holidays in Prague. By the way, at this time of year it is often quite warm here: +10–12 °C, and snow does not always have time to fall by this time. That year, when I was in Prague from December 20 to January 6, I never saw snow.

Now I'll lower your expectations a little. For me, a newcomer, the Christmas evening in the Czech Republic did not go as I had imagined. Unfortunately, the Austrian and German ones left more impressions. However, “different” does not mean “bad.” I was in Prague precisely from December 24 to 25 (this night is considered Christmas), and in the cities mentioned above in the following days, which, it seems to me, also had an effect. But first things first.

Traditions and customs of Catholic Christmas

The holiday of Catholic Christmas itself consists of two parts: the days of the forefeasts (December 20–24) and the festivities themselves (December 25–30).

Christmas Eve

On the eve of the holiday (24th), it is customary to observe a strict fast, which is called Christmas Eve. The name comes from the word “sochivo” - these are barley or wheat grains soaked, and sometimes boiled with honey.

The fast ends when the first evening star appears in the sky, but these are just traditions. I very much doubt that anyone really continued to fast for several more days if, for example, the week turned out to be cloudy or because of the glow from the city, the heavenly bodies (besides the moon) were not visible.

Church services

After the end of Christmas Eve, solemn services are held in all Catholic churches, where Catholics must be present.

Festive dinner

After the mass, families gather in their homes for a formal dinner. In general, Christmas in Europe is a family and friendly holiday. According to customs, food on the tables should be lean. Before a meal, it is customary to read an excerpt from the Gospel about the Birth of Christ. The man is in charge of the celebration, of course.

Christmas bread - wafers (oblatka) - is baked especially for dinner. There is a tradition of breaking these very wafers, which is started by the father or the eldest member of the family.

It is also common to leave an empty space at the table. I found two reasons for this:

1. If a guest comes to the house, he will be welcomed into the family circle.
2. If someone cannot share in the celebration due to absence or death. For the latter, a special device is placed, where a little of all the dishes is placed, as well as the wafer.

***

I did not have the opportunity to take part in such a family celebration, so I cannot say which traditions people follow and which ones have long since sunk into oblivion. On the other hand, more often it depends on specific people: someone can still place hay under a white tablecloth, symbolizing the poverty of the Virgin Mary. After all, she laid the baby in the manger on dry grass.

Christmas symbols

Although this is not everything that people associate with the festive spirit of Christmas, it is the most basic and key, in my opinion. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the list of what you definitely need to decorate your home with if you decide to celebrate this magical evening with Catholics around the world:

• Of course, gifts! In many ways, the attention paid to Catholic Christmas is similar to how the New Year is celebrated in Russia. They are usually opened after dinner or the morning after Christmas night. As is the case in which family, I have heard both versions.
• It seems like St. Nicholas (Nicholas) is a symbol of Christmas in the form of an alternative to Santa Claus, and on the other hand, his holidays come in early December - I haven’t fully figured this out. They also hang stockings where gifts are placed. This tradition appeared thanks to the following legend: once Saint Nicholas drove past the house of a poor man and through the windows saw his daughters’ stockings drying on a line by the fireplace. Then Nicholas threw bags of gold down the chimney, which fell into the stockings, thereby becoming the girls' dowry.
• There is also such a character in the Czech Republic as Jezhishek. This is the personification of the baby Jesus, he brings gifts to obedient children.
• Christmas tree, where would we be without it! The tradition of decorating a tree appeared among the Germanic peoples; the tree for them was a symbol of life due to its evergreen decoration. The decorations represent the fruits of the “tree of paradise”, with which Christians identified the spruce. At some point, the traditions met and, apparently, merged into one.

• Mistletoe, often hung in homes and even on streets, invites you to embrace the English custom of kissing under a sprig. And, as you can remember from many films about Christmas, an Advent wreath (Advent is the name of the period preceding Christmas), made of fir branches and decorations: bells, ribbons, cones, covered with gilded paint. It can be hung on the front door or above the window.

