March
Czech Traditions in March: Spring Awakens and the Outdoors Beckon
As March arrives, the country shakes off the last traces of winter and eagerly welcomes the first signs of spring. This month is a time of renewal and growing excitement for outdoor adventures as nature comes back to life. There may not be that many noteworthy holidays (unless Easter comes early), but as the sun starts to shine brighter, people flock to the forests and rejoice over every spring flower and budding branch, and start the year’s foraging with wild garlic.
A widely observed day in the Czech Republic, International Women’s Day (Mezinárodní den žen, MDŽ) is a time to honor women with flowers, small gifts, and words of appreciation. Once heavily promoted during the socialist era, the holiday remains a beloved occasion where men show gratitude to the important women in their lives.
The official arrival of spring during the Spring Equinox (around March 20) is celebrated by those who follow old Slavic traditions. Some people mark the day by symbolically burning or drowning a straw effigy of Morana, the goddess of winter, in rivers to bid farewell to the cold months. This ancient ritual, still practiced in certain regions, reflects the deep-rooted connection to nature in Czech folklore.
Though Easter itself usually falls in April, the end of March often marks the beginning of preparations for this major holiday. Markets start appearing in Prague and other cities, selling beautifully decorated Easter eggs (kraslice), traditional hand-woven whips (pomlázka), and an array of seasonal treats like mazance (sweet Easter bread). People also start spring cleaning their homes in anticipation of the festive season. The April blog post will feature many details about the very particular traditions Czechs associate with Easter. As always, the pagan customs
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, Czechs eagerly head outdoors to make the most of early spring. Parks, forests, and countryside trails fill with people enjoying nature after months of chilly weather. With some 42,000 km of marked hiking trails across the country, March is a great time to explore some of the Czech Republic’s best destinations before the tourists arrive. It’s also time for the first garden and cottage visits, a major part of the Czech lifestyle. Many families return to their weekend cottages (chaty) or country houses (chalupy) to prepare gardens for planting, clean up from winter, and enjoy the fresh air.
More importantly for city dwellers, outdoor cafés and beer gardens reopen. As soon as the sun makes regular appearances, outdoor seating areas at cafés and beer gardens start filling up, with people enjoying their first pints of pilsner under the open sky. Sunny weekends see droves of locals strolling along the embankments and parks of the cities and towns, and no exercise ever goes unrewarded!
