The capital of the Czech Republic hosts several Christmas markets. They take place in Wenceslas Square, Republic Square, Peace Square, and Tyl Square. But the Old Town Square Christmas market is the largest and most important of them all. It features the most interesting events and attractions including the lighting of the city’s official Christmas tree and an open-air Christmas mass on Christmas Eve, free for everyone to attend. And on Saint Nicholas Day (December 6) the market is visited by the saint himself (the Czechs call him Mikuláš) accompanied by Ježíšek (the Baby Jesus).
The Prague Christmas market features several dozens artfully decorated stalls and booths offering unique Christmas gifts and souvenirs. Local merchants and artisans sell Christmas decorations and beautiful handicrafts which you will never find anywhere else including glassware, jewelry, wooden toys, metalware, ceramics, embroidered lace, scented candles, knitwear, dolls and puppets dressed in traditional costumes, and more.
Food stalls offer a wide range of traditional Czech Christmas dishes including Christmas fish soup, fried or baked carp, potato salad, barbecued sausages, gingerbread, fruitcake, trdelnik (traditional sweet pastry) and Christmas cookies (vánoční cukroví). Of course, there’s also mulled wine (svařené víno or svařák) and famous Czech beers.
As far as entertainment is concerned, the market has plenty to offer. Its main attractions include rides in horse-drawn carriages, caroling, live performances, an impressive nativity scene depicting Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the Three Kings in a wooden stable, and an animal stable which is in fact a petting zoo where children can pet sheep, goats and a donkey.
Special events are held on holidays which fall during the market such as Saint Nicholas Day (December 6), Christmas Eve (December 24), Christmas Day (December 25), and New Year’s Eve (December 31).