Prague before Christmas

On the eve of this holiday, Prague is literally transformed! Decorated trees, lights and garlands on buildings - all this makes the already fabulous Prague simply magical. Many restaurants turn into entire works of art: everyone tries to stand out and dress up the establishment as colorful and original as possible.

Stores often have sales at this time. This is understandable: I think that “on the quiet” (as gifts) you can sell off all sorts of things that have been collecting dust on the shelves for a long time.

Please note that many large stores close around lunchtime on December 24th, and open later than usual on December 25th. However, Prague is very tourist-oriented, so you most likely won’t notice much discomfort.

Trade fairs

In many tourist places in Prague at this time, fair towns appear: rows of wooden houses where you can buy souvenirs and food (you can read more about what to bring from the Czech Republic).

As for food, you can really fill your stomach: goulash, soups, some stews, etc. are cooked directly in giant frying pans and pots on the stoves. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the prices, because sometimes such places are simply crowded!

The most popular are the baked goods: trdelniki, honey gingerbread, vanilla bagels, cookies with nuts and honey. This pleasure costs around 2€ or 50 CZK. Read about what other goodies you can buy in Prague and what they are.

I didn’t notice anything specific to Christmas in Prague at these fairs: yes, you can often find beautifully decorated things, themed winter souvenirs, a Czech Mole from the cartoon with a bag of gifts. But there is a lot in any other country. Unless such things are put up for sale on occasions, of which there are not many in a year. So don’t rush to leave the fairs, wander around the stalls, maybe you’ll find something.

Carps

I have already mentioned that the food at Christmas dinner should be lean, which is probably why you can see so many fish sellers on the street on the eve of the holiday. By the way, traditional carp are bred directly in the ponds of the southern part of the Czech Republic.

I was quite impressed by the abundance of retail outlets in Prague: you get off the metro in the city center, walk down the street, and along the sidewalks there are many barrels with live carp. You can come up, choose anyone, and take it home to celebrate Christmas. True, carp will serve as the main dish, which, you see, is also an honor :). In some places the fish is even cut and gutted to make the cooking process easier for customers, but I don’t know if this is worth the extra money.

Whole carp are sold on the street.

Average prices are:

• for a kilogram of large fish (from 2.5 kg) they ask for 4 € or 95 CZK;
• for a small kilogram (up to 2.5 kg) pay 3.2 € or 85 CZK;
• the entrails will be given to you for 0.4 € or 10 CZK per kilogram (traditionally they are placed under plates or in a wallet);
• head for 0.2 € or 5 CZK per kilogram.

And if not in the very center, then in front of many grocery stores there are also tents with aquariums. In general, in grocery stores you will be able to buy carp cheaper, but then it will most likely not be a whole carcass, but its various parts.

You can also buy smoked carp on the city streets. Tasty, symbolic and not cheap. On the other hand, how often do you manage to join the spirit of Catholic Christmas, even through your stomach?

Main squares of the city

Nativity scenes have been built under many of the fir trees on the streets - biblical scenes with the Magi and the baby Jesus.

The main spruce of the city is installed on it. Next to it (near the monument to Jan Hus) is a scene where biblical scenes are played out on December 24th. There are a lot of people, but mostly tourists. The Tyn Church (you can read about it) with its night illumination perfectly complements the picture of the holiday.

There are also a lot of people there, but I don’t remember there being a Christmas tree there. But it was in this place that I had the opportunity to listen to street musicians. They sing, of course, Christmas songs.

And in many squares on pre-holiday (and also on holidays) works are played and sung that perfectly support the holiday atmosphere.

Christmas night in Prague

When I realized that after 6 pm it was mostly tourists who remained on the streets of the capital, and Prague residents were running home for family feasts, I was even a little upset. But walk like that! Walking around the historical center, you can stop here and there, listen to street performers, and look into souvenir shops (fortunately, they are open, because Christmas is a good time for tourists, and therefore for a lot of revenue).

