Easterfairs with springtime decorations

The largest Easter fairs take place on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square in Prague. From 8th until 30th March 2008 these locations will beoccupied by an Easter settlement with tens of stalls. For browsers, the types of goods they'll be selling will shed some light on Easter traditions in this country: you can taste traditional goodies such as special cakes and gingerbreads or search for some decorations that will bring springtime into your home. You can also look forward to craft demonstrations such as egg painting and Easter whip weaving. And, of course, everything you see made there can be purchased.

Get into the Easter mood at markets in:

• Opava 10th-22nd March 2008
  
• Kroměříž 14th March 2008
• Uherské Hradiště 22nd March 2008
• Třeboň 22nd March 2008
  

Springtime celebrations at Czech castles and chateaux

Easter at many Czech castles and chateaux sees the covers come off the precious furniture, the sunlight once again enter silent rooms, decorations put up for the springtime and the first visitors welcomed through the gates. Křivoklát Castle will welcome actors and musicians who will entertain visitors to an Easter fair from 22nd until 24th March 2008. On these days you will be able to reach Křivoklát from Prague-Bráník railway station on a special train pulled by a steam locomotive.

Easter fairs and special springtime decorations can be seen at the following castles and chateau:

Easter exhibition at Helfštýn Castle from 22nd March until 20th April 2008

Easter fair featuring handicrafts at the castle in Ostrava 15th and 16th March 2008

Easter fair at Sychrov Chateau ,15th & 16th March 2008

Easter at Kravaře Chateau 1st March 2008

Easter concerts

Concerts of sacred music provide a spiritual aspect to Easter. The 17th Brno Easter Festival of Sacred Music (www.mhf-brno.cz) from 16th until 30th March 2008 features a series of 6 concerts. In the Gothic Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul audiences can hear the Matthäus-Passion by Bach and Beethoven's Mass in C Major.

Don't miss these Easter concerts:

at the Svatá Hora Basilica near Příbram 24th March 2008

at theBasilica of St James in Prague 23rd-30th March 2008, daily from 17.00

at the Church of SS Simon and Judy in Prague 25th March 2008

at the National Theatre in Prague 21 March 2008.

Easterat the country's skansens and museums

Are you interested in how Easter looked in years gone by? Skansens and museums in the Czech Republic put on thematic events during which you can experience old customs and even try them out for yourself. On 15th and 16th March 2008,at the Museum of folk architecture in Zubrnice you can witness various methods used in painting eggs, weaving Easter whips and decorating Easter gingerbread.

You can see further Easter traditions at the following events:

Easterin the Wallach Region at the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm from 22nd until 24th March 2008

Easterin a miner's cottage at the Mining Museum in Příbram from10th until 24th March 2008

Eastertraditions

Easter is the most important Christian festival and celebrations in the Czech Republic reflect this fact. However, this time of year is riddled with numerous folk customs and traditions. The best known is the Easter whip whichmakes its appearanceonEaster Monday. Men and boys visit their female fellow students, girlfriends and neighbours and give them a symbolic thrashing with a whip made of willow wands, the so-called pomlázka. Naturally, the females are not huge fans of this tradition, but as it is said to ensure them health and beauty for the whole of the next year, every year they go along with it. They reward their visitors for the thrashing with coloured eggs, food and drink and sometimes even money.

Easterand irresistible goodies

You won't get the chance to try Easter dishes at any other time of the year, so be sure not to miss out! Why not try cake in the shape of a lamb covered in icing sugar or chocolate sauce, so-called mazanec (a kind of hot cross bun), Easter gingerbread, Easter stuffing which sometimes contains nettles, a dish called Judas drizzled with honey or fried ‘God's Mercy' coated in sugar.

Easterrelaxation at Czech spas

You know well enough yourself that after the long winter months you could do with a little pampering to recharge those batteries. Where better place to do this than at a spa? The spa at Poděbrady has come up with a special Easter program - in addition to the revitalising procedures on offer you can also look forward to an Easter concert and evening Easter celebrations.