Saint Nicholas accompanied by a devil, Christmas carp and a kiss beneath a blossoming tree—Czech traditions can surprise even travellers who have already visited Prague. Familiar holidays have their own customs, festive foods and small family rituals here.
If you would like to see more than the main landmarks, plan your journey around a local celebration. Here is what makes Czech traditions interesting, when you can experience them and how to prepare for your trip.
Masopust: costumes, music and treats before Lent
Masopust is a Czech carnival tradition held before Lent. Its most visible feature is a procession of people wearing masks and costumes. Participants visit local homes to wish the residents happiness and good health, receive treats, and continue the celebration with music and dancing.
For travellers, it is a chance to experience a local festival up close: admire the costumes, listen to musicians and taste doughnuts. The villages around Hlinsko are particularly worth visiting because traditional carnival processions have been preserved there. Check the exact date of each procession for the year of your trip.
Easter in the Czech Republic: decorated eggs and pomlázka
Easter is known as Velikonoce in Czech. Decorated eggs, called kraslice, are embellished with wax, straw and other materials. Patterns and techniques vary by region and family tradition.
An unusual holiday symbol for many visitors is the pomlázka, a braided willow whip decorated with ribbons. On Easter Monday, boys and men traditionally visit people they know and symbolically tap girls and women with it. According to an old belief, this was meant to pass on springtime vitality and good health; decorated eggs, ribbons or sweets were given in return. Attitudes towards the custom vary, as does its observance between families and regions. Participation should always be voluntary.
To discover Czech Easter crafts, visit a holiday programme at an open-air museum, such as those in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm or Veselý Kopec. Check current opening hours and the programme before travelling.
30 April: bonfires and the “burning of witches”
On the evening of 30 April, people across the Czech Republic celebrate Čarodějnice. The custom involves bonfires and the symbolic burning of a witch effigy. Today, these celebrations are often outdoor gatherings with music, food and activities for children.
If your visit falls at the end of April, check the local events calendar or contact a tourist information centre. This will help you find an event near your accommodation and learn in advance whether it is suitable for children.
1 May: a kiss beneath a blossoming tree
For Czechs, the first day of May is also associated with romance. One custom is for couples to kiss beneath a blossoming tree. This simple tradition is easy to combine with a walk around the city.
Leave time in your itinerary for parks and gardens. However, blossoms cannot be timed precisely to match your ticket dates because flowering depends on the weather.
Saint Martin’s Day: roast goose and young wine
Saint Martin’s Day is celebrated in the Czech Republic on 11 November. Its culinary symbols are roast goose and young Saint Martin’s wine, known as Svatomartinské víno. The traditional opening of the wine is associated with 11:11 a.m.
It is a wonderful theme for an autumn trip, especially if you enjoy discovering a country through its cuisine. Look for Saint Martin’s menus and local events on your travel dates. A restaurant dinner or wine tasting may require a separate reservation, while the seasonal food can also be enjoyed without taking part in a wine programme.
Mikuláš: why Saint Nicholas arrives with a devil
On the evening of 5 December, you may encounter an unusual trio: Saint Nicholas, known as Mikuláš, an angel and a devil. Although the saint’s feast day falls on 6 December, the traditional visits take place the evening before. Children receive small gifts and sweets.
These costumed characters also appear in city centres and at Advent markets. If you are travelling with a young child, explain beforehand that they are people in costume, as some devil masks can look remarkably convincing.
Another pre-Christmas custom is the Advent wreath with four candles. An additional candle is lit every Sunday to count down the weeks until Christmas.
Christmas: carp on the table and a scale in your wallet
One of the best-known dishes served at a Czech Christmas dinner is carp with potato salad. In the days before Christmas, live fish are sold at temporary stalls in towns and cities. Carp are also connected with a superstition: people place one or two scales in their wallet in the hope of prosperity in the coming year.
Nativity scenes are another important part of a Czech Christmas. They can be seen in museums and sometimes in private homes that their owners open to visitors during the holiday season. The town of Třešť, for example, is known for its tradition of creating family nativity scenes.
If you are planning such a visit, check the exact address and visiting hours. Market programmes and museum opening times can differ even within the same town.
When to visit the Czech Republic for traditional celebrations
| Period | What to look for in event listings |
|---|---|
| Before Lent | Masopust carnival processions |
| Easter period | Markets, craft workshops and open-air museum programmes |
| 30 April–1 May | Čarodějnice events and spring walks |
| Around 11 November | Saint Martin’s events and seasonal menus |
| Advent and Christmas | Markets, nativity scenes and Mikuláš appearances on the evening of 5 December |
A holiday may have a fixed calendar date, while an individual festival follows its own schedule. Check the organiser’s programme first, then plan your transport and accommodation.
How to plan a bus journey to the Czech Republic
Choose the city where you would like to experience a celebration and check connections to the venue. For a first visit, our guide on travelling from Ukraine to the Czech Republic by bus will help you prepare.
If you are travelling from Odesa to the Czech capital, view Odesa–Prague bus tickets with GreenBus. When choosing a service, check the date, boarding point, arrival station and baggage conditions. Allow extra time between your expected arrival and the start of the event, as border procedures can delay the journey.
Before arriving in the capital, read our guide to Prague bus stations so that you know where you will arrive and how to continue your journey. Before departure, also check what to bring on a bus journey; it will make packing easier, even for an overnight service.
Leave room in your itinerary for unexpected discoveries: a small market, an egg-decorating workshop or a festive dinner. Encounters like these reveal how traditions continue to thrive in the modern Czech Republic.