That’s how I happened to stumble upon a Christmas organ concert, which took place in one of the many churches (Kostel Panny Marie Matky ustavičné pomoci). Since the event started 10 minutes ago, a man who spoke fluent Russian offered to buy tickets at half price. A nice bonus, you know! Instead of 11 € (300 CZK) per person pay 5.5 € (150 CZK).

The organ sounded excellent, you had to sit straight on the church pews, and the blankets that you could take at the entrance helped you not to freeze: the room at the small church is not that small, the temperature is close to the outside temperature, except that there is no wind. In general, in the end, a decent amount of good impressions about the holiday from a tourist’s point of view accumulated.

Tours to Prague for Christmas

I heard that they organize entire tours from Russia to Prague for Catholic Christmas. Prices start from 300 € per week per person, which includes tickets, transfer to the hotel and accommodation, but the costs of visas and excursions should be checked with the Travel Agency where you plan to apply. The more intense the program, the more expensive it is, of course. Most likely you will be taken around, told about the historical center and interesting buildings, streets and squares of Prague (more on this in more detail). So, it seems to me that the final cost of the trip can at least double.

But this method, I admit, is not for me; I prefer to explore new cities and countries on my own, which gives greater flexibility in my schedule. So decide what is most convenient for you and go on your way.

The moral of this story is...

The most important thing I would like to say at the end is: do not overestimate this holiday when planning your trip. After all, with a high degree of probability, you may be disappointed in the end if you don’t see what you imagined.

Think of it as a reason to go to Prague, because this is already a guaranteed good experience. And if everything goes well, you will get a sense of why the locals love Christmas so much!

Christmas and New Year are wonderful holidays. And if you want them to give you new emotions, go to magnificent Prague! But first, find out all the features of the celebration.

Prague Christmas

Christmas in Prague is celebrated on the night of December 24-25, as the Czech Republic is considered a Catholic country. And this holiday is a family holiday, so it is customary to celebrate it in a narrow circle with your closest and dearest.

When is the holiday celebrated?

Surprisingly, the celebration of Christmas begins long before the holiday itself, these are the traditions of the Czech Republic. On December 4, St. Barbara's Day is celebrated here, and a little later (December 6) Mikulas is celebrated - St. Nicholas's Day. And within a week or two, the anticipation of Christmas covers the whole country.

How is Christmas celebrated?

How is Christmas celebrated in the Czech Republic? They have been preparing for this holiday for a long time. So, on St. Barbara’s Day, many Prague residents put cherry branches in water. If they sprout by Christmas, then the coming year will be fruitful, and all wishes will come true. The celebration continues on December 6, on this day the patron of the holiday, Mikulas, and his entire retinue - mummers in costumes of various saints, the devil, and so on - walk through the streets of the Czech capital. They ask children about their behavior and treat all obedient ones with candy and other sweets.

After a couple of weeks, you can see Christmas attributes - posters with images of a manger and the newborn Jesus, themed figurines and other products. Spruce trees appear at the doors of every house, and few in Prague cut them down; Prague residents prefer to buy seedlings or trees growing in pots.

On the two main squares of the capital (Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square), shops open and markets and fairs unfold, where you can buy a variety of products, souvenirs, accessories, dishes, toys and much more.

Where to celebrate?

Since the holiday is considered a family holiday, it is better to celebrate it with your family. So, if you come to the city with your family or significant other, you can stay in a hotel. But you can also go to one of the restaurants, many will be open that night.

Christmas table

Another Prague tradition is associated with the Christmas table. All year round, carp are fed and raised in artificial ponds, and they must be present at every feast. This fish is baked or fried and certainly eaten at Christmas for a successful year. You don’t have to throw away the bones, but bury them in the yard, this way you will ensure your well-being in the near future.

Also on the table you can see various meat products and roasted chestnuts. Traditional drinks include champagne, warming mulled wine, grog and punch.

Prague New Year

If Christmas is considered a family holiday, then the New Year, which is called Sylvester here, is celebrated cheerfully, fervently, as a rule, outside the home.

