Carnival begins shortly after the beginning of the New Year. It is a time of joy and fun where there are no rules and people just have to have fun. In the Czech Republic, this is the time of carnival processions and fun games, which cannot do without grandiose feasts, when there is no shortage of fatty meat and sweet treats on the tables.
Feasting during the carnival is combined with ceremonial processions. People dressed in masks and colorful carnival costumes go through Czech towns and villages, playing and dancing. Carnival processions have survived almost unchanged in the Hlinecko region of Eastern Bohemia, especially in the villages of Hamru, Studnice, Vortov and Blatno.
The colors and appearance of the masks are the same as they were a hundred years ago. Czech carnival processions were included in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. In the nearby Veseli Kopecas (Latvian – happy mountain) in the open-air museum you can see a permanent exhibition of regional carnival masks.
The Mask Parade in Prague starts on February 18 at 12:30 p.m. in front of the National Museum of Technology and will include music, theater and dance performances, but the main attraction will be the traditional carnival masks. At the National Agricultural Museum, the program will be related to carnival games. Entry to this museum will be free if you arrive in a mask!
Another interesting carnival event in a wonderful, historical setting will be held in South Bohemia, Cechu Krumlov. This year, in addition to the parade, a market has been prepared where you can taste traditional dishes.
The Czech Krumlov Carnival will begin on February 18 and will last until February 21and will end with a mask parade.
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