February
Czech Traditions in February: Masquerades, Fairs, and Love in the Air
One of the most colorful and joyful February traditions in the Czech Republic is Masopust, a carnival-like festival celebrated before the fasting period of Lent. The word literally means “meat fast”, as it marks the last days before the Christian period of fasting begins. These fantastic celebrations have made a huge comeback in recent decades, especially in the smaller towns and villages, but even Prague hosts a few great events, including the Malá Strana Masopust and the famous carnival in Roztoky u Prahy. This is actually one of the things I miss out on in February, as I am generally not in the country then.
Masopust is all about parades, masks, feasting, and folk traditions. The festivities typically take place in early to mid-February, depending on the date of Ash Wednesday, which varies each year. Villages and towns across the country host Masopust processions, where people dress in colorful costumes and masks. Folk music, accordions, and dancing are an essential part of Masopust celebrations, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. Since Masopust is the last chance to indulge before Lent, food plays a major role. Traditional Masopust dishes include Czech sausages made during the winter pig slaughter (zabijačka), Czech doughnuts often soaked in rum with raisins (vdolky), and plenty of plum brandy (slivovice). In villages, the processions go from house to house where they are served all the above, usually all home-made.
February 2nd, known as Hromnice, is the Czech version of Candlemas, a Christian holiday. However, it has pagan Slavic roots, and if Czechs are given the option of choosing between reasons to celebrate something, they will usually go for the pagan version rather than the religious version. Like Groundhog Day in the USA, Hromnice was traditionally used to predict the length of winter. The most famous Czech proverb says: “Na Hromnice o hodinu více” – “On Hromnice, the day is an hour longer.” In rural areas, people used to light candles and place them in windows to ward off storms and evil spirits.
By late February, the famous Matějská Pouť (St. Matthew’s Fair) begins in Prague, marking the unofficial arrival of spring. This historic funfair, dating back to the 16th century, is the largest and oldest carnival-style amusement fair in the Czech Republic, but definitely don’t expect anything like Disneyland. It’s very much an old-school affair. It’s held at Výstaviště Praha (Prague Exhibition Grounds) and usually lasts until April, giving Czechs something to look forward to as winter slowly fades away.
Although Valentine’s Day is not a traditional Czech holiday, it has gained popularity in recent decades, especially among young people and couples in larger cities. However, most Czechs prefer their own romantic holiday — May 1st, which is considered the true Czech Day of Love, with traditions like kissing under a blooming cherry tree. More about that in the May blog post.