As in most countries of the world, in Prague the New Year is celebrated on the night from December 31 to January 1. Moreover, events are held not only on the night of the last day of the outgoing year, but also on the next day.

Where is the best place to celebrate?

New Year's holidays are a time of fun, and it focuses on the street. Many locals and tourists come out of their homes and hotels and organize massive celebrations with fireworks and the traditional drinking of champagne. Everyone is happy, congratulating each other and joking.

In the last few years, Prague residents themselves have preferred to get away from the city’s holiday bustle and tourist influx and go to the mountains, rent houses and celebrate the beginning of the year in a cheerful company. This trend is likely to continue in 2017 and 2018.

If you, unlike the locals, want to be in the very center of the fun, then go to crowded places, they definitely have something to see. For example, you can come to the main square of the capital of the Czech Republic - Old Town Square. It's always noisy, fun, crowded and interesting here.

If a noisy crowd is not for you, then you can visit another quieter and calmer place - Wenceslas Square, where various festive events are also held. And if you are a romantic, then be sure to make a wish on the Charles Bridge while waiting for the chimes to strike. Well, and, of course, numerous cafes, bars, restaurants, beer shops and other similar establishments are at your service.

Advice: if the weather is good, then any self-respecting tourist should visit other attractions of Prague, for example, Stare Mesto, Zlata Ulitsa, Vysehrad, the Jewish Quarter, St. Vitus Cathedral and others. And if you have a few free days left, you can go to Kutna Hora or Karlovy Vary.

How to celebrate?

According to legend, on this day Saint Sylvester destroyed the monster. And so that it does not revive again, noisy festivities are organized, which should scare away evil spirits. Everyone is having fun, shouting, laughing, congratulating each other, lighting sparklers and enjoying themselves.

During the chiming clock, many gather near the town hall with the chimes on Old Town Square, start the countdown, make wishes and drink champagne. Then the fun continues.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros of celebrating New Year and Christmas in Prague:

• You will absolutely find something to do. Throughout New Year's Eve, a variety of establishments will be open: from souvenir shops to restaurants, bars, cafes and street food stalls. In addition, numerous events are held in the capital.
• Pretty good weather. Winter in the Czech Republic is not very cold; as a rule, the temperature during the day is zero, but at night it can drop to -5 degrees. Snow possible.
• Prague is an incredibly beautiful city with a rich history.
• The people of Prague are quite friendly and hospitable people, so you might get a few invitations.
• The holiday is a great time to enjoy traditional Czech cuisine.
• There is an opportunity to learn and see a lot of new things, including making acquaintances.
• You will get new unforgettable emotions and bring back some amazing photos from your trip.

• The weather can also be considered a disadvantage if it presents an unpleasant surprise, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, with temperature changes, slush and ice are possible. Secondly, the famine is hilly, and if you find yourself on high ground, you will experience quite a strong and cold wind. Thirdly, it can be unpleasant and damp near the river. But if you plan everything in advance and dress warmly, then nothing will ruin your mood.
• If you decide to celebrate the New Year in a restaurant, then make sure to reserve a table in advance, especially if the establishment is located in the center. Otherwise, all seats may be taken.
• Prices in Prague are quite high, especially on holidays. Moreover, this applies to hotels, restaurants, and all kinds of purchases. And in order not to feel disadvantaged, it is better to have a significant amount.
• There may be problems with transport, as public transport usually runs up to two hours. Although special buses may run on New Year's Eve, there will probably be few of them, and travel is not cheap. So it’s better not to move too far from your hotel.
• Although Prague is a relatively calm city, during the holiday rush it is prone to pickpockets, so keep a close eye on your wallets, documents and valuables.

Olga Stepanova

Reading time: 14 minutes

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Decoration of streets and houses in Prague for New Year and Christmas

New Year's Eve Prague is a stunning and unique sight, delighting the tastes of sophisticated and unsophisticated tourists, as well as being a source of pride for the residents of the capital. There are Christmas trees and congratulatory posters on the streets and in buildings literally everywhere, multi-colored chains and lanterns are hung between buildings, and the silhouettes of ancient castles and houses are decorated with shimmering and iridescent garlands.

