It’s a gloomy Friday day before the first Sunday of Advent. As every year, Christmas markets begin in Brno. In the center of Brno there are lighted and decorated Christmas trees or a sightseeing bike. The streets are decorated with Christmas lights. Everything looks at first glance as in previous years.
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But a pandemic will significantly change the holiday city. There have been fewer stalls, live concerts or the smell of a warm welder and a sweet trdelník. At the same time, stallholders expect Monday’s dismantling of anti-anti-crime measures. The government will decide only on Sunday.
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Some traditions could be at least partially preserved. Dominican Square near the New Town Hall is once again decorated with Halouzek’s wooden nativity scene, and Christmas trees have been standing on Svobody Square and Zelní trh for a week. The trees lit up on Friday, but in the morning and without the crowds so that people would not gather. “We want people to be able to see them gradually,” said Adéla Nováková, spokeswoman for the Brno Tourist and Information Center.
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The annual greeting of the mayor Markéta Vaňková and the blessing of the Bishop of Brno Vojtěch Cikrle then moved to social networks.
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A sightseeing bike is ready on Moravské náměstí. However, the interested party will not be picked up until Monday. “We asked the Ministry of Health if we could release the bike on Friday. The answer has not yet come. As a precaution, we will postpone the start of operations to Monday, “said Kateřina Dobešová, a spokeswoman for the Brno-střed district, on Friday.
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The bike should work without restrictions. “The gondolas have a maximum capacity of six people, and they can meet now. In addition, they will be outside in the park. The boarding area is on one side of the wheel and exits on the other. Adherence to the distances between those waiting, disinfectants or veils on the mouth are already common, “said Dobešová.
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A novelty this year is a three-meter sound and light star, which will move to various places in the city center in December. “It should start next week in the courtyard of the Old Town Hall, where the star will be for the first few days. We are waiting for it to relax a little more and there will be more people in the streets, “said Nováková.
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According to the director of the Brno Tourist and Information Center, Jana Janulíková, this will make the city center special. “Together with the rich light decoration of the streets and squares, it will complete the ideal festive backdrop for Advent walks and will serve as an attractive place for taking photos from Advent Brno,” explains Janulíková.
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If it is decided on Sunday to loosen some anti-anti-crime measures, street artists will also perform at the star. “No stages or concerts can be solved this year. But we would like to expand the program with music through street artists, because Brno is a UNESCO city of music. At the same time, it would support the Christmas atmosphere, “said Nováková.
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The stallholders are also waiting for Sunday’s government decision. From Monday, in the event of a breakdown to the third level of PES, some of them could start selling in Brno squares. “We are ready to place stalls with crafts, gifts and packaged food on the square in the city center,” Janulíková said.
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The craftsmen themselves are grateful for the opportunity to sell in the markets. “It’s the last chance to sell something. If the situation straightens out in this way at least a little, we will be happy, “said craftsman Jan Šeda, who has been selling bells at the Brno Christmas markets for several years. According to him, it is possible for some sellers to be the last hope before the crash at the Christmas stands in Brno.
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Miloslava Zatloukalová sells straw Christmas ornaments and other decorations at the Brno markets. “God forbid for Brno. We are in such trouble all year. If there were no markets, it would be liquidating for me. There were no fairs, “said the saleswoman.
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According to her, it is not possible to sell otherwise than in person. “We live from these events because we show our craft to people. We don’t sell it on Facebook, we need contact with customers. If we don’t have it, we sell the bare minimum. Christmas markets are crucial for me this year. It’s a livelihood for me. I will live on it for another six months, “said Zatloukalová.
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Already on Friday, several dozen wooden stalls began to grow on Zelní trh, Svobody Square and Moravské náměstí. “The organizers are preparing for some disintegration. The stands will maintain distances and there will be fewer of them than in previous years, “said Nováková.
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Instead of hundreds of stalls, there will be only around 70 in five places this year. “For example, compared to the original 120 stalls on the Cabbage Market, there will be a maximum of 25 this year,” said a spokeswoman for Brno-center.
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Due to this year’s unusual form of Christmas markets, stallholders have discounted rents. “We tried to meet the needs of the craftsmen because we understand the situation and do not know until the last minute whether we will open the stalls on Monday, later or not at all. This reduction is thus 50 to 60 percent compared to the normal situation. The price is different, also because this year the squares will not be full of people and there will be no cultural program and stage. Which was the attraction of why people went there, “said Dobešová.
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However, refreshment stalls are not planned for this year. “It is still being postponed. It keeps us in check in a terrible way. For us, the season is over and I don’t see any vision until April, “said Bohdan Mužík, an American pancake seller.
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According to the organizers, if the measures are relaxed, winter gardens, for example, could be open. Some stallholders come up with other alternatives instead of ending this season. For example, the co-founder of the Brno turbo tank, Adam Vodička, wants to sell the drink in the dispensing windows of their stone companies.
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“We want the turbomost to remain like a traditional Christmas drink. That way it will remain in all our stone businesses. We also contacted the operator of Santa’s cups. We will put turbomasts in them, they are used to that. We want to preserve the tradition of the Brno turbo tank as much as possible, “said Vodička.
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If the dismantling does not take place on Monday, but later during the Advent period, the organizers are ready for it. “If it is released, we are ready to add to the program at any time,” said Nováková. The city has prepared online programs for children, a visit to the town hall or Advent walks.
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“We are counting on charity in the online form and we are also preparing workshops for children on the Internet. There will be pre-recorded videos that we will play on our social networks. If it relaxes, then in January it is popular to visit the Christmas-lit tower of the Old Town Hall. We also have Advent walks ready, “added Nováková.
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