Foto: Bohemian Carnevale
Carnival traditions have a deep and profound history and range widely between countries. Threads of familiarity that run through many of these traditions include the traditional wearing of masks or costumes as well as the much-loved feasting customs. This is also the case within the Czech Republic. As the customary time to indulge and make merry before the fasting period of Lent, the Czech Masopust (also called Fašank in Moravia) celebrations are a blend of refined preservation of valuable traditions with a generous amount of gregarious revelry. Events throughout the country will vary from exclusive upscale masquerade balls to costumed revelry in the streets, children’s costume parades and of course, feasting.
There is a long tradition of carnival celebrations in the Czech Republic and Prague has hosted carnival festivities for centuries. Unfortunately, this revelry within Prague was all but muted by communism, though the past years have seen a great restoration of the old tradition through the multiple celebrations that have been organized throughout the city by municipalities and private involvement. Many see such a revitalization of the old traditions as a largely natural thing in contemporary times, as evidenced in the popularity of carnival events.
“Traditions have become important again in the post-modern times. Also, people love the periodic cycle of the time. Carnival stands next to Christmas and Easter as an integral part of Christian tradition; it is natural for people to get back to these cultural roots every year,” said Zlatuše Müller, director of the Prague Carnevale. It is one Prague-based organization that was created with the intent to encourage the comeback of the days of feasting, parading and masked gregariousness. “The idea to revive Prague carnival celebrations developed approximately seven years ago,” Müller explained. The first official Prague Carnevale took place in 2007 under the patronage of Prague City Hall. “The aim of Prague Carnevale is to restore Prague carnival celebrations. Prague Carnevale has worked on reviving the theme of carnival in Prague, its artistic as well as business side—Prague Carnevale aims at creating a wider platform helping other businesses and cultural entities to present their activities within the scope of the festival,” Müller said.
Encouraging the theme
| TOWNS AND VILLAGES CELEBRATE |
Throughout the Czech Republic many towns and villages are accompanying the traditional pig feasts and costumed revelry with exclusive events or a full, unique program with events scheduled for several days. Here is just a sample of the numerous events countrywide:
Valašské muzeum v přírodě
(Wallachian open air museum)
Traditional costumes, music and dance
in historical wooden village; 13th edition
of best Wallachian sausage competition and best “Wallachian tlačenka”
competition
Feb. 6
Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Souteast Moravia
Fašank Festival and Sword Dancing
Rich and varied program of carnival events with folklore ensembles from Moravia, Bohemia, Slovakia and Belgium; main attraction is the traditional sword dancing
Feb. 12–16
Strání, Southeast Moravia
Krumlovský Masopust
Traditional carnival entertainment
and pig roast feast; unique events including concerts by Feng-yün Song and other
artists and performances of Indian
and Nepalese dance
Feb. 13–16
Český Krumlov, South Bohemia
Telč Masopust
Carnival procession with folklore ensemble Podjavořičan in historical city center
Feb. 14
Telč, Vysočina region
Masopust na Hradě (Ostrava)
Traditional foods, music dance and masks; different competitions to win food prizes
Feb. 20
Ostrava, North Moravia |
The Prague Carnevale organization works in cooperation with businesses throughout the city to highlight the theme of the carnival spirit. At the same time the organization is behind the development of some of larger events that have appeared on the scene in the past years.
“Prague Carnevale organizes two lines of activities: gathering information/providing the theme to various partners and motivating other entities to use the carnival theme for their business purposes, and we focus on the overall organization of the festival,” Müller said. The organizational element includes the opening ceremony, street parades in Prague center, as well as some of the indoor events like the costumed balls and the afternoon ball for children. Some of these main events under the wing of Prague Carnevale include masked balls that emanate the elaborate and exceptional spectacles long associated with the finest upscale carnival balls.
Participants can arrange for costume and mask rental as well as the full make-up and hair preparations through the information center and central point for festival activities, Palác Colloredo-Mansfeld at Karlovo 2 in Prague 1–Old Town. The festival website reminds potential participants that it is the greatest carnival faux-pas to attend a social evening undisguised.
The elegant Bellaria ball will be held Feb. 6 and the Crystal Ball, emphasizing the style of more historical masked ball traditions, will take place Feb. 13. Amoretto is designed for the much younger masked merrymakers and will take place Feb. 14. It includes a competition for the most beautiful mask.
Choose your venue
Numerous individual venues throughout the city, as well as individual city districts, have special events on schedule for the upcoming festivities. Palác Akropolis in Prague 3 will host their annual Masopust celebrations Feb. 13 including a costumed ball for children in the afternoon as well as a masked event with music and dancing for adults in the evening.
As the carnival season is traditionally a time for feasting, naturally there will be no shortage of opportunities to indulge one’s appetite during the upcoming festivities. Restaurants throughout the city will be participating by offering up special menus or organizing feasts—the list includes establishments such as Enjoy 34 and Zlatá Praha at the Intercontinental Hotel, Essensia at the Mandarin Oriental, Mlýnec, Le Papillon at the Le Palais hotel Prague, Žofín Garden and V Zátiší. On the plaza in front of the Intercontinental Hotel in Prague 1 a traditional hog feast, Zabijacka, will be held Feb. 13 in cooperation with U Dolejších butchery. The menu will include a multitude of fresh pork specialties along with beer, warm drinks and spirits.
Last year marked a momentous occasion for the city’s revitalized traditions. In 2009 Prague became a member of Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC), an organization created with the purpose of preserving as well as promoting cities’ unique festival celebrations. “This is a new phase of development for Prague Carnevale, the cooperation with FECC brings us many possibilities of presentation to foreign audiences and will enrich Prague Carnevale thanks to the presentation of other festival organizers here in Prague,” Müller said.