The decoration of streets and buildings is carried out by city services, as well as entrepreneurs, businessmen and enthusiasts from local residents. It is believed that bright illumination and flashing decorations scare away evil forces and attract goodness and good luck to the house, so residents do not skimp on decorating their own homes, annually surprising guests of the capital with new skillful scenes against the backdrop of the architecture of the buildings. Medieval architecture serves as a very favorable backdrop for the delicate ligature of garland decorations, and at dusk Prague seems like a fairy-tale city, with luminous castles, which, of course, are home to beautiful fairies and wise wizards.

Charles Bridge becomes the main decoration of New Year's Prague. Garlands and lanterns are also hung on it, and not far from this famous building there are souvenir shops where sales of Christmas gifts and nice little things are held.

The city's main Christmas tree is being installed on Old Town Square. There are souvenir shops and Christmas markets.

Where is the best place to stay in Prague for the New Year?

When planning a New Year's holiday in Prague, you should take into account that the most interesting and lively life in the capital takes place before the New Year. Experienced tourists are advised to come to Prague before or after Catholic Christmas (December 25) to enjoy the holiday rush, catch Christmas and New Year's fairs, festive events, and sales in stores.

Since Prague is one of the most popular capitals in Europe for celebrating the New Year, tours for this time must be planned and purchased in advance. Accordingly, you need to decide earlier on the choice of place of residence, taking into account your wishes and needs.

Many tourists try to book hotels near the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares so that they can easily get to their apartments on New Year’s Eve. By choosing a hotel on the outskirts of the city, you will probably save on a ticket, but already in Prague you can spend a lot on public transport on ordinary days, and on a taxi at night. Choosing a hotel

You should carefully study each proposal, preferably with a detailed description of the urban area in which it is located. It may happen that a cheap hotel will be located in a remote “dormitory” area of ​​Prague, and you will not be able to find a single store or restaurant near it.

Every traveler coming to Prague can find any accommodation option that will satisfy his taste - from luxury hotels to boarding houses, hostels, and private apartments.

• Separate apartments for two people in a residential apartment building in the center of Prague will cost from 47 to 66 € per day.
• Rooms for two people in five star hotels in the center of Prague will cost tourists from 82 to 131 € per day.
• Room for two people hotel 4* in the center and historical areas of Prague will cost from 29 to 144 € per day.
• Room for two people 3* hotel; 2* within transport accessibility to the city center cost from 34 to 74 € per day.
• Rooms for two people in hostels, located in various parts of Prague, will cost from 39 to 54 € per day.
• Double room in boarding house, located in the center or in other, remote areas of Prague, will cost you from 29 to 72 € per day.

Where is the best place to celebrate New Year in Prague?

Every year the excitement of tourists around New Year's tours to Prague is growing. The capital of the Czech Republic welcomes all guests; it is ready to offer any organization for the New Year’s Eve, tailored to suit all tastes and the most demanding needs.

Every year Prague becomes more elegant, and its restaurants prepare more and more bright shows, holiday menus, and New Year's programs to surprise their guests again and again.

It is very difficult for an inexperienced tourist to navigate this mass of various offers, and therefore a person planning a trip to this amazing country must first decide on his own preferences, and then study all the offers, choosing his own.

• Getting to know the Czech Republic, its flavor, inhabitants, culture, and, of course, national cuisine, is the main goal of most tourists. The New Year's Eve can be organized in Czech restaurant, satisfying both your gastronomic curiosity and thirst for new discoveries. The most popular and famous Czech restaurants, which are located near Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, are Folklore Garden and Michal. For the holiday, these establishments will definitely prepare a folklore show, as well as excellent dishes of various Czech cuisine. Read also:
• If you want to visit the most famous restaurant with international cuisine of the highest class, then your choice will probably be the restaurant of the five-star Hilton hotel. This magnificent establishment annually prepares various surprises for guests, specially develops a menu with a wide range of dishes to suit all tastes, crowning the height of the New Year's celebration with a professionally prepared chic show.
• For tourists who want to celebrate the New Year in their own environment, the Vikarka and Gibernia restaurants offer their holiday programs. New Year's Eve in these establishments will be held in Russian, and the menu will definitely include traditional Russian dishes.
• If you want to be in close proximity to the place of the most important New Year's celebration - Old Town Square, then you can choose the wine restaurant “Monarch”, the restaurant “Old Town Square”, the restaurants “Potrafena Husa”, “U Prince”, “U Vejvoda”. A wide range of offers will present you with the need to make a choice - you can choose for yourself the desired surroundings of the New Year's holiday, as well as the cost. For those who want to save a little, but be in the thick of the festive events, there are excellent offers - New Year's Eve on the boat, which will float along the Vltava River and allow you to admire the general fun of the city and festive fireworks.
• Many Prague restaurants are located away from the center, but have good viewing platforms, which will allow you to admire the views of festive Prague. These are, in particular, the restaurants “Klashterny Pivovar” and “Monastic Pivovar”, which are in great demand among tourists.
• Romantic New Year's Eve dinner It is best to plan in an atmosphere of tenderness, pleasant music and fine cuisine. For such an evening, the restaurants “U Three Skripochek”, “Heaven”, “U the Golden Well”, “Mlynets”, “Bellevue” are well suited.
• For those who want to plunge into the atmosphere and medieval romance, unique costume shows and menus of dishes prepared according to ancient recipes are offered by the restaurants of the Zbiroh and Detenice castles.
• Castle Chateau Mcely is actually a 5* hotel, which carefully prepares a New Year's program for guests and can amaze with its very high-quality service and excellent menu. This castle is located in the woods, and most of its visitors tend to be regular guests, preferring this hotel to any other in the Czech Republic.
• For discerning connoisseurs of art and classical music, the Prague Opera House offers New Year's Eve with a performance of the operetta The Bat. The gala dinner will take place in the theater foyer, and after the performance a magnificent ball will open on stage. For this evening, of course, you need to wear evening dresses and tuxedos.

How to entertain children in Prague during the New Year holidays?

On New Year's Day, entire families most often come to the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, to celebrate the holidays together and introduce children to the great and mysterious Czech Republic. When thinking about the holiday program, do not forget to include special events for children so that they do not get bored among adults, so that the New Year holiday will be as similar to a fairy tale as possible for them.

1. Every year, from the beginning of December until mid-January, the Prague National Theater traditionally holds musical "The Nutcracker". This performance is included in the theater's repertoire only once a year, during Christmas and New Year, amazing the audience with a magnificent performance. This musical will appeal to children of all ages. In addition, the wonderful atmosphere and decoration of the theater itself will give a real holiday to both adults and children.
2. With young travelers in Prague, you must visit traditional advent markets, which begin their work in early December and close after January 3. This is a whole world of magic that your child will look at with wide open eyes, absorbing the holiday atmosphere. The main market, of course, is always located in the center of Prague, on Old Town Square, where all kinds of benches and tents are lined up, chestnuts and Czech sausages are fried right on the street, children are treated to tea, and adults are treated to punch and mulled wine. You can walk through such markets endlessly, try the sweets and dishes on offer, buy souvenirs and gifts, and simply admire the magnificent spectacle of pre-holiday Prague. In the capital of the Czech Republic, you can also go with your baby on a special excursion to the Advent markets of Prague, visiting all the most famous of them, visiting the Old Town.
3. Your child will be very interested in an excursion to Prague Castle and Loreta(10 €), to the active Strakhov Monastery. Here is the most famous among tourists “Bethlehem”, which includes 43 wooden sculptures.
4. Your little sweet tooth will love it excursion “Sweet Prague”, which takes place through the streets of the Old Town, visiting numerous small cafes, tasting traditional Czech sweets and visiting the Chocolate Museum.
5. Your child will be delighted with the impressions of visiting "Black Theater", which is only available in this country. An unforgettable show with unexpected transformations, a light show, fiery dances, expressive pantomime and bright images against a dark background will make an indelible impression on children of any age.
6. It opens its gates for little nature lovers. Prague Zoo, which is among the ten most famous zoos in the world. Children will be able to watch different animals that are not in cages, but in spacious enclosures with a skillfully created “natural” landscape.
7. Toy Museum will provide young guests and their parents with several exhibitions - from toys from the times of Ancient Greece to toys and games of our times. This museum houses 5 thousand exhibits that will delight everyone who visits here.
8. You can take your children on an excursion to City of Kings – Visegrad, walk along stone corridors, admire the strict and mysterious architecture and even go down into dark dungeons.
9. Children will be delighted with the New Year's dinner at restaurant "Vytopna" in which small trains travel from the bar counters to each table along an almost real railway.
10. With kids during the New Year holidays, you should definitely visit the Medieval show in the village tavern "Detenitsa." The establishment has a medieval ambience: you will see hay on the floor, traces of soot on the walls, and on the table there are simple and tasty dishes, which, however, should only be eaten with your hands, without cutlery. During dinner, you will be shown a medieval show with pirates, a real python, gypsies and fakirs, as well as a fire show.

Who spent New Year's holidays in Prague? Reviews from tourists

Alexander:

We, four friends, decided to celebrate the New Year in Prague, a city still unknown to me. I must say that I did not feel much enthusiasm, I had heard little about the Czech Republic and had never been there, but I joined my friends for company. We lived in apartments near the Andel metro station, their cost was 150 EURO per day. We were in Prague on December 29th. The first days we went on walking tours around Prague and went to Karlstejn. But the New Year's Eve made the greatest impression on the four of us! We whiled away the evening drinking beer in a restaurant on Bethlehem Square, traditionally celebrating the Russian New Year in Moscow. Then we went to another restaurant, on Prague Square, where a luxurious dinner with traditional Czech dishes, beer, and mulled wine awaited us. On the evening of January 1st, we came to the center to watch the fireworks, and the jubilation of the crowd was exactly the same as on New Year's Eve. On January 2, the Christmas tree and all the garlands were removed from Old Town Square, the holidays in the Czech Republic ended, and we set off to explore the Czech Republic - on excursions to the magnificent Karlovy Vary, Tabor, and medieval castles.

Marina:

My husband and I went to Prague to celebrate the New Year, the trip was from December 29th. We arrived, checked into the Gallery Hotel, and on the same day went on a sightseeing walking tour of Prague. We didn’t like the organization of the excursion, so we set off to explore the city on our own. Near our hotel we found a quite decent restaurant, U Sklenika, where we mostly had lunch and dinner in the following days. Our hotel was not in the central area of ​​the city, but we really liked its location - not far from the metro station, in a quiet location, surrounded by residential buildings. At least on New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve we could sleep peacefully, we were not woken up by noise outside the window, as happens in hotels in the center. Having bought a map of Prague, we were not at all lost on its streets - city transport runs on schedule, there are plans and clear signs everywhere, and tickets are sold at kiosks. Tourists in Prague should be wary of pickpockets. Restaurants can deceive visitors by adding to the menu something they did not order - you should carefully read the price tags and the receipts you bring. In stores you can pay for goods in euros, but asking for change in crowns is the best exchange rate. On the afternoon of December 31st we went on an excursion to Rudolph's Palace, the government residence and St. Vitus Cathedral. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant, and celebrated the New Year itself on Wenceslas Square, in a crowd of people, admiring the fireworks and listening to music. Fried sausages, beer and mulled wine were sold on the square near the stage. In the remaining week we visited Karlovy Vary, Vienna, went to a beer factory, explored Prague on our own, walking around the entire Old Town.

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